Early Life
Jack Cowin was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, on July 13, 1942. His father worked for Ford Motor Company, instilling in him the values of hard work and self-sufficiency. From a young age, Cowin took on various jobs, including paper routes and selling Christmas cards, which provided him with valuable early lessons in personal effort and customer interaction. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario in 1964.
Rise to Success
Cowin's entrepreneurial journey began in 1969 when he immigrated to Australia and launched the first KFC outlet in the country. With the financial backing of 30 Canadians, he secured the rights to open KFC franchises in Western Australia. Seeing potential in the fast-food market, he founded Hungry Jack's in 1971 after discovering that the Burger King trademark was already in use in Australia. Hungry Jack's became the exclusive Australian master franchisee of Burger King.
Key Business Strategies
Cowin's success is built upon his ability to identify opportunities and adapt to market conditions. He has been involved with KFC, Hungry Jack's, and Domino's Pizza. His strategy included franchising and strategic investments, allowing him to build a diversified portfolio. Cowin also expanded into food processing and other ventures, demonstrating a willingness to diversify his holdings.
Philanthropy
Cowin and his wife, Sharon, established the Jack and Sharon Cowin Scholars Award, which facilitates academic exchanges between Bond University and Western University. He also donated funds to the University of Western Ontario for a new football field, named in honor of his father, Stanley J. Cowin.
