'Crazy' John Ilhan dead

[ManWithNoName]

Crazy John's founder John Ilhan has died

October 23, 2007 12:37pm
Article from: AAP

JOHN Ilhan, founder and owner of Crazy John's mobile phone company, has died of a suspected heart attack, his company says.

- More to follow

 

[Ron]

Pretty big news.
Poor bastard was only 42 as well.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22634345-1702,00.html?from=public_rss

 

[lachlan24]

Geez, thats terrible. RIP mate

 

[TorresIsGod]

RIP

Condolences to the Ilhan family

 

[DoubleA]

And today tonight only last night had the story about his life.
Creepy

 

[TorresIsGod]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=308192

Mobile phone king "Crazy John" Ilhan has died after suffering a heart attack while out walking in Brighton, a beachside suburb of Melbourne, this morning.

The managing director of Mr Ilhan's company has confirmed the death to National Nine News.

Crazy John's has more than 120 stores nationwide and turns over an estimated $400 million a year.

John Ilhan was born in Turkey in 1965 and emigrated with his family to Melbourne when he was three years old.

He grew up in Broadmeadows near the Ford plant in Melbourne's north-west and worked briefly as a salesman at the company — also studying at university and playing in the former National Soccer League — before taking a job with Strathfield Car Radios.

He left to set up his own business in inner-city Brunswick and quickly expanded the business to become Telstra's largest independent mobile phone dealership with 600 staff.

But National Nine News business editor Ross Greenwood told ninemsn "the pressure has been on Ilhan for all his business life".

"In July this year, after 15 years of selling mobile phone plans for Telstra, he switched to Vodafone," Mr Greenwood said.

"The move from Telstra was peppered with legal disputes about the way phones and plans had been sold."

Mr Ilhan was ranked the wealthiest Australian under 40 in 2003 and his fortune was estimated this year at $310 million.

He also set up the Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation after discovering his daughter Jaida suffered from a severe allergy to peanuts.

Mr Ilhan leaves behind a wife, Patricia, and three children.

 

[My North]

And today tonight only last night had the story about his life.
Creepy

Yes I saw that. He looked fit and well on the TV interview. Also had his own Gym at his house that he used regulary.

What going to happen to the company. Worth lots and lots of money

 

[Shell]

Very sad news. So young!!!!

I remember him coming back to Braodmeadows SC, last year to film a segment for that "Back to School for a Day" program.

 

[TorresIsGod]

I suppose he'd have had a will set up, and the company will revert to it's 2nd in charge?

 

[dp3[WLD]]

when i heard, i thought the company had gone under

but

R.I.P

 

[TheWackedYak]

Yeah, when I read this I thought "shit, only 42?". How tragic. Condolensces to his family.