Roger Bhatnagar
Sir Roger Bhatnagar | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rajeshwar Sarup Bhatnagar 26 October 1942 |
| Died | 7 November 2022 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Sir Rajeshwar Sarup "Roger" Bhatnagar KNZM (26 October 1942 – 7 November 2022) was an Indian-born New Zealand businessman known for his association with the consumer electronics chain Noel Leeming.
Early life
[edit]Bhatnagar was born in India on 26 October 1942, and grew up in New Delhi.[1][2] In the 1960s he travelled the world, occasionally sleeping rough due to a shortage of money. He settled for a while in Canada, where he worked in electronics retail in British Columbia. He married a New Zealand-born woman in Canada, where he had a number of children.[1]
New Zealand
[edit]Bhatnagar migrated to New Zealand with his family from Canada in 1980.[3][4][5][6] The same year he opened his first home audio store in central Auckland, and it quickly grew into the Sound Plus chain.[5] In 1991, he purchased the Noel Leeming chain, in receivership at that time, for around $3 million with his business associate, Greg Lancaster, from Smiths City. In 1993, Noel Leeming was listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of about $26 million and in 1995 the company was the subject of a failed $56 million takeover bid by Skellerup. The following year, Noel Leeming merged with competitor Bond & Bond to form Pacific Retail. In 1998, Bhatnagar stepped down as chairman and an executive director of Pacific Retail,[7] and he divested his interests in the company in 1999.[8]
In 1993, Bhatnagar was involved in setting up Burger King in New Zealand, but sold his 50 percent interest two years later.[7] He retired from active involvement in business in 2007.[9]
Philanthropy
[edit]In 1997 Bhatnagar's wealth was estimated as $28 million.[10] Bhatnagar supported a number of charitable causes in New Zealand, including the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation, child cancer and diabetes.[3] In 1997, he donated $250,000 to the Breast Cancer Foundation.[11] In 2017, Bhatnagar's collection of cricket memorabilia was donated to Auckland Cricket, and it was put on permanent display at the Bert Sutcliffe Lounge at Eden Park.[12]
Death
[edit]Bhatnagar died in the Auckland suburb of Ellerslie on 7 November 2022, aged 80.[1][6] His death, at Summerset Heritage Park retirement village, followed a long illness and a stroke in 2009.[1][2]
Honours
[edit]In the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, Bhatnagar was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to business and the community,[13] becoming the first person of Indian descent to be knighted in New Zealand.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Raman, Venkat (8 November 2022). "Charismatic Sir Roger Bhatnagar passes away in Auckland". Indian Newslink. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Rajeshwar Bhatnagar obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
- ^ a b "The NBR rich list 2003: Sir Rajeshwar Sarup (Roger) Bhatnagar, 60". National Business Review. 18 July 2003.
- ^ a b Samson, Alan (1 June 1998). "Too young to be Dame Susan, says Devoy". The Dominion. p. 1.
- ^ a b Gill, Peter (25 November 1994). "Retailer with a lot of bottle ponders life as a bought man". National Business Review. p. 54.
- ^ a b "Sir Roger Bhatnagar 1942–2022". bhatnagar.co.nz. 8 November 2022. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ a b Main, Victoria (25 May 1998). "Whineray, Bhatnagar tipped for knighthood". The Dominion. p. 1.
- ^ Hendery, Simon (25 September 2001). "Watson takeover bid arrives at last". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ "About the Bhatnagar family". bhatnagar.co.nz. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Knight rode high on retailing". Evening Post. 1 June 1998. p. 9.
- ^ "Businessman backs breast cancer education series". East and Bays Courier. 2 July 1997. p. 10. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ "Sir Roger Bhatnagar collection donated to Auckland Cricket". Scoop Independent News. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 1998". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 1998. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- 1942 births
- 2022 deaths
- Indian emigrants to New Zealand
- 20th-century New Zealand businesspeople
- Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
- Businesspeople awarded knighthoods
- New Zealand philanthropists
- 20th-century philanthropists
- 21st-century Indian philanthropists
- 21st-century New Zealand businesspeople