Vale Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson, a founding leader of Macquarie Group, has passed away.

Johnson joined Macquarie's predecessor Hill Samuel Australia in 1971, which at the time provided merchant banking and corporate advisory services to the mining and industrial sectors.

He served as joint managing director alongside David Clarke from 1971 to 1977, paving the way for what would become Macquarie Bank and Macquarie Group.

After moving to London in 1977 to lead Hill Samuel's international division, he left Macquarie briefly before returning in 1986 as chair of corporate services.

Johnson was deputy chair of Macquarie Bank until July 2007 and chair of Macquarie Infrastructure Group until 2010.

Johnson held a string of board positions, including as chair of the Australian Financial Centre Task Force, and a director of AGL Energy, Alinta Energy and Westfield International.

From 2002 to 2013, he was one of three Australian members of the APEC Business Advisory Council.

Johnson was a senior adviser to Gresham Partners and co-chair of the US Studies Centre's Council of Advisors.

He received the Order of Australia Award in 2010 for his contribution to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Johnson was a Commander of the Order of the Crown (Tonga) and a Life Governor of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

Macquarie Group chief executive and managing director Shemara Wikramanayake said Johnson had a remarkable impact on Macquarie's origin story, laying the foundations of the organisation and shaping a culture that remains central to what it is today.

"I feel fortunate to have worked closely with Mark when I first joined Macquarie and to have seen firsthand his ethos of giving people the trust, responsibility and support to pursue opportunities. His influence extended well beyond Macquarie through his leadership and contribution to Australia's financial services sector and broader society," she said.

"We are deeply grateful for all that Mark gave to Macquarie, and on behalf of Macquarie staff past and present, I extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends."