Reg Kermode

Reg Kermode was an Australian businessman and taxicab operator most well known for founding Cabcharge in 1976.

Early life

Reg Kermode grew up in Smithtown, New South Wales, and left school at the age of 15 to join the Postmaster-General's office.

Life and career

Kermode decided to enter the taxicab industry in 1965 and had become the chairman of Taxis Combined by 1975. During the 1980s, Kermode became known as Sydney's "Taxi kingpin" because of the role he played in the taxi industry. He was also the president of the NSW Taxi Council. He fostered a long-standing relationship with Neville Wran, the former Premier of New South Wales, and Wran served on the group of Cabcharge for 10 years.

CabCharge Australia

Kermode founded Cabcharge Australia in 1976 and served on the company's board of directors for 39 years. During this time, Cabcharge came to be the electronic payment system used by 97% of the taxi fleets in Australia.

Sydney Herald allegations

Kermode was the subject of sustained criticism by Linton Besser, a journalist for the Sydney Herald. Besser, who referred to Kermode as the "Taxi tsar of Sydney", accused him of taking advantage of industry and political connections.

Death

On April 29, 2014, he resigned from Cabcharge after revealing that he had been diagnosed with cancer.