Former Santos boss dies aged 80
Ross Adler, former managing director and chief executive officer at energy giant Santos, has died at age 80.
Adler joined the company in October 1984 as Managing Director and was formally appointed Chief Executive in November of that year. He served in that role until his retirement in November 2000.
Santos’s current Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher celebrated his contributions in a statement, saying that in the time Adler had led Santos the company “had been transformed from a small and fledgling oil and gas explorer and producer to become the largest and most successful onshore oil and gas explorer and producer in Australia”.
After his time at Santos he served in a variety of board positions, including as Chair of the Australian Trade Commission from 2001 to 2006, Chairman and CEO of chemical supplier Amtrade International Pty Ltd from 2001 to 2006, and the Chairman of Domino’s Pizza Enterprises in Australia and New Zealand from 2005 to 2006.
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Additionally, he served as Chairman of the Adelaide Festival in 2006 and 2007 and had held senior board positions at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and the University of Adelaide’s Management Advisory Committee and Alumni Association since 2008.
While he was Deputy Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2007; the only South Australian to receive the honour that year.
He is survived by his wife Fiona, children Jonathan, Jennifer and Caroline, and grandchildren Chloe, Joshil, Matilda, Phoebe, Surina and Hugo.
A memorial service will be held at the Chapel of St Peter at Melbourne Grammar School on 19 August, 4.15pm.
