Maurice Samuel Ostro
Maurice Samuel Ostro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 16 February 1965 |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Oxford University, Wadham College |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur & Philanthropist |
| Known for | Business, charity and interfaith relations |
| Spouse | Katy Ostro |
| Children | Eliana Ostro, Tamara Ostrowiecki and Michael Ostro |
Maurice Samuel Ostro OBE (born 16 February 1965) is a British entrepreneur and philanthropist. His business interests have included gemstones, media distribution, property, frozen yogurt, airline catering and logistics.[1] His philanthropic activities include supporting entrepreneurship, interfaith relations and economic development.
Ostro was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 2014, for services to business, charity and interfaith relations.[2][3] He has also been appointed a KFO (Knight of the Royal Order of Francis I).[4]
Education
Ostro is an alumnus of the Gemological Institute of America, Harvard Business School and New York University. In 1987 he gained a Masters in Jurisprudence at Oxford University’s Wadham College and was then admitted to the New York Bar in 1988.[5]
Business career
Ostro started his career in the gemstone industry after becoming a graduate gemologist in the early 1980s.
In 1992, he founded a frozen yogurt company called Glasay International PLC. The company became the largest supplier of frozen yogurt to the airline sector.[6][7] Glasay was sold in 2001.[8]
He founded Air Fayre, an airline catering company in 1999.[9][10][11] Air Fayre was sold to Watermark PLC in 2004.[12][13][14]
In 2002, Ostro founded Media on the Move, to supply media content to airlines, shipping companies and train lines.[15][16][11] It was sold to Watermark PLC in 2003. In 2006, with Ostro already serving as managing director of two of the company’s divisions, Watermark appointed him as its CEO.[17][18]
Upon his Father’s death in 2010, Ostro assumed responsibility for the UK operations of the family gemstone business, Ostro Minerals.[19][20]
Philanthropy
Ten percent of Ostro’s companies’ profits go to charities. He's also the founder of the charity, the Ostro Fayre Share Foundation.[21]
In 2008, Ostro became a Vice Chair of the Council of Christians and Jews. He was the initiator and Organising Committee Chair for the then London Mayor Boris Johnson's first Interfaith Conference in 2010.[22] Ostro then instigated and funded the creation of the Faiths Forum for London.[20] He also created Entrepreneurial Giving, a movement that encourages businesses towards charity work.[23]
In 2014, Ostro funded and supported the co-location of multiple charities working in the same sector through the creation of a charitable working space called Collaboration House.[24][25] Working with some of these charities and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), his foundation provides training to over 800 religious institutions, through a nationwide initiative called Strengthening Faith Institutions (SFI).[26]
In the wake of COVID-19, Ostro formed the Business Action Council (BAC), a coalition of multiple business organisations in the UK, developing recommendations for the Government on assisting small businesses and entrepreneurs.[27][28][29]
Governmental experience
- Since 2014, Ostro has served on the Education Expert Group for the Prime Minister's Commission on the Holocaust[30][31]
- From 2003 to 2005, Ostro was part of Prime Minister Tony Blair's Strategy Unit on improving life chances of disabled people[32]
- From 2001 to 2005 he served on the SME Board of the National Employment Panel of the Department of Work and Pensions[33]
Personal life
Maurice is married to Katy.
References
- ^ "Maurice and Katy Ostro: Serial Entrepreneurs; Philanthropists; Co-Founders, Entrepreneurial Giving". JA Worldwide. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ [1] Cabinet Office 13 June 2014, Retrieved on 16 June 2014
- ^ Guardian Staff (13 June 2014). "Queen's birthday honours list 2014: OBE". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George [2], Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, Retrieved on 16 June 2014.
- ^ Wadham College [3], 9 December 2013, Retrieved on 17 June 2014
- ^ EP 0940352B1, Ostro, Maurice Samuel, "Box for products to be kept cold and use of such a box", published 2003-06-18, assigned to Polygon Enterprises International Ltd. and inventor
- ^ Council, Design. "TONY BLAIR UNVEILS FINAL MILLENNIUM PRODUCTS /PR Newswire UK/". www.prnewswire.co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ Rebecca Hoar [4] Management Today 2001, Retrieved on 16 June 2014
- ^ [5] Air Fayre LTD 2008, Retrieved on 15 June 2014
- ^ "Journey Group taking off with airline catering". Proactiveinvestors UK. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Our History - Journey Group Plc". www.journeygroupltd.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ [6] Journey Group Plc, 2014, Retrieved on 14 June 2014
- ^ [7] Journey Group PLC 21 July 2003, Retrieved on 17 June 2014
- ^ "Watermark Group PLC | Acquisition | InvestEgate". www.investegate.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ Media on The Move Limited [8] Media on The Move Retrieved on 16 June 2014
- ^ "Menzies Distribution and British Airways power-up for new in-flight and executive lounge newspaper and magazine distribution contract". Menzies Distribution. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ [9] Watermark Group PLC 2013, Retrieved on 14 June 2014
- ^ [10] Watermark Group PLC 26 May 2006, Retrieved on 14 June 2014
- ^ "Topaz specialist honoured with an OBE". JEWELLERYNET. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ a b Admin. "Maurice Ostro OBE KFO". Faiths Forum. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "Jewish family foundation gets £1m from government to promote vaccine take-up". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ Pickard, Jim (10 November 2020). "Friend of Boris Johnson forms group to link business with Downing Street". Financial Times.
- ^ "Meet Maurice Ostro, the father of entrepreneurial giving". www.spearswms.com. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "A Passion for Purpose-Led Business". YPO. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "Collaboration House - Ostro® Topaz". Ostro Topaz. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "Mr. Maurice Ostro OBE KFO". London Family Office Conference. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "Business organisations form new coalition in 'unprecedented' move | TheBusinessDesk.com". West Midlands. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ Hurley, James. "Business joins together to speak as one". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ Clawson, Trevor. "Action Points—Bringing U.K. Business Together In Pursuit Of An Entrepreneur-Driven Recovery". Forbes. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ [11] British Prime Minister's Office 27 January 2014, Retrieved on 14 June 2014
- ^ "Holocaust Commission Report Britains Promise to Remember" (PDF).
- ^ [12] Prime Minister's Strategy Unit January 2005, Retrieved on 14 June 2014
- ^ [13] National Employment Panel May 2005, Retrieved on 14 June 2014