Ask Thomas ''To m '' Falknor a serious question and in all probability you would receive a playful answer. Humour was one of his strong points as was his humanity, ability to command respect and astute business brain which he deployed to such good effect in the international world of container shipping and ports.
He was there during many defining moments in his chosen professional sphere.
He was part of the R J Reynolds team that acquired the container line Sea-Land in 1969 and in the latter years of his career he shone as part of the senior management team of International Container Services Inc (ICTSI), which achieved so much success acquiring container terminals through government privatisation schemes.
Virtually up until the time of his death, in early August in Dubai from cancer, he continued to chalk up successes for ICTSI - the new Toamasina, Madagascar container handling concession that ICTSI formally takes over in October this year was a project that fell under his wing. Earlier major successes for ICTSI where he was at the helm included acquiring the Baltic Container Terminal in Gdynia, Poland, Damman Container Terminal in Saudi Arabia, Karachi International Container Terminal in Pakistan and the Dar es Salaam Container Terminal in Tanzania, the first fully-fledged container terminal privatisation in Africa. As one colleague says of his record in the port sector, "he was one of the best if not the best."
After leaving the Troy High School in 1962 he studied BA Political Science, Economics and Mathematics at the Purdue University, South Bend Indiana and from there he went to the University of Cincinnati where he obtained an MBA in Corporate Finance and Law graduating in 1968.
From R J Reynolds, which he joined in 1968, he transferred to Sea-Land as Assistant to the President based in New Jersey, USA in 1975. His next position was Director, Finance & Administration Europe/Middle East from 1977-1984 and then he moved to American President Lines as Director Asia Area Staff, based in Hong Kong, from 1984-'86. Three key positions with American President Lines followed:
Managing Director Eastern Region, USA, Vice President Finance and Administration, CFO based in Oakland, California and Director Business Development and Administration, Asia, Europe and the Middle East based in Hong Kong up until 1995 when he joined ICTSI.
Tom Falknor was a great communicator - the one thing in life he chose not to communicate widely about was his illness from cancer which surfaced in January 2005. He didn't want a fuss.
He is survived by his wife Lesley and children Danielle, Steffie and Nick as well as his son Brent Falknor from his first marriage.
