Joseph Gutnick
Joseph Isaac Gutnick (Diamond Joe)[1] (Hebrew: יוסף יצחק הכהן גוטניק) is an Australian businessman and mining industry entrepreneur. He is also an ordained rabbi and is well known for his philanthropy in the Jewish world.
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[edit] Business holdings
Among Gutnick's business holdings:
- Legend International Holdings. A mining company focused on phosphate exploration in Queensland, Australia. Gutnick is the President and CEO.
- Centaur mining went in receivership 2000 Gutnick is the President and CEO.
Gutnick was, after almost having been ruined by the 1987 stock market crash, advised by Rabbi Menachem Schneerson to go back to the Australian desert and search for "gold and diamonds".[2] [3] He was responsible for overseeing the discovery of the Plutonic gold deposit, as well as the discovery, development and operation of the Bronzewing and Jundee gold mines in Australia. Gutnick also was a director of the World Gold Council and was awarded the prestigious Diggers award at the 1997 Diggers and Dealers Industry Awards.
In 1991, his company, Great Central Mines, paid A$115 million to prospector Mark Creasy for the Bronzewing gold deposit.[2] [4] 2000 Gutnick files writs in court against long time Levi Mochkin stockbroker In 1999, Gutnick along with partner Robert Champion de Crespigny was found to have illegally structured a takeover of Great Central Mining. Gutnick was ordered to return $28.5 million to investors.[5] On 5 April 2000, Joseph Gutnick, Robert Champion de Crespigny and Ian Gould resigned as directors of Great Central Mining.[6]
[edit] Personal life
Gutnick lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife, a daughter of textile maker Max New, whom he married in 1974; they have 11 children. He studied for rabbinic ordination in Brooklyn, New York and ran a religious girls' seminary in Melbourne. [1] His brother, Mordechai Gutnick, is a prominent Orthodox Jewish rabbi in Australia.
Gutnick is an Orthodox Jew and a member of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. According to Gutnick, in 1988, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson told him exactly where to mine for gold in Western Australia.[7]
He was close with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the 1990s, Gutnick spent millions of dollars campaigning for Benjamin Netanyahu and against the Labor Party in Israel's elections.[7]
[edit] Philanthropy
Gutnick is recognized as a philanthropist who made significant donations to schools and Jewish organizations in Australia and worldwide. [8][9]
[edit] Gutnick v Dow Jones
Gutnick successfully sued Dow Jones and Company for defamation regarding an article published about him in Barron's Online in the year 2000. It was one of the first international legal cases involving defamation on the internet.[10][11][12]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Schifrin, Matthew (2 December 1996). ""Diamond Joe" Gutnick and the Rebbe's prophecy."". Forbes 158 (13): 44–45. http://leb.net/~ramzi/Forbes.html. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
- ^ a b Minerals boom leads to Bronzewing revival Australian Broadcasting Corporation, broadcasted: 27 November 2006, accessed: 15 December 2009
- ^ Chairman Argus has a little bet each way The Age, published: 8 February 2008, accessed: 11 February 2010
- ^ Bronzewing gold mine is flying again mineweb.com, published: 18 October 2007, accessed: 15 December 2009
- ^ Miners found to have illegally restructured company, ABC radio, 16 June 1999
- ^ Director Appointment/Resignation GCM ASX announcement, published: 5 April 2000, accessed: 14 February 2010
- ^ a b Long, Stephen (5 June 2003). "The World Today – Profile of Joseph Gutnick". http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s872995.htm. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
- ^ Messenger News – Gutnick Throws Massada a Lifeline
- ^ Sporting Pulse – Complex Sprouting, Legend Park
- ^ Dow Jones and Company Inc v Gutnick (2002) HCA 56; 210 CLR 575; 194 ALR 433; 77 ALJR 255, (Australian High Court Opinion) via Australasian Legal Information Institute, accessed 2010 5 31
- ^ Internet Makes Dow Jones Open to Suit in Australia, Felicity Barringer, nytimes.com, 2002 Dec 11, accessed 2010 5 31
- ^ Landmark Ruling In Internet Case, Dan Collins, cbsnews.com, 2002 12 10, accessed 2010 5 31
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ian Ridley |
President of the Melbourne Football Club 1996–2001 |
Succeeded by Gabriel Szondy |
