Jump to content

Arpad Busson

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 92.26.1.208 (talk) at 11:23, 12 April 2013 (Spamming deleted). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Arpad Busson
Personal details
Domestic partner(s)Elle Macpherson (1995–2005)
Uma Thurman (2007–present)
ChildrenArpad Busson
Aurelius Busson
Luna Thurman-Busson
OccupationFinancier, Philanthropist

Arpad A. Busson (born 27 January 1963) is a London-based French financier. Busson entered the world of hedge funds in 1986 working in New York.[1] He is the founder and Chairman of the EIM Group, a fund of funds company. Mr. Busson is also active in a number of philanthropic causes around the globe.

Early life

Busson's aunt, Joanna Harcourt-Smith, was a companion of Timothy Leary, who coincidentally was married in the early 1960s to the mother of Arpad's partner, Uma Thurman.[2] His parents met in Paris and named their son after the Hungarian-born banker Árpád Plesch (1889–1974), who was not only Florence Busson's stepfather (he was the second husband of her mother, Marysia Ulam Krauss Harcourt-Smith), but also her stepgrandfather (Plesch's first wife was his second wife's mother, Leonie Caro Ulam).[3] Plesch also was a mentor to Italy's richest man, the late head of Fiat, Gianni Agnelli.[4]

Growing up in France, some sources have suggested that Busson made early profits selling toothpicks door-to-door (which he denies),[5] but he was educated in France and at the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland. He then served national service as a medic in the French army, where a friend said: "He loved the discipline of the army - it was the making of him.".[6]

On being demobilised, Busson had a well-publicised relationship with the actress Farrah Fawcett and appeared in tabloid gossip columns.[citation needed] As he often refuses to give interviews, stories surround Busson - the story about Fawcett is that they met on the French Riviera. The story is only partly true, in that it was perpetuated by the gossip columnist "Taki" as a sort of in-joke: Taki knew Busson's mother, who was friends with Fawcett.[5]

Finance career

Busson entered the world of hedge funds in 1986 working with Dubin Swieca.[7] He was later employed as a marketing representative for Paul Tudor Jones's fund Tudor Investments.

In 1991, Mr. Busson founded the EIM Group to provide fund-of-fund management services to the growing institutional market for hedge funds.[8]

On December 8, 2008 EIM Group was reported as being a victim of a ponzi scheme[9]

Charity

Main article: Absolute Return for Kids

Busson is a proponent of "venture philanthropy,"[citation needed] which seeks to multiply the effectiveness of charitable pursuits by applying to them the same management practices which are used in business ventures.

Busson is a founding trustee of the children's charity ARK (Absolute Return for Kids) and serves as chairman of its board of directors. Busson held the post of Chairman since the charity's inception. He stepped down from that position in 2009 but remains a member of the Board as founding chairman, and as chairman of ARK US.[citation needed]

ARK raises charitable contributions from the hedge fund industry for children who are victims of abuse, disability, illness and poverty.[citation needed] ARK finances and manages projects aimed at transforming the lives of children in Eastern Europe, South Africa and the UK through education and healthcare.[citation needed]


The annual Ark Dinner hosted by Mr. Busson sees a range of high profile individuals attend the event to raise money for the charity. Previous years have seen the likes of Bill Clinton (2006),[10] Queen Rania of Jordan (2010)[11] and in 2011 the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took the limelight as Prince William announced a joint venture by the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry and the Ark charity.[12]

Its activities include funding treatment for AIDS victims in Africa, taking children out of care in Bulgaria and Romania and developing educational opportunities for disadvantaged children in India.[13] It also operates eight academies, six of which are in London, through its subsidiary charity ARK Academies.[14]

Busson says of ARK, "If we can apply the entrepreneurial principles we have brought to business to charity, we have a shot at having a really strong impact, to be able to transform the lives of children."[4]

He is a patron of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.[15]

He is a founding member of Theodora Children's Trust, a charity which brings music, magic and laughter to children in hospital through visits from performers known as 'Giggle Doctors'.

Personal life

Busson has two sons from his relationship with model Elle Macpherson, Arpad Flynn Alexander Busson (born February 14, 1998)[16] and Aurelius Cy Andrea Busson (born February 4, 2003).[17] The couple got engaged in February 2002[18] but split in July 2005, issuing a joint statement: "Whilst remaining the greatest of friends, we have decided to spend some time apart to consider our future. We have, and in many ways continue to have, a wonderful relationship, which has produced two beautiful children. There is no third party involved."[19]

Busson was engaged to actress Uma Thurman in 2008[20] but in December 2009, it was reported that the two had broken up.[21] In 2011, the couple were back together at the Louis Vuitton spring/summer fashion show in Paris. In February 2012, it was announced that Thurman and Busson are expecting their first child together.[22] On Sunday July 15, 2012 they welcomed a baby girl, Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson.[23]

In 2006, Busson was voted the seventh most wanted person at a party in the United Kingdom, according to Tatler magazine - while Macpherson was voted in at eleventh.[24]

He lives in London.[25]

References

  1. ^ Costello, Miles (2007-12-31). Monday manifesto: Arpad Busson. Retrieved on 2008-06-29 from http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article3111342.ece
  2. ^ Etti (Mrs Arpad) Plesch, Horses & Husbands: The Memoirs of Etti Plesch, Dorset: Dovecote Press, pages 130-139
  3. ^ Etti (Mrs Arpad) Plesch, Horses & Husbands: The Memoirs of Etti Plesch, Dorset: Dovecote Press, pages 130-139
  4. ^ a b EducationGuardian.co.uk (2005-05-29). "Can this 'venture philanthropist' save our schools?". London: The Observer. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
  5. ^ a b Walsh, Katie (2008-05-18). "Arpad Busson, a hedge fund 'hippy'". London: The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
  6. ^ Cobain, Ian (2005-07-06). "From playboy to playgrounds: the speculator turned philanthropist with big plans for pupils". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  7. ^ http://www.efinancialnews.com/story/2001-03-26/eim-targets-institutional-market. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ "EIM Group - The Firm". eimgroup.com. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Bernard Madoff 'fraud': Betrayed by their best friend". The Daily Telegraph. London. 2008-12-19.
  10. ^ Cahill, Tom; Baker, Stephanie (2011 [last update]). "Queen Rania, the Killers Help Ark to Raise 14 Million Pounds - Bloomberg". bloomberg.com. Retrieved 13 June 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  11. ^ "BUSINESS GRANDEES RUB SHOULDERS WITH CELEBS AT ARK EXTRAVAGANZA | City A.M." cityam.com. 2011 [last update]. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  12. ^ "A rich man but a 'pretty poor playboy' - Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. London: TMG. 2011-06-11. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  13. ^ Walsh, Katie (2008-05-18). "Arpad Busson, a hedge fund 'hippy'". London: The Sunday Times. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/support_services/article3952782.ece. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
  14. ^ "ARK Academies, registered charity no. 1111608". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  15. ^ Elton John AIDS Foundation patrons
  16. ^ "Elle Macpherson Gives Birth To Son In Manhattan". Chicago Tribune. February 17, 1998. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  17. ^ "Elle Macpherson Gives Birth To Baby Boy". WENN. February 7, 2003. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  18. ^ Stephen M. Silverman (February 1, 2002). "Elle Macpherson's Second Marriage Set". People.com. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  19. ^ Browne, Rachel (2005-06-26). "Supermodel denies there's anyone else after split with Busson". The Sun-Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/people/elle-denies-theres-anyone-else-after-split/2005/06/25/1119321946751.html. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
  20. ^ "Actress Uma Thurman locks lips with millionaire boyfriend on park bench". London: Daily Mail. 2008-05-25. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-26. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Everett, Cristina (2009-12-08). "Uma Thurman splits from multimillionaire fiance Arpad Busson". Daily News. New York.
  22. ^ "Uma Thurman Expecting Third Child", People, February 27, 2012.
  23. ^ "Uma Thurman Daughter's Name Revealed", People, October 17, 2012.
  24. ^ "Camerons top Tatler party charts". BBC News. 2006-07-03. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  25. ^ Tatler http://www.tatler.com/the-tatler-list/b/arpad-busson

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arpad_Busson&oldid=549985610"