John Spalvins, (born Jānis Gunnars Spalviņš, 1936) in

Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...

, was Managing Director of the Adelaide Steamship Company from 1977 until the company's collapse in 1991. During this period under Spalvins' control, "Adsteam" became

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

's major corporate entity with interests and significant holdings in retailing, food, wine, dairy, hardware, building, banks, and numerous other companies.Damon Kitney (2011
"Spalvins breaks silence on Adsteam collapse"
The Weekend Australian, 9–10 July 2011, pp 4, 25-26 "Spalvins built up one of Australia's largest industrial conglomerates, which took in David Jones, Woolworths, Metro Meat, food company Petersville Sleigh, beer and wine company Tooth & Co, as well as a tugboat business, before it was put into receivership in 1991."Glenda Korporaal (2007
This time it's different, says '87 crash victim John Spalvins
''

The Australian ''The Australian'', with its Saturday edition ''The Weekend Australian'', is a broadsheet daily newspaper published by News Corp Australia since 14 July 1964. As the only Australian daily newspaper distributed nationally, its readership of b ...

'' 13 October 2007

Early career

Spalvins spent the first 13 years of his life in Latvia before his mother brought him to Australia. In 1957, aged 21, he became company secretary of Camlec where he remained until 1973. During this period he studied economics in the evenings earning a degree from the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide is a public university, public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. Its main campus in the Adelaide city centre includes many Sa ...

The Adelaide Steamship Company

In 1973, Adelaide Steamship Company's managing director (and later chairman) Ken Russell head-hunted Spalvins to aid in revitalising the company. In 1977 Spalvins was appointed managing director, and in 1980 Spalvins and Russell commenced their acquisition and control of David Jones, followed through the 1980s by acquisition of numerous Australian "household names" including, but by no means limited to, Tooth & Co, ( Penfolds, KB Lager, etc.), Petersville Sleigh, ( Four’N Twenty pies, Bodalla Cheese, Pura Milk, Peters Ice Cream, Birds Eye frozen foods, Nanna's frozen apple pies, etc.), Farmers Union, Metro Meat, AWA, John Martin's, Pioneer Property Group and Woolworths.

Retirement

Following the collapse of the Adsteam share price, in March 1991 it was announced that Spalvins "would be terminated as an Adsteam employee". He departed on 5 July 1991. For many years, Spalvins and his second wife Gale divided their time between "Kintyre", their home in Springfield, South Australia, their villa on Hamilton Island, and their units in the United States. They continue to spend at least three months each year in the United States at their home in

Sun Valley, Idaho Sun Valley is a resort city in the western United States, in Blaine County, Idaho, adjacent to the city of Ketchum in the Wood River valley. The population was 1,783 at the 2020 census. The elevation of Sun Valley (at the Lodge) is above se ...

, where he indulges his passion for skiing. He remains an active investor through his company Galufo Pty Ltd, and is prominent for his role in advocating the obligation of company boards to provide value for their smaller shareholders.Jeni Porter (2004
Do as I say, not as I do
''Sydney Morning Herald'' 8 May 2004.Damon Kitney (2011
Spalvins wants Indian miner to tell full story
''The Australian'' 8 March 2011Ian Porter (2004

''

The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...

'' 4 May 2004

Family

On 16 December 1961, Spalvins married Cecily Westall Rymill (b. 1939, d.14 April 1991). They had two sons.Oh, how the mighty have fallen
''The Age'' 19 October 2002. After Cecily's unexpected death, aged 53, from a rare blood disease, Spalvins subsequently married Gale.

Early career

The Adelaide Steamship Company

Retirement

Family

References

Further reading