Rockefeller not stressed: friend

A former Brierley Investments executive saw no signs of tension in missing businessman Herman Rockefeller when their families enjoyed a holiday together this month.

John Beattie started working with Mr Rockefeller at Brierleys in 1986.

"Herman Rockefeller is a person who does not take substantial risks. We are terribly upset and confused about the circumstances he found himself in, whatever they might be," he said.

Mr Beattie's family holidayed with Mr Rockefeller's family early this month in Australia.

"I saw absolutely nothing during the close to a week that we were on holiday together and the subsequent activities we did in Melbourne that would lead me in any way to believe he was experiencing tension of some form, either financially or in some other way," Mr Beattie said.

Mr Rockefeller's 2007 Toyota Prius was found near an abandoned homestead by a riverbank near Ballan, about 75km west of Melbourne.

Mr Rockefeller had flown in from Newcastle after a four-day business trip. He lives in Melbourne.

Another business associate said the disappearance was totally out of character. Jim Watson, a biotech business pioneer and chairman of the Royal Society's National Science Panel, said Mr Rockefeller helped him establish Genesis Research in the early 1990s.

"He was the director [of Genesis] for about seven years and we've been close personal friends the whole time," he said. The two men took part in several 100km endurance walks together.

"They damn near killed me, but they were a lot of fun," Mr Watson said.

He was surprised that the Australian police were now investigating whether his friend's disappearance was deliberate. "It's just so unlike Herman," he said.

"He's got a lovely family ... a lovely place to live. I thought he was living his life exactly the way he wanted.

"I don't have any reason for understanding his behaviour unless there is something organically wrong with him."

Mr Watson said he did not believe Mr Rockefeller was under any financial stresses and was completely devoted to his wife and two teenage children.

He last met Mr Rockefeller in Auckland a year ago, and said he thought he was enjoying running his property business with his brother in Australia.

"[Mr Rockefeller] was terrifically healthy and on top of the world," said Mr Watson.

He had found out about his friend's disappearance only yesterday, and was about to give Mr Rockefeller's wife Vicky a call when he heard the Australian police were investigating whether he had intentionally gone missing.

Police were yesterday investigating a second unconfirmed sighting of Mr Rockefeller in Kyneton, northwest Victoria.

The town is about one hour's drive northwest of Gordon, where a shopkeeper said she believed she saw Mr Rockefeller buying a pie and milk on Monday.