Nationality Canadian Role K. C. Irving's son Occupation Owner, J.D. Irving Net worth 5.1 billion USD (2015) | Children 4 Parents K. C. Irving Name James Irving | |
Born March 20, 1928 (age 96) ( 1928-03-20 ) Residence Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada Relatives Arthur Irving (brother) | ||
Grandparents James Dergavel Irving | ||
James K. Irving, OC, ONB (born March 20, 1928) is a Canadian businessman, the eldest son of the industrialist K.C. Irving. With an estimated net worth of US$6.5 billion (as of March 2015), Irving was ranked by Forbes as the 4th richest person in Canada.
Career
After their father's death in 1992, ownership and responsibility for the Irving companies was divided as follows:
Since assuming control of J.D. Irving, Limited, James K. Irving led an extensive diversification of the company. In 1957, he pioneered the company’s reforestation and tree improvement programs and expanded the forest products business.
In 1996, Irving was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2008 he became a Member of the Order of New Brunswick and the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. He is occasionally involved in efforts to preserve the Atlantic salmon in northeastern North America. Irving also started the PALS (Parters assisting local schools) program for schoolchildren locally in Saint John N.B. which has spread to have many schools in the province participating over the past 16 years.