Background
Besen, Marcus was born on December 19, 1923 in Gernauti, Romania. Arrived in Australia, 1947. Son of Simon and Gusti (Shapiro) Besen.
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Marcus Besen
Edit ProfileEducation
Student, Institute technical Geelong, Australia, 1947. Student, Harvard Business School, 1963. Doctor of Philosophy (honorary), Tel Aviv University, 1985.
Career
Managing director, Amalgamated Sussan Stores Ltd., Australia, 1951—1980. Chairman Sussan Corporation,, Melbourne, 1980. Board directors Arts Ltd., since 1977, Australian Opera, Sydney, 1983—1984.
Chairman Art Foundation, Melbourne, 1981—1985, Spoleto Foundation, 1984—1985. Member council Australian National Gallery, Canberra, since 1981. Treasurer Victoria Opera Found, Melbourne, since 1981.
Member National Council Australian Opera, since 1984. Member international council Museum Modern Art, since 1985. Trustee World Keren Hayesad, Israel, since 1985.
Achievements
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After buying the middle-market fashion chain Suzanne Grae last year, Marcus Besen lifted turnover at his privately owned Sussan Corporation to $290 million. There are now 168 Sussan and 152 Suzanne Grae stores, and Besen's company ranks as the 18th-largest retailer in Australia, capturing 0.4% of total retail sales.
Membership
Member of Victorian Board of Government, Member of the Board of Trustees, Member of International Council at the Museum of Modern Arn, New York.
Connections
Married Eva Gandel Besen, June 15, 1950. Children: Naomi, Carol, Deborah, Daniel.
References
- MARCUS BESEN Australian Financial Review Australian Financial Review RETAIL. Melbourne. 66. Married, four children. After buying the middle-market fashion chain Suzanne Grae last year, Marcus Besen lifted turnover at his privately owned Sussan Corporation to $290 million. There are now 168 Sussan and 152 Suzanne Grae stores, and Besen's company ranks as the 18th-largest retailer in Australia, capturing 0.4% of total retail sales. Sussan executives overhauled the Suzanne Grae business, broadening its merchandise range, installing new buyers and opening new stores in Victoria, Queensland and NSW. Besen also plans to take Suzanne Grae into the Adelaide market. Flat retail sales have depressed Sussan's performance over the past 12 months, but it continues to dominate mid-market women's fashion sales. Besen has also devoted time to TarraWarra, his 300-hectare winery and Swiss Brown cattle stud in the Victorian Yarra Valley. TarraWarra's 1987 chardonnay was released in June last year and the winery is developing a pinot noir. Besen emphasises that the winery is a business, not a hobby. The heart of the Besen fortune is property. Sussan Corporation and Marcbes Investments own shopping centres in Sydney and Melbourne. In Melbourne suburbs the list includes Highpoint (it is Australia's biggest) in Maribyrnong, Whitehorse Plaza in Box Hill and Moonee Ponds Market Place. Chatswood Chase in Sydney is one-quarter owned by Sussan and Marcbes.
