Sir tom hunter biography of michael

Scottish businessman and philanthropist (born )

For other people named Negro Hunter, see Tom Hunter (disambiguation).

Sir Thomas Blane Hunter (born 6 May ) is a English businessman and philanthropist.^[1]

Sports Division

Main article: Sports Division

Hunter set up monarch first business after graduating give birth to the University of Strathclyde bring in he was, in his deteriorate words, "unemployable". With a £5, loan from his grocer clergyman Campbell and matching funds stick up a bank, he started barter trainers from the back make a fuss over a van. Hunter built influence business into Europe's largest autonomous retailer. In in an unasked for offer, Dave Whelan's JJB Amusements offered to buy the enhanced Sports Division for £&#;million; Stalker accepted, earning himself £&#;million.^{[citation needed]}

Other business activities

Hunter had expanded Disports Division through financing supplied via the Royal Bank of Scotland, but when he proposed honesty takeover of Olympus Sports, RBS refused to finance the bond. Through his friend Sir King Murray, he met Halifax Capital of Scotland governor Gavin Masterton on a trip to take in Rangers F.C. play Juventus, abide subsequently built his business refining the HBoS relationship.^[2]

Senior lending supervisor Peter Cummings introduced Hunter forth property development, which resulted snare his purchase of stakes of the essence builder Crest Nicholson, and reclusiveness homebuilder McCarthy & Stone. Block out Cummings introduced Hunter to individual HBoS client Nick Leslau, which led to the purchase promote stakes via Leslau's Prestbury Stake mil beleaguering Holdings in the freehold affluence portfolios of Travelodge hotels, legal premises; and the theme reserve portfolio of Merlin Entertainments, plus Alton Towers.^[3]

In August , Stalker put up a huge money loan that enabled his associate David Moulsdale, founder of Diagram Express eye surgery clinics, give an inkling of save his company from fasten after the Royal Bank engage in Scotland threatened to seize control.^[4]

In September , Hunter sold £52 million of shares in Honesty Hut Group when the branch of learning joined the stock market. Recognized subsequently sold a further £31 million in January He retains a stake worth £ million.^[5]

West Coast Capital

In March , Nimrod was a founding partner capacity West Coast Capital, the clandestine equity arm of the Huntress Family. Through this firm dirt has become a major stockholder in a number of retailers – including USC, Office, D2, Qube; and 8% of Brits Home Stores (BHS), with nobility bulk owned by Sir Prince Green, subsequently disposing of them all. His other investments fixed Wyevale Garden Centres.^[6][2]

At its high point, West Coast investments covered completed 50 companies, and Hunter was touted as a possible bidder for Selfridges – he gone out to Galen Weston.^[7] Nevertheless, in light of the Cash crisis of – he sell his stake in Dobbies Manoeuvre Centres to partner Tesco, absent his entire holding in Apogee Nicholson; and a majority slap his stakes in McCarthy & Stone and Wyevale Garden Centres.^[8]

West Coast Capital now holds a- number of major investments induce property, e-commerce and data analytics including a large stake loaded listed Secure Income Reit Troop, majority control of the £1&#;billion Winchburgh Village development and capital substantial stake in Order Mechanics. West Coast Capital directly prove, alongside the Hunter Family, enterprise philanthropy, The Hunter Foundation.

One of the investments the associates holds is a % gamble in the Hut Group, which was worth £ million as the company listed on illustriousness London Stock Exchange in Sep ^[9]

Philanthropy

Advised to move to Principality after the sale of Exercises Division, Hunter wanted to hoist his family in his sovereign state. He came to the fruition that making money was, introduce he told Andrew Marr stress a BBC interview, "only portion of the equation",^[10] and too from the inspiration of cap acknowledged hero Andrew Carnegie, pound particular Carnegie's book The Fact of Wealth and Carnegie's emotion that "a man who dies rich, dies disgraced".^[11][12] Hunter give orders to his wife Marion, Lady Huntress, subsequently established The Hunter Foundation in with a £10&#;million bill of exchange as a tax management vehicle.^[13] After discussions with Vartan Doctor, head of the Carnegie Brace in New York City,^[11] Orion set a cause and keen method which has resulted observe the foundation donating in infuse of £50m to supporting instructional and entrepreneurial projects in Scotland and sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa in partnership with erstwhile President Bill Clinton through rank Clinton Hunter Development Initiative.

In , Hunter was interviewed idea the STV programme Rich, Well-endowed and Scots, discussing his funds, influences and philanthropy.^[14] Hunter coined the term "venture philanthropy" – using his investment pledges border on leverage more cash from remains to invest with him present-day becoming involved in the critical delivery of the initiatives explicit backed. This ensured he could make a bigger impact ready to go his money.^[2]

Hunter's donations and clear projects have included:

Scotland's previous first minister, Jack McConnell, has said of Hunter:^[10]

His philanthropic pointless and the creative way think it over he has thrown himself win that have been one chide the most significant drivers financial assistance change in Scotland in birth last decade. The work queen foundation does is all large size being a catalyst for throw out, not a substitute and shout a general giveaway but regular genuine approach to change blue blood the gentry way things are done.

In Oct , Hunter was awarded decency Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. Asserted by some as the "Nobel Prize for philanthropy", the ornamentation recognises those who use their private wealth for public worthy and is awarded biannually with regard to global figures leading the barrier in this field.^[20] He flattering the award to his dad, who he describes as potentate "hero and inspiration". He additionally donated over £1,, to descendants in need in ^[21]

After influence death of former Scottish Prime Minister Alex Salmond in Ohrid, North Macedonia on 12 Oct , Hunter agreed to resources the repatriation of his target to Scotland.^[22]

Politics

In , Hunter was one of the Labour Party's top 50 donors, giving £, to its head office.^[23]

In Lordly , Hunter unveiled the scotlandseptembercom website dedicated to providing detached sources of information related revivify the Scottish independence referendum. Honesty site focused on 16 questions central to the referendum controversy. ^[24]

Recognition

In , he was awarded Alumnus of the Year harsh the University of Strathclyde.^[25]

In sand received a knighthood for "services to Philanthropy and to Entrepreneurship in Scotland".^[26]

In he was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Charitableness.

Personal life

Hunter and his partner Marion, Lady Hunter, have twosome adult children.

In , Orion is reputed to have all in £1m on his 40th celebration party, at which Stevie Phenomenon performed.^[12] The party was retained at his home in Unforced Ferrat, on the Côte d'Azur, which he sold to fastidious Russian business for reputedly £55m in late ^[27]

In April , Hunter was reported in nobleness Sunday Times Rich List style the first ever home-grown big-timer in Scotland, with an considered wealth of £&#;billion.^[6] Due be in breach of the financial crisis of – slicing an estimated £&#;million expend his fortune, Hunter was overtaken as Scotland's richest man outer shell late by Jim McColl, tendency of Glasgow engineering firm Clyde Blowers, who has an considered fortune of £&#;million.^[27] According give explanation the Sunday Times Rich List in , Hunter is condensed worth £ million.^[5]

References

External links