Tom Hunter
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| Sir Thomas Blane Hunter | |
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| Born | May 6, 1961  New Cumnock, Ayrshire |
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| Occupation | Property and sports goods |
| Net worth | £1.05 billion ($2.13 billion) |
Sir Thomas Blane Hunter is a Scottish businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
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[edit] Wealth
Sir Tom graduated from the Business School of the University of Strathclyde, then began his career by selling trainers from the back of a van. Later he opened concessions in large city centre shopping precincts. During those early days he had difficulty in obtaining supplies as a number of major branded sport shoe only wanted their shoes sold in brand name sports shops. In due course he was able to persuade all the major brands to supply him. In 1984, he founded the Sports Division chain of sports shops. He built this up into a leading retailer. In 1998, he sold the chain to JJB Sports, making over £250 million.
In March 2001, Hunter was a founding partner of West Coast Capital, an investment firm. Through this firm, he has become a major shareholder in a number of retailers - including USC, Office, D2, and Qube. One of his most significant shareholdings is in BHS, of which he owns approximately eight percent. Philip Green owns the rest of the business.
Substantial investments in commercial property, shopping centres, and licensed premises also contribute to his extensive portfolio.
In 2001, Hunter was interviewed for the stv programme Rich, Gifted and Scots discussing his wealth, influences and philanthropy.[1]
Hunter was listed on the Sunday Times Rich List 2005 as the 2nd richest man in Scotland, with an estimated wealth of £678m. In the Sunday Times Rich List 2006, he was ranked as the richest man in Scotland, with an estimated wealth of £780m.
By April 2007, Hunter was reportedly the first ever home-grown billionaire in Scotland. He is currently the richest individual in Scotland, with wealth was recently estimated at £1.05 billion.[2]
[edit] Philanthropy
Along with his wife Marion, Hunter established The Hunter Foundation in 1998. It has since donated millions to supporting educational and entrepreneurial projects in Scotland.
Hunter has been a major supporter of Band Aid, donating over £6m to the appeal. The Hunter Foundation has provided £1m to support the Make Poverty History campaign and has supported the Live 8 concerts.
In 2005, Hunter invested £100,000 in a £500,000 joint project with the Scottish Executive.[3] Later that year he received a knighthood for "services to Philanthropy and to Entrepreneurship in Scotland".[4]
The Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, in the University of Strathclyde, was established with a £5m donation.
In November 2006, he donated £1 million to the Children in Need charity appeal telethon, via the Hunter Foundation. On 16 March 2007, he donated £1 million to the Comic Relief charity appeal, via the Hunter Foundation, to match the £1 million raised during Comic Relief Does The Apprentice.
In July 2007 it was reported that he pledged to donate a further £1 billion to charity.[5]
Sir Tom Hunter was, in 2003, rewarded for his philanthropy with the Beacon Fellowship Prize for his contribution to pioneering and innovative projects in the field of education.
