Emmanuel Kaye


Sir Emmanuel Kaye was a British industrialist and philanthropist associated with Lansing Bagnall, an electric forklift manufacturer, and with the Kaye Organisation.

Early life and background

Kaye was born in Russia, the son of wheat merchant Zelman Kagarlisky and his wife, Chassia Annie, a botanist. The family came to England when he was young, settling in London. Emmanuel was educated at Richmond Hill School, leaving to work for a small engineering firm at the age of 15. In 1934, his mother changed the family name to "Kaye".

Career

In 1940, Kaye founded J. E. Shay Ltd., described as precision gauge tool and instrument makers. In 1943, he took over Lansing Bagnall, a maker of electric forklift trucks and related equipment.
Kaye later served as founder and chairman of the Kaye Organisation, described as a group with allied companies in Switzerland and Germany, and he chaired Lansing Bagnall and other associated companies. A 1996 Independent report described him as a multi-millionaire, award-winning industrialist and a former leading figure in the Confederation of British Industry.
He was a donor to Tony Blair's Labour Leader's Office Fund before the 1997 [United Kingdom general election|1997 General Election]. Kaye was associated with the Labour Friends of Israel.

Philanthropy

The Emmanuel Kaye Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales.
Among major beneficiaries of his philanthropy was Emmanuel College, Cambridge, which made him an Honorary Member in 1994. He was Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Thrombosis Research Trust.

Public roles

Kaye's public activities included involvement with the Confederation of British Industry and membership of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art. He was also a trustee of the Glyndebourne Opera from 1979 to 1984.

Personal life

In 1946, Kaye married Elizabeth, daughter of Mark Cutler; they had a son and two daughters. He was appointed C.B.E. in 1967, and Knight Bachelor in 1974.