It’s time to say goodbye, but I wish it was not

Alex McKinnon was an unassuming man, but if you look at his credentials, they read like they belong to someone much older. On his passing, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Xone Radio Vietnam. He had started his career as a journalist in the media, and always seemed to make his way back into the fold in some shape or form. Having not been long back in Vietnam, after spending some years closer to family and friends in his hometown of Geraldton, and working there as the Editor of Geraldton Newspapers, he had already carved out a formidable reputation as a businessman. He was the Co-founder of Ho Chi Minh International Grammar School, Co-founder of Vietnam Investment Review Newspapers Group, and had other business ideas that were coming into fruitition. He had the smarts and inquisitive nature of a journalist, and the straight-forward, no nonsense approach of a man with a strategic business acumen. When he was much younger he owned and sold a Australian Style magazine with his partners at that time Lachlan Murdoch and Andrea Horwood. I remember at the time thinking he was one of the smartest businessmen I knew. 

When he came to me some years later with his new “invention”, Magazine on a Bottle and Labelzine, I thought to myself, “there is no way someone is going to go for this one.” But he as always knew something I didn’t and it was a roaring success.

Mostly, I remember Alex as being kind, thoughtful and always there whenever I needed him. He gave me very strong, well-thought through business advice and was helping me come up with the makings of Marketing Eye School. 

At times, I thought he was too generous, but today, I realize that you can never be too generous. It’s what I and I am sure anyone else that has met him will remember him for. 

RIP Alex McKinnon. I will miss you.