Vale Don Mackay-Coghill
Don Mackay-Coghill’s legacy looms large at The Perth Mint, having led the rebirth and transformation of the business for the modern era.
Mr Mackay-Coghill who died last week aged 83 has a unique place in the Mint’s history, as the first chief executive officer of Gold Corporation from 1986 to 2003 and then as chairman from 2015 to 2018.
South African-born Mr Mackay-Coghill had a successful career in the gold industry in his home country, including as CEO of Intergold where he was responsible for the introduction of the highly successful Krugerrand to world markets, which created the first global market for bullion coins.
His first link to The Perth Mint came when he was sought out by the WA Government to advise it as it prepared to launch the Australian Precious Metals Coin Program in 1986. Soon after he was offered the job of establishing the program and running the Mint as it was revitalised with the creation of Gold Corporation in 1987.
As CEO of Gold Corporation, Mr Mackay-Coghill led the Mint’s foray into the bullion coin market with the launch of Australian Nugget bullion coin series in 1987 and the expansion of the Australian Precious Metals Coin Program into silver and platinum coins.
The advent of the Nugget coin program was a milestone for the Mint and Western Australia more generally, with an official launch by then prime minister Bob Hawke in Sydney followed by a string of international launches, in Asia, Europe and the United States.
The quick success of the program led to the expansive bullion and numismatics business for which the Mint is now globally renowned.
Mr Mackay-Coghill continued in the CEO role as the Mint prospered in the lead-up to the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 with the Olympic coin program, and the honour of producing the gold medals for the Games.
He retired as CEO in 2003 but returned to the fold in 2015 when he was appointed to chair the Gold Corporation board for a three-year term, finally retiring in 2019.
Mr Mackay-Coghill was seen among his colleagues as a leader who expected a lot of his people but was able to inspire them to do their best. His competitive nature and his willingness to take on new challenges had parallels with his earlier career as a high-profile cricketer in South Africa.
He was captain and a fast bowler with the leading provincial team Transvaal in the 1970s. He never had the chance to represent his country with South Africa sidelined from international sport at the time as a result of its racist apartheid policies.
Mr Mackay-Coghill leaves his wife Elaine and sons Colin and Graham.
