Kerry Stokes

Kerry Stokes – Life, Career, and Influential Insights

Explore the life, business journey, and key philosophies of Australian business magnate Kerry Stokes (born September 13, 1940). From humble beginnings to media empire builder—discover his values, legacy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Kerry Matthew Stokes AC (born September 13, 1940) is a prominent Australian businessman whose ventures span media, property, mining, industrial services, and philanthropy. Seven Network and the holding company Seven Group Holdings, and for building an influential and diversified business portfolio grounded in persistence, strategic risk, and community investment.

From a challenging childhood and early exit from formal education, Stokes rose by virtue of hard work, opportunism, and a sharp business mind. His philosophies—centered on honesty, customer primacy, and effort—are often cited in Australian business discourse.

Early Life and Formative Challenges

Kerry Stokes was born in Melbourne, Victoria, under the name John Patrick Alford.

Stokes grew up in Camp Pell, a slum housing area, and faced a difficult childhood. He later recalled:

“My background was one of being very difficult, very hard, and they were subject to the times I lived in.”

These early struggles shaped a caustic resilience in him, and instilled a deep drive to create possibility rather than rely on circumstance.

Business Beginnings & Growth

From Antenna Installer to Property Developer

Stokes’s earliest reported job was installing television antennas in Perth.

He founded Australian Capital Equity, which became his principal investment vehicle across multiple sectors.

In 1988, he invested in a Caterpillar equipment dealership (Wigmores Ltd), later evolving into WesTrac, which now operates across multiple Australian states with thousands of employees.

Media & Broadcasting Empire

His media footprint began regionally, acquiring the Golden West Network in Western Australia. Seven Network (Australia’s major commercial television network), played critical roles in merging print (West Australian Newspapers) with broadcast assets, and formed Seven West Media.

Under his leadership, Seven established online ventures (Yahoo!7, broadband, IPTV) and diversified its media platforms.

He has also invested in rural and agricultural holdings—such as acquiring vast cattle properties (Napier Downs in Kimberley) to diversify into pastoral industries.

Over time, Stokes has consistently appeared among Australia’s richest individuals.

Values, Philosophy & Leadership Traits

Honesty & Standards

A recurring theme in Stokes’s public statements is integrity. He has said:

“Ethics or simple honesty is the building blocks upon which our whole society is based … it’s integral … you look them in the eye and say, ‘This is what we’re going to do.’”

This emphasis suggests that he views trust and clarity as as foundational to business as profit or strategy.

Customer First & Contribution

Another guiding maxim:

“The most important adage and the only adage is, the customer comes first, whatever the business, the customer comes first.”

He also reflects on wealth generation being tied to value creation, not mere profit-seeking:

“The only way of making money is for effort … I have made wealth when I’ve actually made a contribution … when I’ve done something I thought I could do better than somebody else.”

Hard Messaging & Directness

In management style, he advocates honesty and clarity, even when the message is difficult:

“If you have a difficult message to deliver … it’s always best to do it first up-front, and probably be a bit harder than you have to be because it’s always easier to be nicer afterwards.”

Stokes acknowledges that his background hardened him—he does not wish the hardships on others, but recognizes they shaped his resolve.

Recognition & Philanthropy

Stokes has received multiple honors:

• Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1995

• Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2006, for leadership in business, corporate social responsibility, arts, and community service particularly for youth

He has also made significant contributions to Australian cultural and memorial institutions. Notably, he has acquired Victoria Cross medal sets and donated them to the Australian War Memorial.

His philanthropy frequently aligns with his interests: youth, culture, memory, national identity.

Challenges & Criticism

As with many media owners, Stokes has faced scrutiny about influence over editorial control. Some critics and insiders suggest his media holdings subtly reflect his viewpoints, especially in sensitive cases.

He has also been involved in high-risk investments that led to losses—he candidly acknowledges that he once lost money on purpose-driven ventures designed more for impact than profit.

Memorable Quotes

Here are several notable quotations associated with Kerry Stokes:

• “The most important adage and the only adage is, the customer comes first, whatever the business, the customer comes first.”

• “Ethics or simple honesty is the building blocks upon which our whole society is based … you look them in the eye and say, ‘This is what we’re going to do … and you go away and get it done.’”

• “If you have a difficult message to deliver … it’s always best to do it first up-front ... it’s always easier to be nicer afterwards.”

• “The only way of making money is for effort. The only time I’ve ever lost money is when I’ve purposely said, ‘I’m doing this to make money.’”

These statements provide a window into how he blends ambition with accountability and integrity.

Legacy & Lessons

Kerry Stokes’s life offers many instructive takeaways:

• Resilience can overcome limited beginnings: his challenging start did not hinder but sharpened his resolve.

• Diversification anchored in strength: he did not confine himself to one sector, but built interlocking interests (media, industry, property).

• Value over greed: he emphasizes that wealth is a byproduct of doing something better or differently.

• Honesty as currency: his consistent message is that trust is a foundational asset in business and society.

• Public service is part of success: by repatriating war memorabilia, supporting museums and youth, he weaves business with citizenship.

In Australian business history, Stokes stands among a class of self-made entrepreneurs who built media and industrial empires—not through inheritance but through effort, risk, and strategic vision.