Published: October 31, 2018
Sir Dennis Landau, former Chairman of Unity Trust Bank, has sadly passed away.
Sir Dennis was a Director of Unity from 1986 and was Chairman of Unity from between 1992 to 2000. He remained a shareholder of the Bank and last came to an AGM in May 2015.
His funeral was held today (Wednesday, 31 October) at Western Cemetery, Cheshunt.
A former Chief Executive of the Co-operative Wholesale Society he sadly died in the early hours of Saturday morning following a short illness.
Born on 18 June 1927; the third child of Michael Landau, a metallurgist and Florence Landau. He was educated at Haberdashers’ Aske’s School, Hampstead. His service in the British Army included participating in the liberation of Bergen Belsen concentration camp.
He started his career as a food chemist for Jaffa Juice. He then worked for Schweppes, later Cadbury Schweppes in various roles, including Managing Director of Schweppes East Africa from 1958 to 1962 and Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Cadbury Schweppes Foods in 1970. In 1970 he joined the Co-Operative Wholesale Society as Food Controller and was Deputy Chief Executive Officer from 1974 to 1980 and Chief Executive from 1980 to 1992.
He was a member of the Metrication Board from 1972 to 1980. He was Chairman of the Council of the Manchester Business School from 1991 to 1993 and a member of the Court of Manchester University from 1992 to 2000.
Sir Dennis was knighted in 1987.
He was a keen rugby and cricket player and was President of the Lancashire County Cricket Club from 2003 to 2007 and Vice-President until his death.
Sir Dennis leaves a widow, Lady Pamela Landau (formerly Garlick) whom he married in 1992 and two stepsons; Christopher and Stephen.
He is also survived by his sisters Daphne Heiser (born 1921) and Vivienne Tabor (born 1924) and his nephew Michael and nieces Dahlia and Sarah as well as many friends and relations.
