(Allegedly) Rarer than a Dodo...a caring Hedge Fund Manager!

Wednesday, 29th April 2009 16:23 - by Resident IFA

The Sunday Times rich list had all the usual suspects from Abramovich through Branson down to Duffy. What spiked my attention, however, was the list of ‘Givers’, especially when this list was ordered into the ratio of giving to the individual’s wealth. At the pinnacle of the Giving List was Christopher Cooper-Hohn. He donated more than 5 times his personal wealth – at £462m, to The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) from the profits and investments of his hedge fund, The Children’s Investment Fund (TCI). Jamie, his wife, runs the foundation. The text on the foundation’s website possibly says it all about the Cooper-Hohn’s positive attitude to enhancing children’s lives: “We aim to be the gold standard in every grant we make and in every system we put in place. We constantly strive to make extraordinary change in the lives of children in developing countries.” A trustee of CIFF, Gerry Elias, was quoted as saying: “For Jamie, this is a full-time job times two. She has built an incredibly high-calibre team. She is very clear about what she wants and drives it through the organisation. Chris is an engaged board member of CIFF as well as a partner in the Children’s Investment Fund. While the hedge fund is clearly his day job, CIFF is a tremendous motivation for him.” CIFF’s website states part of their Mission is: “Focusing on areas of measurable impact for children’s well-being; initial emphasis on: o Child Survival, o Educational Attainment o Nutrition and Hunger Alleviation” When you see this level of humanity and compassion, it may well change your view of Hedge Fund Managers from ‘Flash Harry’s’ to normal flesh-and-blood human beings! Or perhaps Jamie and Christopher Cooper-Hohn are truly the exception to the rule? Until next time...