Considered both a financial genius and hedge fund guru, Hugh Sloane, one of the founders of the firm, Sloane Robinson, is not your typical fund manager. Although he apparently earns what appears to be the highest compensation package in Britain (said to be around £58 Million in 2006 alone) and has a luxurious residence in a Cotswold village, Sloane does not suffer from wealthy overbearance.
Sloane’s compensation level exceeds even the reported £50 Million “bonus” paid to a Goldman Sachs director and the huge compensation package of Roger Jenkins, leader of Barclays Capital. But his neighbors in the village of Longborough, near Morton-in-Marsh, witness him more often dealing in pennies at the bi-annual village fair. In fact, Sloane often opens his £8 Million country retreat for a sideshow at the event.
His country home is actually an 18th century mansion, Banks Fee, which he purchased for £5.8 Million in 2002, after which he spent at least £3 Million for restoration. His neighbors are thrilled he made the effort. But Sloane and his wife, Kate, are not interested in full time village life just yet. They did apparently give it a try after they first purchased in Longborough, without success. They continue to offer Banks Fee for the bi-annual fete, but spend little additional quality time there.
Although the Sloane’s have restored the mansion beautifully, they have teenage children who, understandably, are often bored in the small, quiet village. Their offspring apparently prefer to spend time in one or another of their parents’ other homes, which offer more activity options. The Sloane’s provide a decided contrast to the home’s former owner, who taught religion at the village church and made monetary contributions to the village as a dedicated member of the neighborhood.
Villagers, however, appear to be very fond of the Sloane’s, as they seem to blend well during their stays at their home. Most neighbors enjoy the fact that neither Hugh nor Kate Sloane “show off” their wealth in either attitude or actions. In fact, most consider the Sloane’s just part-time neighbors, albeit extremely wealthy villagers.
The Sloane’s have done marvelous work with their home and its magnificent gardens, upon which Hugh Sloane has spent thousands of pounds. Most villagers agree that Hugh Sloane is a “great guy and a genuinely nice person.”
Sloane, one of ten partners in the firm of Sloane Robinson, has an apartment in west London, near his prime partner, George Robinson. Public records indicate that the two founders shared approximately £207 Million in the prior 16 months, but do not specify individual partners’ compensation. Robinson, however, steadfastly denies he was the highest paid partner. Sloane and Robinson currently manage approximately £3 Billion through the partnership they founded in 1993. Their fund favors Asian investments, primarily stocks, particularly Japanese equities.
Hugh Sloane, always one to keep a low profile regardless of his balance sheet, has risen to the pinnacle of the investment community with little public fanfare. He earned an undergraduate degree from Bristol University and a masters in economics at Oxford. He has earned hundreds of millions of pounds in his career, but, to his neighbors, Sloane is just a great guy and a good villager.