Gerald Ronson, CBE, is CEO of global developer Heron International, the developer of Heron Plaza and its centerpiece, Heron Tower. Under his leadership, Heron International - which he founded in 1956 as the Heron Group - has developed 156 buildings in nine countries and more than 15,000 residential units in the United Kingdom, the United States and continental Europe. Ronson was also instrumental in introducing self-service petrol in the UK; his company has built 968 such stations since 1966 and still owns a significant number of them. A prolific fundraiser and philanthropist, he has donated over 50 million pounds and has established The Gerald Ronson Foundation to continue his philanthropic endeavors. He is directly responsible for raising more than 8 million pounds each year for the charities in which he plays a leadership role.