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Dr Ivan May (1947 – 2010)

�������ý University flew its flag at half-mast during a memorial held in the �������ý Great Hall on 19 January 2011 in honour of the late President of the University’s Convocation, Dr Ivan Raymond May.

May died at age 63 in �������ý’ Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg on 31 December 2010 after a five-month struggle with kidney cancer..

Over 600 guests attended a public memorial service hosted by �������ý in tribute to May’s deep and enduring relationship with the university.

The memorial aptly celebrated the world-renowned marketer and philanthropist who loved music and the arts, the environment and Mickey Mouse! The Disney character, May said, embodied ‘May’s Laws’: Nothing is impossible; everything is an opportunity and there is always room for ice cream!

May was most recently chief executive of the Constitution Hill Trust, the Intellectual Capital Corporation of Africa, and 1485AM Radio Today. In 2006, he established the Radio Today Academy ─ to be renamed the Ivan May Radio Academy ─ which provides free broadcast training to the historically disadvantaged.

Academic giant, corporate marketing pioneer

Born in Johannesburg on 23 August 1947, May matriculated from King Edward VII School and obtained five �������ý degrees (BSc 1968, BSc Hons 1969, MSc 1970, PhD 1974, MBA 1977). He was an honorary lecturer at the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, an associate professor in the Faculty of Science and served on the University’s Council, Senate and Honorary Degrees Committee.

May began his corporate career at Greatermans Stores, later joining advertising firm Ogilvy& Mather WorldWide for six years. In 1986, he joined Nedbank/Nedcor, where he remained for 17 years before taking early retirement in June 2003. 

At Nedbank May pioneered cause-related marketing. He masterminded the ‘green’affinity banking products through which Nedbank clients contributed to conservation via The Green Trust. Banking products linked to trusts for sports, the arts and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund followed. May’s strategy became a global case study for which Nedbank won accolades.

A Fellow and Chartered Marketer in South Africa and the UK, the Institute of Marketing Management named May Financial Services Marketing Person of the Year, and The Star,Marketing Man of the Year. The Association of Marketers awarded him its highest honour, the Protea Award, and the Marketing Federation of South Africa, its Gold Loerie Award for consistent, innovative and sustained marketing excellence.

Renaissance man of the arts, environment, philanthropy

May was a philanthropist with a penchant for gastronomy, creative arts and the environment.

He served Business and Arts South Africa, the Market Theatre Foundation, the Arts & Culture Trust of the President and he was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

May the environmentalist drove a ‘green’ Smart car, and backed the establishment of nature reserves to protect the endangered Brenton Blue butterfly. He won environmental accolades including the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Cheetah Award and WWF South Africa’s penultimate Gold Medal.

Described by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund as “a groundbreaking leader in the sphere of giving”, May volunteered time and expertise to the Vodacom Foundation, the Territorial (Business) Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, Inyathelo, ProBono.Org and the Charities Aid Foundation.

He was a Knight of Justice to The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. He shared The South African Jewish Report’s 1999 Humanitarian of the Year Award with former State President, Nelson Mandela.

1. “A great believer in the importance of an active civil society, Ivan embodied this in his personal life as a volunteer at every level from his alma mater, �������ý, through to large and small NGOs.” (Inyathelo)
2. “A man of absolute integrity… [with] a strong stance on issues of ethics, transparency and governance. ” (The Salvation Army)
3. “Ivan May was truly a hero for the planet.” (The Green Trust, WWF)
4. “The media fraternity has lost a great friend and advocate, and South Africa has lost a really amazing citizen.” (South African National Editors’ Forum)