THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

R. STEPHEN RUBIN

Honored: 2008
Location: London, England

R. Stephen Rubin, chairman of United Kingdom sporting goods giant Pentland Group, is responsible for decades of generosity via Pentland’s subsidiaries and associated companies: Reebok International,  Adidas and La Chemise Lacoste.  

For many years, Pentland has outfitted Israeli and United Kingdom teams competing in the World Maccabiah Games, and the Rubin Family has long supported Israel’s Wingate Institute of Physical Education & Sport (Netanya), including development of the campus’ Speedo Aquatic Centre.

Qualifying as a Barrister at the age of 21, Rubin has been associated with the sports industry for nearly 40 years, becoming Chairman of the Pentland Group, then called Liverpool Shoe, in 1969.   He was responsible for developing the first women’s tennis shoe actually made on a woman’s last.   Rubin was World Chairman of the Textile Institute 1994-96, and elected president of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry 1995–2001.

Rubin/Pentland’s concern for corporate social responsibility includes industry efforts to eliminate the exploitation of child labor; involvement in the “Caring for Climate” UN Global Compact; the World Swim Against Malaria; and is involved in many corporate partnership activities in the developing world, with particular emphasis on creating Peace through Sport.

Rubin was appointed Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in 2002, a year following receipt of the Sports Industries Federation Lifetime Achievement Award.  He has served as Honorary Chair of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame since 1992.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually, honoring those individuals who have made significant contributions to the State of Israel and society through sports.
 
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