The MMTA team were sad to learn of the passing of long-standing MMTA Member, Alex Stewart.
OBITUARY- MR. K. ALEXANDER STEWART ASSOCIATE AND FELLOW OF ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY
Company Founder and Group Chairman, Mr. K Alex Stewart passed away peacefully on 26th March 2018 aged 83.
Alex Stewart founded and commenced work in building his global inspection and analysis organization in 1978 after first gaining extensive experience in all aspects of sampling and assaying by working his way up from basic laboratory duties and then gaining a First-Class Honours degree in Chemistry to become an Associate and Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry.
In total, he had 67 years of experience in the metal business, in 1967 Alex became a Director of Alfred H. Knight and was largely responsible for the worldwide expansion of the company during the next decade.
In 1977, he left to start his own company, Alex Stewart Assayers Ltd; more recently he traded as Alex Stewart International, and built his inspection offices and laboratories in Liverpool, continuing to invest his vast knowledge of the business, managerial and people skills towards making the network of other Alex Stewart companies into one of the leading independent providers of inspection and metal assayers in the world, acknowledged and accredited by renowned metal institutions such as IPMI, LME, BIR, LBMA and UKAS.
Mr. Stewart was at the vanguard of developing modern assaying techniques and undertook research works in Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy as a new analytical method, especially for the determination of gold and silver. Later, he introduced his company to the full Platinum Group Analysis associated with both Atomic Absorption and Fire Assay techniques. Later he was involved in the sampling of complex precious metals, and he also spent considerable time performing bulk cargo inspections for shipments of grain, sugar, edible oil and fertilizers at major European and South American ports.
In 1999, Alex Stewart Argentina installed a geochemical mining exploration laboratory in Mendoza, which has now extended its facilities to Santa Cruz Province and Jujuy.
In 2004, Alex Stewart Agriculture was founded to provide GAFTA, FOSFA inspection and UKAS accredited analysis of all soft commodities such as grains, oilseeds, oils and fats to traders, millers, refiners and farmers mainly in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru, Thailand, UK and the Ukraine.
In 2016, Alex Stewart Food Test Lab was founded; this completed Alex’s diversification into the analysis and inspection of all commodities traded on international exchanges and also food products.
Mr Stewart travelled extensively during his time, visiting 104 countries, a number of which he visited for the first time with the sole intention of registering his Company name and business, including countries such as the USA, China, Malaysia, Rwanda, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. He made lasting friendships and was an ambassador not only for his own Company but also for British International Trade, most of his best business ventures and partnerships were of his own personal initiative and design, having a trustworthy and loyal partner was a reflection of Alex’s good nature and character and is how Alex Stewart International became a well-respected Company in the industry.
Alex was a lifelong supporter of Liverpool FC and he cheered his team on to win 56 trophies during his time, number 57 is of course a work in progress, and at the time of his passing, this hope was still firmly in his heart. His support of LFC was well known and quite unique; he frequently travelled with the team on the official club flights to European Cup and Champions League games and hosted many pre-match hospitality meals with business partners from within the metals industry, probably even before the word “football hospitality” became as corporate and mainstream at it is recognized today. His enthusiastic support touched many lives in the right way, and it was the idea of sharing his love of Liverpool FC which also became an integral part of the reason for continued long-standing friendships and connections in business.
The memories of his life and spirit will always be with us, and of course he will be sadly missed by all his good friends and colleagues at Alex Stewart International. We’ll do our best to take care of your great work!!
You’ll Never Walk Alone
Rest in Peace, Alex.
