Sir Ian MacGregor, a native of Scotland who became an American citizen, was the prime architect of turning AMAX Inc. into one of the nation’s largest nonferrous mining companies. Under him, AMAX expanded its interests in copper, lead, molybdenum, tungsten, zinc, potash, and coal mining in the United States, and iron ore mining in Australia, as well as becoming a major producer and fabricator of aluminum. The company also became in important producer of oil and gas in the U.S., Canada and the Dutch waters of the North Sea.
Following experience in both the aluminum and steel industries in the United Kingdom, MacGregor served with the British Ministry of Supply in Washington, D.C., during World War II. After the war, he decided to make his career in the United States. He held various industrial positions and in 1957 joined Climax Molybdenum Company, which later became AMAX Inc. He began as a vice president and rose through the executive ranks to chairman, a position he held until his retirement in 1977. In the 10-year period from 1966-1976, the company's sales went from $570 million to more than $1 billion, and earnings from $66 million to $150 million. He understood modern communications technology and recognized at an early stage the increasing public concern for the environment, and gained public recognition for the company’s environmental actions.
After retirement he staked out new leadership roles in the United Kingdom, first heading the state-owned steel industry and then the state-owned coal industry. He then became an investment banker in London and New York, and became a partner in McFarland Dewey & Co. in New York City. MacGregor was elected to the Fortune magazine National Business Hall of Fame in 1979. In 1986 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. He received the first Service Award of the American Mining Congress (AMC) in 1987 and was chairman of the board of the AMC in 1974-1976. Among many American and international distinctions conferred on Sir Ian are the Rand Gold Medal and the John Fritz Gold Medal of the AIME, and the Jackling Gold Medal of the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America. He and his wife have two children, as well as five grandchildren. MacGregor has been described as an international executive, “far ahead of his time.”
