Solomon Lew

Early Life

Solomon Lew was born on March 22, 1945, in Melbourne, Australia, to Polish Jewish immigrants. His father was active in the Jewish community. Lew started his journey in the business world at a young age.

Rise to Success

Lew's career began with his involvement in his family's business. He later expanded into importing apparel and toys from China and other investments, primarily in retail companies. Lew took control of his father's small retail business in 1964, at age 18, and transformed it into a retail empire. He has over 50 years of experience in the manufacture, wholesale, and retailing of textiles, apparel, and general merchandise, as well as property development.

Key Business Strategies

Lew is known for his ability to read fashion trends and make strategic investments. He served as Chairman of Coles Myer from 1991 to 1995. He is currently the Chairman of Premier Investments. Premier Investments owns the Smiggle stationery store franchise and the sleepwear label Peter Alexander. In 2025, Myer bought Premier's five apparel brands in exchange for new shares issued to Premier, creating one of the largest retail and apparel companies across Australia and New Zealand.

Philanthropy

Lew's philanthropic endeavors include his role as inaugural Chairman of the Mount Scopus Foundation (1987–2013), which supports Mount Scopus College, one of Australia's leading private colleges.