Don Hanson

4 January 1935 – 29 October 2014

James Donald Hanson died peacefully on 29th October 2014 after a short illness, aged 79. ‘Don’ was respected and loved throughout his long and successful career at Arthur Andersen and then Andersen Worldwide. In ‘retirement’, Don enjoyed an active investing life around the world, and was a generous benefactor to many charities.

Don Hanson

4 January 1935 – 29 October 2014

Don was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire and was a proud Yorkshireman and British free-market capitalist patriot. Brought up modestly he was supported through his education and apprenticeship by his much-loved mother Mary, in whose honour he arranged a memorial bench in Grosvenor Square in Central London. Having come 3rd in Britain as a qualifying Chartered Accountant in 1957 he joined Arthur Andersen and within a decade was opening their Manchester office as Managing Partner. In 1982 Don became the first elected Managing Partner for the UK with responsibilities across Europe, the Middle East and India.

Following the firm’s restructure he moved up to New York in 1989 with Andersen Worldwide, effectively as deputy to the worldwide Chief Executive and in that role flew the Atlantic on Concorde over a hundred times. He was active in many varied business and social organisations including the CBI, IoD and served as Chairman of the Manchester University Pension Fund as well as being one of the last Lloyds names. Don retired in 1997 and thereafter devoted much of his time to global investment (notably in emerging markets), charitable activities, golf and his private life.

Don became a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (founded in 1356, received Royal Charter 55 in 1674) and a Freeman of the City of London in 2009.

The Don Hanson Charitable Foundation
Charity number 1122463

Correspondence: Room 3, Rose House, 70 Barnes High Street, Barnes, London SW13 9LD, United Kingdom

Registered office: Linden House, Linden Close, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8HH, United Kingdom