Early Life
Frank Lowy was born Frank P. Lowy on October 22, 1930, in Fiľakovo, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). His family was of Jewish Slovak-Hungarian origin. During World War II, Lowy and his family were forced to live in a ghetto in Hungary. In 1946, he traveled to France and subsequently arrived in British Mandate Palestine. He fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Rise to Success
In 1952, Lowy moved to Australia and joined his family, who had started a small business delivering goods. In 1953, he partnered with John Saunders and together they formed the Westfield Development Corporation. They built their first shopping center in Blacktown, Sydney. Over the next several decades, Lowy and Saunders developed numerous shopping centers across Australia and expanded into the United States in 1977. The company was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 1960. In 2018, Westfield Corporation was acquired by Unibail-Rodamco.
Key Business Strategies
Lowy's success was built on identifying prime retail locations and understanding consumer behavior. He focused on creating world-class shopping experiences. He expanded Westfield into major international markets and demonstrated a commitment to hard work, innovation, and a strong team.
Philanthropy
Lowy has a long history of philanthropy. He established the Lowy Institute for International Policy, an independent think tank. He has also supported Jewish causes, medical research, education, and various other community initiatives. In 2022, he donated $18 million to Tel Aviv University.