Ceawlin Thynn, Viscount Weymouth
Encyclopedia
Ceawlin Henry Laszlo Thynn, Viscount Weymouth (born 6 June 1974) is a British businessman and the second child of Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath
and his wife, Anna Gael Gyarmathy
. He is involved in a number of companies in the leisure, tourism, real estate and financial services sectors.
in Warminster
, Wiltshire
, and read economics and philosophy at University College London
.
, the holding company of Russia’s then-largest oil company, Yukos
, to develop an internationally branded mid-market hotel in every major city in Russia.
Since June 2010, Ceawlin Thynn has been a director at Finmetron AB, a Swedish listed firm offering factoring
services in Russia.
In 2008, he formed The Lion Trust, a private equity vehicle
of which he is the principal. The Lion Trust invests in a range of mature and emerging markets.
In January 2009, Ceawlin Thynn became chairman of Longleat Enterprises, a limited company which comprises operations at Longleat House and Safari Park on the family estate of Longleat
, near Warminster
in Wiltshire
, as well as the commercial activities at Cheddar Gorge, in the Mendip Hills
in Somerset
. Longleat Safari Park
opened in 1966 as the first drive through safari park outside Africa, and is currently home to over five hundred animals, including giraffe, monkeys, rhino, lion, tigers and wolves. Following Lord Bath’s
retirement in 2010, Ceawlin Thynn hired a new Chief Executive – David Bradley, formerly of Legoland
– to take the Longleat product and brand forward. Together they have distilled a long term strategy for Longleat, hiring designers from Hollywood to develop new attractions in addition to the Safari Park including the ‘Jungle Kingdom’, ‘Monkey Temple’ & ‘Hunters of the Sky’. Cheetahs are the most recent additions to the safari park with six having arrived in August 2011. Four lion cubs were born in September 2011, making a total of 10 cubs born this year, and Disney named two of them Simba and Nala as part of a co-promotion agreement for the upcoming Lion King
3D film.
Longleat House was built in the sixteenth century by Sir John Thynn
on the site of a dissolved priory, and in 1949 became the first stately home in Britain to be opened to the public on a commercial basis. The house, park and attractions are open from mid-February to the start of November each year. The 9,800-acre estate, of which the park occupies 900 acres, has long been one of the top British tourist attractions, and has motivated other large landowners to generate income from their heritage in response to rising maintenance costs. Longleat leases 400 acres of land to Center Parcs
for the operation of the Longleat Forest holiday village.
In 2010, Ceawlin Thynn became Executive Chairman of Wombat's Holdings GmbH – a chain of premium quality hostels in Germany and Austria – having acquired a majority stake in the company. Wombat’s hostels were voted the best in the world by customers of Hostelworld in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. In 2010, the Wombat’s City Hostel in Vienna won a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of ‘twelve years of unparalleled service’. The existing offering includes three units in Vienna comprising a total of nearly 1,000 beds, one unit in Berlin with 350 beds and one in Munich with 300 beds. The company is now preparing to expand into other major European cities, including London, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Budapest, Prague and Rome. Wombat’s is widely considered to be the premium product within the hostel sector.
are trustees of the Longleat Charitable Trust, a registered charity in the United Kingdom
. The Trust was established in 1996 and has focused charitable activity on relieving poverty amongst people living around the Longleat Estate and Cheddar Gorge, supporting local pensioners with their fuel bills. The Longleat Charitable trust also provides grants to local schools and churches, including the recent refurbishment of the village hall.
An article by Jasper Gerard published in The Daily Telegraph
on 22 April 2011 titled, Ceawlin Thynn interview: It was a different normality, says the young lion of Longleat, discussing his childhood, his relationship with his father, and future of the Longleat Estate.
An article by Matthew Goodman published in The Sunday Times
on 17 July 2011 titled, Longleat heir moves into hostels, outlining his acquisition of a majority stake in Wombat’s Holdings, and his plans for expanding the business.
An article by Emine Saner published in the London Evening Standard
on 16 June 2004 titled, The viscount who cleaned the loos – a comprehensive profile of his early years at Longleat, his attitude to his father’s eccentricities, and his business career.
Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath
Alexander George Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath , styled Viscount Weymouth between 1946 and 1992, is an English politician, artist and author...
and his wife, Anna Gael Gyarmathy
Anna Thynn, Marchioness of Bath
Anna Thynn, Marchioness of Bath is an Hungarian-born aristocrat, actress and journalist.She was born in Budapest as Anna Abigail Gyarmarthy and she married Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath on 9 May 1969...
. He is involved in a number of companies in the leisure, tourism, real estate and financial services sectors.
Education
Ceawlin Thynn attended Kingdown Comprehensive SchoolWarminster Kingdown
Kingdown Community School is a dual Sports College and Vocational College in Warminster, Wiltshire.There are currently about 1428 pupils attending.- School :...
in Warminster
Warminster
Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, and read economics and philosophy at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
Business
Ceawlin Thynn began his business career as an emerging markets specialist at the London investment bank Caspian Securities, before becoming a partner in Sabre Projects – a real estate development firm. At Sabre he put together a project with Group MenatepBank Menatep
Bank Menatep was a US$29 billion holding company created by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, that had indirect controlling interest in Yukos Oil Company. It was involved in the US$4.8 billion diversion of International Monetary Fund funds.-Scandal:...
, the holding company of Russia’s then-largest oil company, Yukos
YUKOS
OJSC "Yukos Oil Company" was a petroleum company in Russia which, until 2003, was controlled by Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky and a number of other prominent Russian businessmen. After Yukos was bankrupted, Khodorkovsky was convicted and sent to prison.Yukos headquarters was located in...
, to develop an internationally branded mid-market hotel in every major city in Russia.
Since June 2010, Ceawlin Thynn has been a director at Finmetron AB, a Swedish listed firm offering factoring
Factoring (finance)
Factoring is a financial transaction whereby a business job sells its accounts receivable to a third party at a discount...
services in Russia.
In 2008, he formed The Lion Trust, a private equity vehicle
Private equity fund
A private equity fund is a collective investment scheme used for making investments in various equity securities according to one of the investment strategies associated with private equity....
of which he is the principal. The Lion Trust invests in a range of mature and emerging markets.
In January 2009, Ceawlin Thynn became chairman of Longleat Enterprises, a limited company which comprises operations at Longleat House and Safari Park on the family estate of Longleat
Longleat
Longleat is an English stately home, currently the seat of the Marquesses of Bath, adjacent to the village of Horningsham and near the towns of Warminster in Wiltshire and Frome in Somerset. It is noted for its Elizabethan country house, maze, landscaped parkland and safari park. The house is set...
, near Warminster
Warminster
Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, as well as the commercial activities at Cheddar Gorge, in the Mendip Hills
Mendip Hills
The Mendip Hills is a range of limestone hills to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset, England. Running east to west between Weston-super-Mare and Frome, the hills overlook the Somerset Levels to the south and the Avon Valley to the north...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. Longleat Safari Park
Longleat Safari Park
Longleat Safari Park, in Wiltshire, England was opened in 1966 and was the first drive-through safari park outside Africa. The park is situated in the grounds of Longleat House, an English stately home that attracts tourists and is the current home of the 7th Marquess of Bath...
opened in 1966 as the first drive through safari park outside Africa, and is currently home to over five hundred animals, including giraffe, monkeys, rhino, lion, tigers and wolves. Following Lord Bath’s
Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath
Alexander George Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath , styled Viscount Weymouth between 1946 and 1992, is an English politician, artist and author...
retirement in 2010, Ceawlin Thynn hired a new Chief Executive – David Bradley, formerly of Legoland
Legoland
Legoland is a chain of Lego-themed theme parks. They are not fully owned by Lego Group itself; rather they are owned and operated by the British theme park company Merlin Entertainment.The chain currently consists of:* Legoland Billund...
– to take the Longleat product and brand forward. Together they have distilled a long term strategy for Longleat, hiring designers from Hollywood to develop new attractions in addition to the Safari Park including the ‘Jungle Kingdom’, ‘Monkey Temple’ & ‘Hunters of the Sky’. Cheetahs are the most recent additions to the safari park with six having arrived in August 2011. Four lion cubs were born in September 2011, making a total of 10 cubs born this year, and Disney named two of them Simba and Nala as part of a co-promotion agreement for the upcoming Lion King
The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
3D film.
Longleat House was built in the sixteenth century by Sir John Thynn
John Thynne
Sir John Thynne was the steward to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset and a member of parliament. He was the builder of Longleat House and his descendants became Marquesses of Bath.-Early life:...
on the site of a dissolved priory, and in 1949 became the first stately home in Britain to be opened to the public on a commercial basis. The house, park and attractions are open from mid-February to the start of November each year. The 9,800-acre estate, of which the park occupies 900 acres, has long been one of the top British tourist attractions, and has motivated other large landowners to generate income from their heritage in response to rising maintenance costs. Longleat leases 400 acres of land to Center Parcs
Center Parcs
Center Parcs is a European network of holiday villages incorporating a UK-based company, Center Parcs UK, which runs holiday villages in the United Kingdom and a sister enterprise, Center Parcs Europe, that operates in numerous locations in continental Europe...
for the operation of the Longleat Forest holiday village.
In 2010, Ceawlin Thynn became Executive Chairman of Wombat's Holdings GmbH – a chain of premium quality hostels in Germany and Austria – having acquired a majority stake in the company. Wombat’s hostels were voted the best in the world by customers of Hostelworld in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. In 2010, the Wombat’s City Hostel in Vienna won a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of ‘twelve years of unparalleled service’. The existing offering includes three units in Vienna comprising a total of nearly 1,000 beds, one unit in Berlin with 350 beds and one in Munich with 300 beds. The company is now preparing to expand into other major European cities, including London, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Budapest, Prague and Rome. Wombat’s is widely considered to be the premium product within the hostel sector.
Philanthropy
Ceawlin Thynn and his fatherAlexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath
Alexander George Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath , styled Viscount Weymouth between 1946 and 1992, is an English politician, artist and author...
are trustees of the Longleat Charitable Trust, a registered charity in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Trust was established in 1996 and has focused charitable activity on relieving poverty amongst people living around the Longleat Estate and Cheddar Gorge, supporting local pensioners with their fuel bills. The Longleat Charitable trust also provides grants to local schools and churches, including the recent refurbishment of the village hall.
Media Coverage
Ceawlin Thynn has been mentioned in a number of UK national newspapers. Significant recent examples include:An article by Jasper Gerard published in The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
on 22 April 2011 titled, Ceawlin Thynn interview: It was a different normality, says the young lion of Longleat, discussing his childhood, his relationship with his father, and future of the Longleat Estate.
An article by Matthew Goodman published in The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
on 17 July 2011 titled, Longleat heir moves into hostels, outlining his acquisition of a majority stake in Wombat’s Holdings, and his plans for expanding the business.
An article by Emine Saner published in the London Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
on 16 June 2004 titled, The viscount who cleaned the loos – a comprehensive profile of his early years at Longleat, his attitude to his father’s eccentricities, and his business career.