Former TheoDavies CEO Robert Sutton, 65
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Robert C. Sutton, former president and chief executive officer of Theo H. Davies & Co., died June 10 at his home in Sydney, Australia. He was 65.
Sutton was born in Australia and worked briefly with the Australian Foreign Service and Hertz Australia. He joined Jardine Matheson, the Hong Kong-based corporation and parent company of Theo H. Davies.
Sutton
In 1976, at age 37, he came to Honolulu as president and CEO of TheoDavies, Hawai'i's second-oldest company and one of the original Big Five businesses that dominated Hawai'i's economy in the plantation era.
In addition to his work at TheoDavies, Sutton served on the boards of Bank of Hawaii, C&H Sugar Co., Hanahauoli School, Honolulu Symphony and Aloha United Way. After returning to Australia, he established an organization similar to AUW in 1986 and served as its chairman until his death.
In 1982 Sutton left Hawai'i and moved to San Francisco, where he was president and CEO of Jardine Matheson (North America). His former colleagues here said Sutton's defining traits were his "professionalism, compassion, good cheer and love of the Islands."
"Bob was a caring, highly principled and passionate leader with an even-handedness and sense of humor that touched us all deeply," said David Hee-nan, Campbell Estate trustee and Sutton's successor at TheoDavies.
Sutton is survived by his wife, Beverly; daughters, Katrina Gregory and Nicola Brigstocke; and five grandchildren.
Contributions may be sent to the Bob Sutton AO Memorial Fund, United Way Sydney, GPO Box 4083, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia.
