Damon Buffini

Damon Buffini is an English businessman, who used to head the private equity company Permira.

Biography

Born in Leicester in 1962, the son of an African American serviceman and a British woman, he was educated at the Gateway school in Leicester. Buffini graduated in law from St John's College, Cambridge University, and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.[1] Out of a list of 100, Buffini topped the list as the most powerful black male in the Britain by New Nation. He also ranked number three by the Times Power 100 for people who hold sway over British Business.[2] Boasting power and influence, together with a personal fortune of between £100m and £200m., Buffini was appointed to then Prime Minister Gordon Brown's business advisory panel.[3]

Buffini worked for LEK Partnership, and under the firm's scholarship scheme undertook an MBA from Harvard Business School.[1] On return to the UK he joined Imperial Group working as a management consultant, before being recruited by Jon Moulton (now head of rival firm Better Capital), in 1988 to join Schroders leveraged buyout team, known then as Schroder Ventures Europe.[4]

Buffini became a partner in 1992, and promoted to Managing Partner of the UK business in 1999, and Managing Partner in 2000, just before he led a management buyout group and renamed the firm Permira. Buffini took home £3.2 million plus bonuses in 2004.[4]

Buffini is also a non-executive board member of SVG Capital plc and chairman and co-founder of the Social Business Trust.

He is also a main board member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and a trustee of the Royal Anniversary Trust, which administers The Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education.

In September 2012 Buffini was appointed to the Board of Governors at The Wellcome Trust.

Personal life

Married to a solicitor Deborah, the couple have three children and a family home in Weybridge[5] and a city flat in Wandsworth. Buffini plays tennis and golf, football for a local amateur side, and supports Arsenal.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Permira
  2. ↑ Inventive and dynamic risk-takers who changed the face of Britain - Times Online
  3. ↑ The real black power list of 100 leading role models | Media | The Observer
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Permira boss takes home £3.2m - and no surprise as spotlight falls on Buffini | Business | The Guardian
  5. ↑ Invisible man forced into view by his golden touch - Times Online
  6. ↑ Profile: Damon Buffini | Business | The Guardian

External links