Founder & Chairman

Vincent Abrams is the Founder & Chairman of Northrup Drummond, he was previously Founder & Chairman at Merlin Publishing which published I-MAGAZINE.

Vice Chairman

Warren Buffett is a legendary American investor, philanthropist, and former CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, widely regarded as one of the most successful investors in history. Known as the "Oracle of Omaha," he advocates for value investing and long-term holding.

Special Advisor

Kenneth Irvine Chenault is an American businessman who was Chairman and CEO of American Express AMEX from 2001 to 2018. Since 2018, he has been Chairman and Managing Director of General Catalyst, a venture capital firm.

Advisor

Marland was one of the founding directors of Jardine Lloyd Thompson, a multinational insurance business, where he led the acquisitions of companies including Hunter Boot Ltd (2006), and backed the online news magazine The World Weekly (2013). He also founded the Jubilee insurance company at Lloyd's of London.

Philanthropy Advisor

Melinda French Gates is a prominent American philanthropist, businesswoman, and global advocate for women and girls. After a 25-year tenure as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which she helped establish in 2000, she departed in 2024 to focus on her own organization, Pivotal Ventures, and a $1 billion commitment to support women's rights.

Advisor

Sir James Dyson is a renowned British inventor, industrial designer, and entrepreneur best known for founding Dyson while championing engineering education through the James Dyson Foundation. 

Advisor

Sir Richard Branson is an English business magnate and adventurer who founded the Virgin Group a conglomerate that has managed more than 40 companies across sectors like music, travel, and telecommunications.

African Investment Fund Advisor

Aliko Dangote is a Nigerian industrialist and philanthropist. As founder of the Dangote Group, he built a massive conglomerate dominating cement, sugar etc in Nigeria. 

Advisor

William Waldorf Astor, 4th Viscount Astor is a British businessman, politican and member of the prominent Astor family. He has sat as a Conservative hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1973, formally taking his seat in 1972 after turning 21, and was one of the 92 elected to remain after the House of Lords Act 1999.

Obsidian Fund Co Founder

Steven Bartlett is a prominent, British entreprenuer, investor, author, and media personality, famous for hosting the hit podcast "The Diary of a CEO," being the youngest-ever judge on BBC's "Dragons' Den," and founding successful companies like Social Chain, Flight Story, and thirdweb. Born in Botswana in 1992, he built his career through social media marketing, later expanding into media, investment, and Web3 technology, becoming a leading voice in business and digital culture

Advisor

Advisor Robert F. Smith is a prominent American businessman, investor, and philanthropist, best known as the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a leading private equity firm focused on software, data, and technology-enabled businesses. He is one of the richest African Americans, known for investing in enterprise software, supporting HBCUs,

Advisor

Masayoshi Son is a visionary Japanese entrepreneur and investor, best known as the founder and CEO of SoftBank Group, a Tokyo based tech holding company.

Renowned for his investment style, Son established the Vision Fund, backing major tech firms like Alibaba, ARM, and ByteDance.

Advisor

Bernard Arnault is Chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton.

The world’s leading luxury products group. He has been awarded the honorary titles of Grand-croix de la Légion d’Honneur and Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres.

Advisor

Baron Hastings of Scarisbrick, CBE is currently the Professor of Leadership at the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Centre at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, Utah State University, USA, and sits on the Concordia Leadership Council. He served as Chancellor of Regent's University London from October 2016 to October 2021. He has been appointed as the current Chair of the SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) Board of Trustees and is an NED at Saxton Bampfylde.

Hastings is also Chairman of the Council of ZANE, a development aid agency focused on Zimbabwe, and vice president of Tear Fund. In 2011, he became vice president of UNICEF, the UN Children's and Education Fund.

African Investment Fund Advisor

Chief Michael Adenuga Jr is a Nigerian businessman. His company Globacom is Nigeria's second-largest telecom operator and also has a presence in Ghana and Benin. He also owns stakes in the Equitorial Trust Bank.

Schools / Univeristies Advisor

Pauline Perry, Baroness Perry of Southwark is a distinguished British educator, academic, and Conservative life peer.

She was the former Vice Chancellor of South Bank University she became the first woman to run a British university. She was also Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools 1981–1986. 

Philanthropy Advisor

John Rogers Jr, is an American investor and founder of Ariel Investments, LLC, founded in 1983. He is chairman and co CEO of the company, which is the United States' largest minority-run mutual fund firm. He has been a regular contributor to Forbes magazine for most of the last decade. Active in the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, Rogers was a leader of the 2009 inauguration committee.

John Rogers will advise on Northrup Drummond’s philanthropic endeavours in marginalised communities in the United States, where we will be investing in neighbourhoods and inner city areas, building retail, residential, education and other institutions.

United States Investment Advisor

Eddie C. Brown is an American investment manager, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the founder and president of Brown Capital Management, a Baltimore-based firm that has amassed over $10 billion under management since its 1983 founding.

Brown and his wife, Sylvia, have given millions to various charitable causes under the aegis of the Baltimore-based Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown Family Foundation.

Advisor

HugH Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, leads a major international property group, The Grosvenor Group, which manages extensive holdings in London, Scotland, and Lancashire.

He is Chair of the Westminster Foundation, which supports charitable causes, particularly those assisting vulnerable children and families.

United States Investment Advisor

Roy Donahue "Don" Peebles is an American real estate entrepreneur, author, and political fundraiser. He is the founder, Chairman, and CEO of the Peebles Corporation, a privately held real estate investment and development company established in 1983. The firm focuses on luxury commercial and residential developments in major U.S. cities including New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Miami.

Advisor

Sheila Johnson is a pioneering American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and hotelier, best known as the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and the first African American woman to achieve billionaire status. She is the founder and CEO of the Salamander Collection, a portfolio of luxury resorts, and holds ownership stakes in three professional sports teams.

United States Investment Advisor

Alex Karp is the co founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, a major software firm that specialises in big data analytics for government and commercial clients. Known for his eccentric leadership style, philosophical background he has a (Ph.D. in social theory).

African Investment Fund Advisor

Abdul Samad Rabiu is a leading Nigerian industrialist and founder of BUA Group, a major conglomerate with interests in cement, food (sugar, pasta), and infrastructure. Abdul Samad Rabiu was born and raised in Kano in the north-western part of Nigeria and is a Hausa man. He visited Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, US and later returned to Nigeria to oversee the family business.

Arts & Culture Advisor

Sir Damon Buffini was a founding partner of alternative asset manager Permira where he was Chairman and Managing Partner from 1997-2010. He remained a partner at Permira until the end of 2015 completing a 27 year career with the firm.

In 2020 Damon was appointed as Chair of the £2bn Culture Recovery Fund which was granted and invested to ensure the survival and sustainability of the UK’s culturally significant organisations. Damon is also currently Chair of the Royal National Theatre. During his career Damon has served on many other boards including Hugo Boss AG; Wellcome Trust; the Royal Shakespeare Company and Schroders PLC.

Retailing Advisor

Dame Margaret Barbour DBE DL is a British businesswoman and philanthropist who has chaired the iconic outerwear brand J. Barbour & Sons since 1973. She transformed the family firm into a global lifestyle brand, designed its famous wax jackets (Bedale, Beaufort, Border), and champions sustainability through repairs and re-waxing.

Philanthropy Advisor

Michael Lee-Chin is a Jamaican - Chinese businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is best known as the Chairman and CEO of Portland Private Equity, a privately held investment company based in Ontario, Canada. He has a controlling stake in National Commercial Bank Jamaica (NCB). 

Automotive Advisor

Torsten Müller-Ötvös is a prominent German automotive executive, best known as the former CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, a position he held for nearly 14 years from 2010 to 2023. Under his leadership, the brand underwent a massive transformation from a traditional automotive manufacturer into a "global luxury house," significantly lowering the average age of its customers and sextupling annual sales. 

African Investment Fund Advisor

Bayo Ogunlesi is a Founding Partner and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) at BlackRock. He is a Senior Managing Director of BlackRock and a member of the firm’s Global Executive Committee (GEC) and its Board of Directors. 

Advisor

Jamie Dimon is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co, a global financial services firm with assets of $3.2 trillion and operations worldwide. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management.

Northrup Drummond will set up a new bank which will likely be adminstrated by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

African Investment Fund Advisor

Dr Mo Ibrahim is the Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which he established in 2006 to support good governance and exceptional leadership on the African continent.

Sudanese-born, Dr Ibrahim has a distinguished business career. In 1989 he founded Mobile Systems International (MSI), a world leading cellular consulting and software provider, and in 1998, Celtel International, one of Africa’s leading mobile telephone companies which pioneered mobile services in Africa.

Dr Ibrahim is also Founding Chairman of Satya Capital Limited, a private investment firm primarily focussed on Africa.

Chairman. Abrams Ogunlesi

Baron David René de Rothschild is a leading figure in the global financial world, formerly serving as the Chairman of Rothschild & Co and N M Rothschild & Sons.

Since 2018, he is Supervisory Board Chairman of Rothschild & Co and Chairman of Rothschild Continuation Holdings, a Swiss holding company.

Rural Philanthropy Advisor

Charles Spencer, The 9th Earl Spencer, focuses his philanthropy on child welfare, education, and community support, often linked to his family's heritage and his sister, Princess Diana's, legacy. Key roles include supporting Whole Child International, patron of the Diana Award, and aiding the Cynthia Spencer Hospice.

Director. Abrams Ogunlesi

Baron Édouard de Rothschild started his career at the New York bank Wertheim. He then moved to Paris to work for Eurofin, Georges Plescoff's new bank. In 1982 he joined his half brother David René de Rothschild and cousin Éric de Rothschild to recapitalize and relaunch Rothschild & Cie Banque. In July 2003, he became the head of the bank.

He stepped down in June 2004 saying he would remain involved as the Non Executive Chairman of the bank's supervisory board while taking on projects unrelated to finance

Non Exec Director, Abrams Ogunlesi

Mark Fitzpatrick is CEO of St James Place Wealth Management. Mark started his career with Deloitte in Cape Town, becoming a partner in 1997. He remained with Deloitte for 25 years building his industry focus in financial services in the UK, Europe and South Africa.

He became group chief financial officer at Prudential plc in July 2017, before his role was broadened to include chief operating officer. He was appointed interim chief executive officer of Prudential plc in April 2022

Non Exec Director, Abrams Ogunlesi

John has extensive experience of the financial services industry gained through his career as a senior Audit Partner and his non-executive directorships. John spent 38 years with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, specialising in financial services auditing and advisory services, before retiring in 2014. Since retiring from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, he has undertaken a number of non-executive director roles with financial services companies.

Non Exec Director, Abrams Ogunlesi

Kevin Cohee is the Chairman and CEO of OneUnited Bank, the largest black owned bank in the United States. Cohee has dedicated his professional career to encouraging economic empowerment.

In 1995, Cohee purchased a majority interest in the Boston Bank of Commerce. Under his leadership, the bank underwent aggressive expansion, acquiring several community banks and rebranding as OneUnited Bank in 2002.

African Investment Fund Advisor

Dave Steward founded World Wide Technology in 1990 and serves as Chairman of the Board. His vision, ambition and determination are widely responsible for catapulting WWT from a small government contractor with a handful of employees into a global technology solutions provider.

African Investment Fund Advisor

He is founder and Executive Chairman of Econet Group, comprising Econet Wireless and Cassava Technologies. Econet Group has operations and investments across Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the USA.

Cassava Technologies’ businesses include Africa’s largest open access cross-border fibre broadband network spanning 68,000+ miles, Africa’s largest network of interconnected carrier neutral data centers, cloud and cybersecurity, fintech, solar renewable energy, and on-demand digital platforms.

African Investment Fund Advisor

Olufemi Peter Otedola is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. He is the former Chairman of Geregu Power PLC. Olufemi Peter “Femi” Otedola, CON, is one of Lagos’s most influential business leaders, a visionary entrepreneur whose impact on Nigeria’s job market—in energy, shipping, finance, and beyond—is profound. As Chairman of Geregu Power Plc and a major investor in banking and real estate, Otedola’s leadership contributes directly to Lagos’s economic vibrancy, job creation, and industrial growth.

United Kingdom Investment Advisor

Dame Ann Glover is Chief Executive and Co Founder of Amadeus Capital Partners and s an honorary fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and an Honorary Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge. 

She currently serves as an external investment committee member for the venture programme at British International Investment and is also on the investment committee of the Yale Endowment.

United Kingdom Investment Advisor

Simon Acland has spent 30 years investing in young technology businesses. Seven of the companies that he has backed achieved public listings on the London Stock Exchange, AIM, Nasdaq or Easdaq, including two companies which reached the FTSE 250; many others have been successfully sold.

Philanthropy & United Kingdom Investment Advisor

Sir Thomas Hughes Hallett DL is a British Barrister, investment banker and philanthropy executive. He serves as the Non Executive Chair of the Marshall Institute at the London School of Economics.

He promotes philanthropy, and argues for more ethical engagement within the City of London.

President, Assouline

Alexandre "Alex" Assouline is the President of Assouline, the luxury publishing house founded by his parents in 1994. Based in New York, he is credited with modernising the family business and expanding it from a niche publisher into a global luxury lifestyle brand. 

British Land Advisor

Dame Alison Carnwath DBE served as Chairman of Land Securities Group plc, the UK's largest listed commercial property company, from November 2008 to March 2018. 

COO British Land

Emma joined British Land in 2014 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2025. Prior to this, she jointly led the company's 53-acre Canada Water development project in central London.

Before joining British Land Emma spent 7 years at Landsec where she was responsible for number of central London developments and led their strategic land portfolio. She previously held development and land management roles at Barratt and Crest Nicholson.

Advisor

David M. Solomon is an American investment banker serving as Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs since 2019.

He has spearheaded a strategic pivot toward asset management, consumer banking, and fintech.

Philanthropy Advisor

Michael Rubens Bloomberg is an American businessman and politician. He is the majority owner and co-founder of Bloomberg L.P., and was its CEO from 1981 to 2001, and again from 2014 to 2023. He served as the 109th mayor of New York City from 2002 to 2013.

Team Advisor

Dambisa Moyo is a Zambian-born global economist, author, and member of the UK House of Lords, known for her critical analysis of international financial markets, geopolitics, and emerging economies. She advises boards on investment, capital allocation, and risk management. 

Philanthropy Advisor

David John Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville is a British businessman, politician, and philanthropist who served as Chairman of the supermarket chain Sainsbury's before becoming the Minister for Science and Innovation from 1998 to 2006. A major philanthropist, he was the first British person to donate more than £1 billion to charity. 

He is a member of the family that founded the J Sainsbury plc supermarket chain in 1869.

Personal Advisor

Ann Hiat is a leadership strategist, consultant and best-selling author, she is a Silicon Valley veteran with over fifteen years of experience as a key aide to some of the world's most influential CEOs.

Strategic Advisor

Dame Vivian Hunt DBE spent nearly three decades at McKinsey & Company, where she lead the firm’s UK and Ireland offices.

A member of the Harvard Board of Overseers. She serves as a Trustee for The British Museum and sits on the board of the Southbank Centre.