Roger Bhatnagar

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Sir Roger Bhatnagar
KNZM
Born
Rajeshwar Sarup Bhatnagar

(1942-10-26)26 October 1942
British Raj[where?]
Died7 November 2022(2022-11-07) (aged 80)
Ellerslie, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealand
OccupationBusinessman

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

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

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

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

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

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

  1. ^ a b c d Raman, Venkat (8 November 2022). "Charismatic Sir Roger Bhatnagar passes away in Auckland". Indian Newslink. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Rajeshwar Bhatnagar obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b "The NBR rich list 2003: Sir Rajeshwar Sarup (Roger) Bhatnagar, 60". National Business Review. 18 July 2003.
  4. ^ a b Samson, Alan (1 June 1998). "Too young to be Dame Susan, says Devoy". The Dominion. p. 1.
  5. ^ a b Gill, Peter (25 November 1994). "Retailer with a lot of bottle ponders life as a bought man". National Business Review. p. 54.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b Main, Victoria (25 May 1998). "Whineray, Bhatnagar tipped for knighthood". The Dominion. p. 1.
  8. ^ Hendery, Simon (25 September 2001). "Watson takeover bid arrives at last". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  9. ^ "About the Bhatnagar family". bhatnagar.co.nz. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Knight rode high on retailing". Evening Post. 1 June 1998. p. 9.
  11. ^ "Businessman backs breast cancer education series". East and Bays Courier. 2 July 1997. p. 10. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Sir Roger Bhatnagar collection donated to Auckland Cricket". Scoop Independent News. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 1998". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 1998. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
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