Ex-Man CEO To Raise Money For Britains Conservatives

Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Author: FINalternatives.com

The recently-retired Stanley Fink can’t seem to stand still.

Fink stepped down as CEO of hedge fund giant Man Group in July. He quickly joined $350 million London hedge fund International Standard Asset Management as CEO, and then, in December, co-founded Earth Capital Partners, a green investment firm. Now, he’s working to bankroll the resurrection of a British political party.

Fink has been named co-treasurer of the U.K.’s Conservative Party, charged with overseeing its fundraising efforts for the next election, which is due before next summer. The Tories have been out of power since 1997, when they were swept out of office after 18 years by Tony Blair’s Labour Party, who stepped down as prime minister last year. The Conservatives have since endured another two landslide defeats at the hands of Labour.

But Gordon Brown, who took the reins as prime minister following Blair’s resignation, has had a rough go of things, and trails in most opinion polls.

“Britain badly needs change and I look forward to playing my part to help ensure David Cameron is elected as our next prime minister,” Fink said, referring to the Tory leader, who took over his party following its defeat in the last general election, in 2005.

While he now plans to be generous with his time, Fink has never been shy about opening his own wallet to the Tories: He’s donated about £350,000 (US$525,000) to the party over the past eight years, and recently pledged a further £1 million (US$1.5 million).