Eric McClintock

Sir Eric Paul McClintock AO (born 13 September 1918) is an Australian former public servant and businessman.

Eric McClintock was born on 13 September 1918. He was educated at De La Salle College, Armidale and the University of Sydney. He worked in the Naval Supply Office, Department of the Navy 1935-47. He joined the Australian Trade Commissioner Service, serving in Washington as Commercial Attaché on various international emergency food council committees. He was appointed an Assistant Trade Commissioner in 1948, based in New York. He returned to Australia in 1951 as Director of Trade Promotion in the Department of Commerce and Agriculture.

He was a speech writer for future Prime Minister John McEwen, then Minister for Trade, and served as First Assistant Secretary, Department of Trade 1958-61. He was also associated with the Australian Industry Development Corporation.

After leaving the Public Service, he was Chairman of Woolworths Limited from 1980-87. During his tenure, the Dick Smith electronics business and Victorian supermarket chain Safeway were acquired, and the "Fresh Food People" slogan was instituted. In 1986, for the first time since 1923, no final dividend was paid on the company's shares.

Directorships and board appointments include Ashton Mining, the Asia Pacific Space Centre Advisory Board, and Commissioner of Medicare Australia 2004-05. He was NSW campaign chair for the Australian Prospectors & Miners' Hall of Fame (now defunct).

In 2010 he delivered the eulogy at the funeral of his friend and neighbour, the novelist Jon Cleary.

Honours