David Rigg

From the past:

“enjoyed a few illegal "days-off", broke my nose for 3rd time (not bike seat sniffing as some intimated but hockey) and have fond memories of the last day Peter, Paul & Mary concert!”

2004

Born in Essex, U.K in July '46. Emigrated with parents (both teachers who taught at the same English school I was at) and younger brother in 1960 and spent 3 years at Normanhurst BHS (where Jeremy C's brother was). Lived in the Bradfield Park concentration camp (West Lindfield) until house was built at Asquith '63. Father taught at Normanhurst, brother was there and mother at ABHS as secretary to Merv Brown. So, decision was made for me to walk to school for a year (via AGHS with casual meetings/experiences/exploitations!!), as apparently I had too much exposure in previous years to "comings and goings" in the last carriage on the train from Waitara to Lindfield. I think the real reason was I needed to repeat my LC and the new rules said "go to the closest school". Anyway, I got away from 2 Rigg's (father and brother) but joined 2 more!! Enjoyed the Class of '64, was no relation to Peter Rigg (repeat, no relation!), enjoyed a few illegal "days-off", broke my nose for 3rd time (not bike seat sniffing as some intimated but hockey) and have fond memories of the last day Peter, Paul & Mary concert!! Learnt never to recommend to anyone that there are benefits having parents at the same school - definitely restricted prescription and contraindicated!

Got enough "points" to go to UNSW and finished Honours in physiology in 1969. Actually had Stig in the row behind me for 1st Year Biology practical so we did a short course down at the Doncaster pub. Taught for a year at St Pius X Chatswood and in early '70 married Chris Murray ( protégé of Horny (synonym Hornsby) Girls High and was my first ever date when she was 13 and was 16) before joining Astra Pharmaceuticals as Medical Services Manager. Won the Astra International Marketing Scholarship (studied in Stockholm) and learnt there were other things than Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Trials.

Poached by Paul Trainor (Chairman Nucleus Group) in 1973 and over next 16 years had a commercial set of experiences never to be repeated. Had various CEO roles in the group from marketing to manufacturing from technology transfers to M&A's but was primarily involved in opening markets and developing and building the heart pacemaker, implantable defibrillator and bionic ear businesses. Personally appointed distributors/direct staff in >37 different markets globally, with the Kotler marketing bible under 1 arm and "seat of the pants" under the other. Most of what we did with poor cash flow was 4 years before the strategic plan intended but Paul knew how to make things happen!! We won Exporter of the Year 8 years in a row!! I moved the US office from an armpit of the world, namely Buffalo (NY) to Denver as the latter is better located for distribution (Ha! Ha! Ha!). Its just co-incidence that both skiing and UA Frequent Flyer points improved. Opened factory in Sao Paulo and made personal sacrifice of $700 (big money then) to become Lifetime Member of Pan Am - I still am, wonder if Virgin will honour this on my next trip????

During 3 years of the early '70's I was outside of Australia for more than 6 months of the year but had returned home to sow a couple of seeds and had 2 sprogs (Jonathan & Michael) and a 3rd in the early '80's (Anthony). But, Chris, who was renovating houses, was also father and mother for most of the time and did a sterling job and so the family was able to "stay together" when we were all posted to Europe (London) in 1986, originally for 2 years and ultimately for 4. As CEO I had a really good "adventure" with a rapidly expanding business. Paris 1 day a week - usually Board Meeting of 10 minutes followed by a 4 hour lunch ( 2 of the Board were lawyers so this was charged back at lawyers rates!!). Also, Edith Cresson, who was Mayor of Chatellerault where we had a factory, became Minister of European Affairs in the EEC and then Prime Minister, and she was able to "help" us take a lead in European matters which was definitely a help when most "froggies" were not too happy with Australians!! My French was certainly better after 4 years than it was at ABHS with Goldstein but maybe he gave me the "initial encouragement" - we will never know. Bumped into Stig whilst over there at a "relationship marketing piss-up" at Sandown races in the HKSHB tent, but didn't see anyone else from ABHS until we returned which is amazing really after reading other bios. Was Chairman of IAPM (International Assoc. of Implantable Prosthesis Manufacturers for those who haven't got a life) for 2 years which covered everything from boobs to penile implants - I still have some good contacts if anyone is in need!!!

Commercial highlights of those 16 years include assisting in the implant of a custom mini-pacemaker in an Austrian premature baby (she weighed less than a pound of butter), working with the late Victor Chang putting 9 pacemakers in during a 3 hour morning surgery in Guangzhou, participating with the 1st Cochlear implant in a 36 year old man who had never heard before, flying Concorde 13 times in as many weeks during an acquisition of a US based company and lastly in London, implanting the world's 1st Australian implantable defibrillator. Oh, and being threatened by our Indian distributor with a Cobra when he owed $175,000 and head between the knees job (I was in a plane for those getting excited!!) when we crash-landed into Manilla. Missed only 1 flight in more than 2 million miles flying and it went down with everyone on board!!! Number wasn't up!!

Pacific Dunlop acquired us in '89 and I was asked to return to OZ to help them understand the business (lot of difference between making .00000007 cents on the cost of a pair of Rio knickers rather than understanding how a heart works!!). This was good for Chris as she wanted the boys to finish-off their schooling in OZ which they did at Knox. We actually bought the old federation house opposite the gym at Knox so they had to walk to school - no North Shore train classes for them!!!! Ha! Ha! Ha!

In '90, I was approached by J & J to set-up the key-hole (laparoscopic) surgery division for them in Australia & NZ which was attractive as PacDun wanted me to go to the U.S. After me having 16 plus years of "doing my thing", it was Chris's turn to put her foot-down (which she did very well!) Actually, I was happy for this decision as for a variety of reasons, the complete Nucleus Group was broken-up - either because of legal issues, dissolutions or was not wanted (Cochlear). Cochlear went on to be (and

still is) one of the real success stories in biomed companies and most of the staff went to Resmed and Ventracor when they were start-ups. Ran into Alan Bruce around that time - he recalls I was in a suit and had some attractive felines nearby - highly likely, as we had 130 reps and most were ex theatre nurses. Mind you, that doesn't mean ALL ex-theatre sisters and nurses look attractive. Everyone looks good when they are in gowns, masks and scrubbed-up (bit like in the snow) but outside of theatre its different I can assure you.

The J & J experience lasted 2 years before I was courted by Apple Computer as Marketing Director for Australasia but the US management style (NIH and BBB aka Not Invented Here and Bullshit, Buzzwords & Bangles) and genuine lack of interest in what happens in Australia, got to me so I invested in what I think may be the way of the future i.e. functional foods. I was Joint MD of Specialty Cereals from '94 to '97 when I sold out and started Soy Health and PhytoHealth, 2 companies involved in health ingredients for functional foods and supplements. Maybe a bit ahead of my time but will certainly be something for the future. We are exclusive agents in OZ, NZ,

Japan & Indonesia (and soon to be China) for 3 products (soy germ, flaxseed lignans and fenugreek extract) used in a variety of health products and we also import exclusively a "superfood" for the immune system from Japan. Maybe some of you would like to be added to our Direct Marketing database (mates rates all products!!). I also have a wholesale travel agency specialising in Vanuatu.

On the personal front Chris and I have had a wonderful life together and are coming up for our 35 years anniversary. Not one moment has been boring probably because we had the kids relatively young (when we like everyone else were poor) and we also both had space to grow and contribute. We enjoy our golf and in '98, after a super year commercially, I gave myself a present and joined Terrey Hills -maybe we can create an ABHS Cup of 64 or the like and have a golf day (or two!). Actually, I believe Col Henson may be a starter (refer photo sent earlier today). Actually, I never knew Col at school but we joined Col and Loretta at the Olympic Opening Ceremony which has to be another social highlight. We sold the Wahroonga abode 2 years ago and are just finishing a renno of a 100 year old house in Hornsby which the artist Sir Arthur Streeton once occupied. We have been careful removing the wallpaper just in case but nothing found yet. It is old combined with modern. We have just sold the 64 acre getaway we have had in the Hunter for the past 7 years where we built a large cabin from the forests and had lots of memorable chardonnay’s (Hunter ) and Cab Sav’s (Barossa) along with our local efforts. We did this as Jonathan (32 and in Event Marketing)) and his wife and 2 boys (4 & 8) moved to Perth so weekends etc will now be more over there. But, they are all coming over next month as Michael (30 and in Hospitality) is getting married. And Ants (23 and finishing plumbing) is still at home part-time alternating no less with the second highest floor of Alterre in Rushcutters Bay 3-4 nights a week. Many of you may remember me as rather thin (I was 10 stone when we married) but Chris and I bred 3 monsters (the only 3 brothers to play in 1st IV for Knox) who I am proud to say give us much enjoyment.

My mother is quite frail (she had a nasty fall 2 years ago and has never quite recovered - osteoporosis) but still living in her own home in Waitara; she is enjoying me giving her snippets of “certain elements” of what is happening as we lead up to the 31st - she certainly enjoyed the staff photo from ‘61. She has always maintained a relationship with Dulcie and Merv and still does with Dulcie even after Merv’s recent passing.

Finally, what is amazing me, is that to date, after reading only about 16 or so bios, that more of us have not “bumped in the night” in different parts of the world either socially or business-wise. Is it because I was only there for a year or is it that we were destined not to meet so that we could have this 40 year rendezvous? Maybe we will find-out on “the night”.