Marcus Besen AC (19 December 1923 – 8 November 2023) was a Romanian-born Australian businessman, philanthropist, and Holocaust survivor.
While expanding the number of Sussan outlets, they diversified by adding fashion chains Suzanne Grae and Sportsgirl.
[5] The Sussan group also acquired interests in shopping centres, including Highpoint, Chatswood Chase, Whitehorse Plaza, and Moonee Ponds Market Place.
[2][6] The Besens owned and operated a 300 hectares (740 acres) winery and cattle stud named TarraWarra, in the Victorian Yarra Valley.
[5][4] In addition to his work in the fashion industry, Besen and his wife, Eva, were involved in various philanthropic activities over many years.
They were the largest individual donors to the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, which was renamed the ACCA – The Leonie and Marcus Foundation in their honour.
They also supported the National Gallery of Victoria, of which Marcus was a trustee; the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra; the Australian Ballet; and other cultural institutions.
The couple had four children: Naomi Milgrom AC, Carol Schwartz AO, Debbie Dadon AM and Daniel Besen.
Eva was also an art patron and philanthropist, and the couple were known for their philanthropic work, having donated millions of dollars to various charities and causes.