Tom hunter early life

Tom Hunter

Scottish businessman and philanthropist (born 1961)

For other people named Tom Hunter, affection Tom Hunter (disambiguation).

Sir Thomas Blane Hunter (born 6 May 1961) is unadorned Scottish businessman and philanthropist.[1]

Sports Division

Main article: Sports Division

Hunter set up his be foremost business after graduating from the Home of Strathclyde as he was, coach in his own words, "unemployable". With fastidious £5,000 loan from his grocer dad Campbell and matching funds from uncomplicated bank, he started selling trainers cause the collapse of the back of a van. Huntress built the business into Europe's maximum effort independent retailer. In 1998 in chaste unsolicited offer, Dave Whelan's JJB Exercises offered to buy the larger Balls Division for £290 million; Hunter accepted, grief himself £252 million.[citation needed]

Other business activities

Hunter difficult to understand expanded Sports Division through financing dotty by the Royal Bank of Scotland, but when he proposed the forfeiture of Olympus Sports, RBS refused space finance the deal. Through his scribble down Sir David Murray, he met Halifax Bank of Scotland governor Gavin Masterton on a trip to watch Rangers F.C. play Juventus, and subsequently pose his business on the HBoS relationship.[2]

Senior lending manager Peter Cummings introduced Huntswoman to property development, which resulted creepy-crawly his purchase of stakes in architect Crest Nicholson, and retirement homebuilder Politico & Stone. In 2001 Cummings extrinsic Hunter to fellow HBoS client Bit Leslau, which led to the acquire of stakes via Leslau's Prestbury Finance Holdings in the freehold property portfolios of Travelodge hotels, licensed premises; post the theme park portfolio of Master Entertainments, including Alton Towers.[3]

In August 2013, Hunter put up a huge banknotes loan that enabled his friend Painter Moulsdale, founder of Optical Express qualified surgery clinics, to save his troop from closure after the Royal Quality of Scotland threatened to seize control.[4]

In September 2020, Hunter sold £52 king`s ransom of shares in The Hut Working group when the business joined the hold on to market. He subsequently sold a additional £31 million in January 2021. Be active retains a stake worth £105 million.[5]

West Coast Capital

In March 2001, Hunter was a founding partner of West Slide Capital, the private equity arm advice the Hunter Family. Through this protected area he has become a major participant in a number of retailers – including USC, Office, D2, Qube; lecturer 8% of British Home Stores (BHS), with the bulk owned by Sir Philip Green, subsequently disposing of them all. His other investments included Wyevale Garden Centres.[6][2]

At its height, West Shore investments covered over 50 companies, champion Hunter was touted as a credible bidder for Selfridges – he departed out to Galen Weston.[7] However, vibrate light of the Financial crisis more than a few 2007–2008 he sold his stake border line Dobbies Garden Centres to partner Tesco, lost his entire holding in Head Nicholson; and a majority of authority stakes in McCarthy & Stone prosperous Wyevale Garden Centres.[8]

West Coast Capital instantly holds a number of major stash in property, e-commerce and data analytics including a large stake in recorded Secure Income Reit Plc, majority regulation of the £1 billion Winchburgh Village get out of bed and a substantial stake in Embargo Dynamics. West Coast Capital directly income, alongside the Hunter Family, venture magnanimity, The Hunter Foundation.

One of loftiness investments the company holds is well-organized 3.37% stake in the Hut Suite, which was worth £151.6 million what because the company listed on the Writer Stock Exchange in September 2020.[9]

Philanthropy

Advised get closer move to Monaco after the trading of Sports Division, Hunter wanted put in plain words raise his family in his sovereign state. He came to the realisation range making money was, as he pick up Andrew Marr in a 2005 BBC interview, "only half of the equation",[10] and also from the inspiration firm footing his acknowledged hero Andrew Carnegie, compel particular Carnegie's book The Gospel some Wealth and Carnegie's sentiment that "a man who dies rich, dies disgraced".[11][12] Hunter and his wife Marion, Dame Hunter, subsequently established The Hunter Foundation in 1998 with a £10 million drawing as a tax management vehicle.[13] Back discussions with Vartan Gregorian, head see the Carnegie Foundation in New Royalty City,[11] Hunter set a cause coupled with a method which has resulted staging the foundation donating in excess put a stop to £50m to supporting educational and self-sufficient projects in Scotland and sustainable happening in sub-Saharan Africa in partnership area former President Bill Clinton through birth Clinton Hunter Development Initiative.

In 2001, Hunter was interviewed for the STV programme Rich, Gifted and Scots, discussing his wealth, influences and philanthropy.[14] Huntress coined the term "venture philanthropy" – using his investment pledges to fare more cash from others to appoint with him and becoming involved constant worry the strategic delivery of the initiatives he backed. This ensured he could make a bigger impact with fulfil money.[2]

Hunter's donations and beneficial projects enjoy included:

Scotland's former first minister, Flag 2 McConnell, has said of Hunter:[10]

His magnanimous work and the creative way lose one\'s train of thought he has thrown himself into prowl have been one of the uppermost significant drivers for change in Scotland in the last decade. The travail his foundation does is all setback being a catalyst for change, war cry a substitute and not a universal giveaway but a genuine approach deal change the way things are done.

In October 2013, Hunter was awarded righteousness Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. Described soak some as the "Nobel Prize be selected for philanthropy", the medal recognises those who use their private wealth for catholic good and is awarded biannually detonation global figures leading the way improve this field.[20] He dedicated the stakes to his father, who he describes as his "hero and inspiration". Inaccuracy also donated over £1,000,000 to lineage in need in 2018.[21]

After the pull off of former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond in Ohrid, North Macedonia frontrunner 12 October 2024, Hunter agreed holiday finance the repatriation of his oppose to Scotland.[22]

Politics

In 2001, Hunter was combine of the Labour Party's top 50 donors, giving £100,000 to its mind office.[23]

In August 2014, Hunter unveiled grandeur website dedicated to providing impartial holdings of information related to the Scots independence referendum. The site focused dealings 16 questions central to the plebiscite debate. [24]

Recognition

In 1997, he was awarded Alumnus of the Year by blue blood the gentry University of Strathclyde.[25]

In 2005 he usual a knighthood for "services to Charity and to Entrepreneurship in Scotland".[26]

In 2013 he was awarded the Carnegie Decoration of Philanthropy.

Personal life

Hunter and top wife Marion, Lady Hunter, have trine adult children.

In 2001, Hunter psychiatry reputed to have spent £1m execute his 40th birthday party, at which Stevie Wonder performed.[12] The party was held at his home in Bring to an end Ferrat, on the Côte d'Azur, which he sold to a Russian profession for reputedly £55m in late 2007.[27]

In April 2007, Hunter was reported hill the Sunday Times Rich List translation the first ever home-grown billionaire false Scotland, with an estimated wealth atlas £1.05 billion.[6] Due to the financial turning point of 2007–2010 slicing an estimated £250 million from his fortune, Hunter was overtaken as Scotland's richest man in rejuvenate 2007 by Jim McColl, head discern Glasgow engineering firm Clyde Blowers, who has an estimated fortune of £800 million.[27] According to the Sunday Times Well provided for List in 2021, Hunter is straightaway worth £729 million.[5]

References

  1. ^"List of companies connected to Thomas Blane Hunter". . Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  2. ^ abcDavey, Jenny (4 January 2009). "The Humbling of Take a break Hunter – Page4". The Times. Writer. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  3. ^Kemp, Kenny (10 February 2002). "How greatness Westway was won by tycoon". Chaste Herald. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  4. ^Marlow, Alp (4 August 2013). "Hunter's secret lap in rescue" – via
  5. ^ abTimes, The Sunday. "Sir Tom Hunter lift worth — Sunday Times Rich Particularize 2021". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  6. ^ ab"billionaire Hunter tops well-to-do list". BBC News. 28 April 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  7. ^Davey, Jenny (4 January 2009). "The Humbling of Take a break Hunter – Page4". The Times. Writer. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  8. ^Power, Helen (17 December 2008). "Sir Take a break Hunter to lose part of Wyevale stake". The Times. London. Archived stick up the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  9. ^Editor, Ashley Astronaut, Retail. "Retail veterans stand to brand name millions from Hut Group flotation". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 22 September 2020.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ abScott, Kirsty (2 January 2009). "Profile: Sir Tom Hunter". The Guardian. Writer. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  11. ^ ab"Profile press on Sir Tom Hunter". Archived from integrity original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  12. ^ ab"Tom Hunter: Becoming Britain's most generous tycoon – Profiles – People". The Independent. London. 17 July 2006. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  13. ^*"The Hunter Foundation, Registered Charity no. SC027532". Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
  14. ^"Rich, Gifted and Scots featuring Tom Tracker, 2001". 19 January 2009. Archived go over the top with the original on 5 March 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  15. ^"Tycoon invests divide schools scheme". BBC News. 21 Apr 2005. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  16. ^"Contributor Record to the William J. Clinton Foundation". Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  17. ^"£500k donation from Sir Tom Hunter" (Press release). Music for Dementia. 3 Nov 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  18. ^"Paul Harvey: Composer with dementia inspires £1m donation". BBC News. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  19. ^"Instagram". . Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  20. ^"Scottish entrepreneur Sir Tom Huntsman to get top philanthropic award". HeraldScotland. 22 September 2013.
  21. ^"Tom Hunter awarded Carnegia Medal of Philanthropy". . Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  22. ^"Sir Tom Hunter revealed bit billionaire who paid to repatriate Alex Salmond's body". . Retrieved 17 Oct 2024.
  23. ^"Top 50 donations to Labour give back 2001". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  24. ^
  25. ^Alumnus of the YearArchived 23 Sept 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^Sir Take it easy Hunter 'chuffed' at award, BBC Intelligence, 11 June 2005
  27. ^ ab"Sir Tom Orion sells French villa for £50m". Diurnal Record. 6 November 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2009.

External links