- Robin Hindle Fisher – who has extensive charity and investment experience – has been appointed Chair in Big Society Capital’s tenth anniversary year
- He takes over from Sir Harvey McGrath, who will have served a full term this year
London, 15 March 2022: The Board of Big Society Capital is pleased to announce that after a thorough recruitment process it has appointed a new Chair. Subject to regulatory approval, Robin Hindle Fisher will take over from Sir Harvey McGrath who has chaired the UK’s leading social impact investment organisation for the last eight years since taking up the role in January 2014.
Robin has long experience in both the investment management industry and the charity sector – bringing together both dimensions of Big Society Capital’s mission of building the social impact investment market in a way that works for both investors, and social enterprises and charities. Robin has served for over twenty years on the boards of a number of charities including Scope and Family Fund and was chair of the Extra Costs Commission in 2014-15. He is currently a Governor and Chair of the Grant Making and Innovation Committee at Motability.
He also has had a distinguished career in investment management including as Managing Director of Henderson’s pension fund business and Chief Executive of Phillips & Drew Fund Management. He is currently deputy chair of Ruffer LLP and partner at Hay Hill Partners where he works as a business coach and executive mentor.
Robin also brings lived experience of social inequality having been born with disabilities caused by the drug thalidomide.
Robin’s appointment comes at an important time for Big Society Capital, during its tenth anniversary. With his depth of both charity and investment management experience, Robin is ideally placed to lead the organisation into the next stage of its development.
The Board of Big Society Capital expresses its enormous gratitude to Sir Harvey McGrath for his commitment and contribution to helping build the social impact investment market in the UK during his time as Chair. During his tenure, Big Society Capital has delivered on its mission to help grow the social impact investing market in the UK, which since 2011 has increased more than eight-fold – to £6.4 billion.
Robin Hindle Fisher said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Big Society Capital and entering the social impact investment sector. I believe both the sector and Big Society Capital have important roles to play in making financial markets work more effectively in the interests of all stakeholders. I feel privileged to be taking over the chair from Harvey who has made such an outstanding contribution throughout his time at Big Society Capital.’’
Sir Harvey McGrath said: “It has been a true honour to serve as chair on the Big Society Capital Board for the past eight years. During this time, I have seen countless examples of the way social impact investment can be used to tackle issues from rough sleeping to youth unemployment and childhood obesity. The social need has never been greater, so with
increasing interest and support for social impact investing, Big Society Capital has the perfect opportunity to further scale its impact. I’m delighted that the organisation will have such a talented new Chair to steer it at this exciting time.”
Kieron Boyle, Chair of Big Society Capital’s nominations committee and CEO at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation, said: “Big Society Capital’s Board is delighted to welcome Robin as Chair. His wealth of experience in both the charity and investment sectors will bring huge value. We are enormously grateful to Sir Harvey for his leadership over almost a decade which has been instrumental in the growth of the social impact investment market. We are confident that under Robin’s stewardship, Big Society Capital will continue to fulfil its mission to grow the power of this vital and innovative sector to improve the lives of people in the UK.”
Notes to editor
James Westhead, Head of Engagement at Big Society Capital is available for interview on request.
Press contact
Caroline Hailstone
chailstone@bigsocietycapital.com
07885 879 500
About Big Society Capital
Big Society Capital exists to improve the lives of people in the UK through social impact investing. We unite ideas, expertise and capital to create investment solutions for the UK’s social challenges, supporting organisations that deliver both positive social impact and sustainable financial returns. So far, we have helped channel £2.5 billion* into investments tackling a wide range of problems such as homelessness, mental ill health and childhood obesity.
To widen access to social impact investing, we have partnered with Schroders, a global asset and wealth manager, to launch the listed Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust plc. As the portfolio manager, we provide investors with high impact investments that contribute to solutions to social challenges alongside targeting long-term capital growth and income.
Further information about Big Society Capital can be found at www.bigsocietycapital.com
*As at December 2021