Conrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour,
OC,
LLD PC,
KCSG, (born
25 August 1944, in
Montreal,
Quebec) is a biographer and occasional columnist who was for a time the third biggest newspaper magnate in the world.
[1] Before trouble with regulators and investors, Black controlled
Hollinger International, Inc. Through affiliates, the company published important newspapers including the
Daily Telegraph (UK),
Chicago Sun Times (USA),
Jerusalem Post (Israel),
National Post (Canada), and hundreds of community newspapers in North America.
In 2003, following investor complaints, Hollinger International reported to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about misconduct at the company, including violations of fiduciary obligations by officers. [2] The report accused Black and close colleagues of running a "corporate kleptocracy." Black resigned under pressure as CEO of Hollinger International. He was charged with mail and wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
Black was convicted in Illinois U.S. District Court on July 13, 2007 and sentenced to serve 78 months in federal prison, pay Hollinger $6.1 million and a fine of $125,000. Black was guilty of diverting funds for personal benefit from money due Hollinger International when the company sold certain publishing assets and he obstructed justice by taking possession of documents to which he was not entitled.[3]
Conrad Black was born in Montreal to a wealthy family originally from Winnipeg. His father, George Montegu Black, Jr., C.A., was the president of Canadian Breweries Limited, an international brewing conglomerate that had earlier absorbed Winnipeg Breweries (founded by George Black Sr.). Conrad Black's mother was the former Jean Elizabeth Riley, a daughter of Conrad Stephenson Riley, whose father founded the Great-West Life Assurance Company, and a great-granddaughter of an early co-owner of the Daily Telegraph.
