Gilbert de Botton
Encyclopedia
Gilbert de Botton was a financial pioneer in the 20th century, who is considered the inventor of the open architecture
model of asset management.
In 1968, when the British and French Rothschild banking houses decided jointly to establish an operation in Zurich, de Botton was recruited as its first managing director. He went on to serve briefly as president of Rothschilds in New York in 1982.
In 1983, Gilbert de Botton founded the Global Asset Management
financial firm, a multinational asset management firm
, later incorporated into UBS AG
until December 2005, when it was acquired by Julius Baer. On selling his stakes in the company in 1999, de Botton received a large sum of money, whose size has never been officially confirmed by buyer or seller.
In 2003, GAM and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) have announced the creation of the ‘GAM Gilbert de Botton Award in Finance Research’, annual award given in recognition of outstanding research in finance, in honour of Gilbert de Botton.
, Egypt, to a distinguished Sephardic Jewish family. Among his ancestors was the rabbinical scholar Abraham de Boton
. His mother Yolande Harmer
was a committed Zionist who spied for nascent state of Israel, and was imprisoned for a time by the Egyptian authorities. Gilbert was brought up largely by her parents. He saw little of his father, who was an oil company representative.
Gilbert was educated at Victoria College, Alexandria
; the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
, where he studied economics; and Columbia University
in the United States, where he took a master's degree.
Gilbert de Botton married Jacqueline Burgauer in 1962. The marriage was dissolved in 1988. They had two children: a son, the writer Alain de Botton
, and a daughter, Miel de Botton
, a philanthropist and art collector. In 1990, he married Janet Green (formerly Janet Wolfson), the eldest daughter of the immensely wealthy Sir Isaac Wolfson
, of the Great Universal Stores family, and previously the wife of multi-billionaire Michael Green
. Janet de Botton
is also a prominent collector of modern art.
Open architecture
Open architecture is a type of computer architecture or software architecture that allows adding, upgrading and swapping components. For example, the IBM PC and Apple IIe have an open architecture, whereas the Apple IIc and Amiga 500 computers have a closed architecture...
model of asset management.
In 1968, when the British and French Rothschild banking houses decided jointly to establish an operation in Zurich, de Botton was recruited as its first managing director. He went on to serve briefly as president of Rothschilds in New York in 1982.
In 1983, Gilbert de Botton founded the Global Asset Management
Global Asset Management
GAM Holding AG is an independent asset management business borne out of the successful separation of Julius Baer in September 2009 and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, with a strong global presence, employing over 1,000 staff in 11 countries....
financial firm, a multinational asset management firm
Asset management company
An Asset Management Company is an investment management firm that invests the pooled funds of retail investors in securities in line with the stated investment objectives...
, later incorporated into UBS AG
UBS AG
UBS AG is a Swiss global financial services company headquartered in Basel and Zürich, Switzerland, which provides investment banking, asset management, and wealth management services for private, corporate, and institutional clients worldwide, as well as retail clients in Switzerland...
until December 2005, when it was acquired by Julius Baer. On selling his stakes in the company in 1999, de Botton received a large sum of money, whose size has never been officially confirmed by buyer or seller.
In 2003, GAM and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) have announced the creation of the ‘GAM Gilbert de Botton Award in Finance Research’, annual award given in recognition of outstanding research in finance, in honour of Gilbert de Botton.
Personal life
Gilbert de Botton was born in AlexandriaAlexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt, to a distinguished Sephardic Jewish family. Among his ancestors was the rabbinical scholar Abraham de Boton
Abraham de Boton
Abraham Hiyya de Boton was aTalmudist and rabbi, a pupil of Samuel de Medina, who later dwelt for the most part at Salonica as rabbi and leader of a Talmudic academy. The name "Ḥiyya" was given him during a dangerous sickness...
. His mother Yolande Harmer
Yolande Harmer
Yolande Harmer maiden name ) was an Israeli intelligence officer who operated in Egypt in 1948. She has been described as "Israel's Mata Hari".-Biography:...
was a committed Zionist who spied for nascent state of Israel, and was imprisoned for a time by the Egyptian authorities. Gilbert was brought up largely by her parents. He saw little of his father, who was an oil company representative.
Gilbert was educated at Victoria College, Alexandria
Victoria College, Alexandria
Victoria College, Alexandria, was founded in 1902 under the impetus of the recently ennobled Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer of the Barings Bank, that was heavily invested in Egyptian stability. For years the British Consul-General was ex officio on the board of Victoria College...
; the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
, where he studied economics; and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in the United States, where he took a master's degree.
Gilbert de Botton married Jacqueline Burgauer in 1962. The marriage was dissolved in 1988. They had two children: a son, the writer Alain de Botton
Alain de Botton
Alain de Botton is a Swiss writer, television presenter, and entrepreneur, resident in the UK.His books and television programs discuss various contemporary subjects and themes in a philosophical style, emphasizing philosophy's relevance to everyday life. In August 2008, he was a founding member...
, and a daughter, Miel de Botton
Miel de Botton
Miel de Botton is a Swiss contemporary art collector, and philanthropist, who lives in London. De Botton is the daughter of the pioneer of open architecture asset management Gilbert de Botton and his first wife Jacqueline Burgauer. When her father died, in 2000, the family was left a trust fund of...
, a philanthropist and art collector. In 1990, he married Janet Green (formerly Janet Wolfson), the eldest daughter of the immensely wealthy Sir Isaac Wolfson
Isaac Wolfson
Sir Isaac Wolfson, 1st Baronet FRS was a businessman and philanthropist. He was managing director of Great Universal Stores 1932-1947 and chairman 1947-1987. He established the Wolfson Foundation to distribute most of his fortune to good causes. Great Universal Stores was a mail order business...
, of the Great Universal Stores family, and previously the wife of multi-billionaire Michael Green
Michael Green (television magnate)
Michael Philip Green is a British businessman.He attended Haberdashers' Aske's School in Elstree, Hertfordshire on a scholarship and left, aged 17, with four O-Levels....
. Janet de Botton
Janet de Botton
Janet Frances de Botton is a British bridge player, collector of contemporary art and a philanthropist.-Life and career:Born Janet Wolfson, de Botton was also formerly known as Janet Green...
is also a prominent collector of modern art.
External links
- David Landau, "Gilbert de Botton: Self-made financier who revelled in money, markets and modern art". The Guardian, obituaries, Wednesday 20 September 2000.
- "Gilbert de Botton", The Telegraph, obituaries, 30 Aug 2000.