James Hay (entrepreneur)

James "Jim" Hay (born 7 June 1950) is a Dubai-based Scottish businessman. He is the chairman of Dubai-based JMH Group, a private family business operating in the construction and luxury goods markets.[1] Hay and his wife Fitriani are racehorse owners and trainers, and significant donors to the Conservative Party.

James Hay
Born (1950-06-07) 7 June 1950
Glasgow, Scotland
EducationUniversity of Strathclyde (BSc and PhD)
TitleFounder and chairman, JMH Group
SpouseFitriani Hay
Children2 daughters

According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2019, he is worth £325 million.[2]

Early life

Hay was born in Glasgow.[3] He studied there at the University of Strathclyde, earning a bachelor's degree and PhD in applied chemistry.[1] In 2013 he was welcomed to the ‘Strathclyde Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs’ for his work with the JMH Group/Fosroc.[4]

Career

In 1975, Hay joined BP as an engineer and went on to spend 27 years there.[5] He went on to become a senior executive at BP.[6]

In 2002, Hay founded the JMH Group, a private business which in 2014 was reported as having turnover in excess of $600m.[5][7] He is chairman of JMH Group which includes Fosroc as well as luxury goods brands Ray Ward, Bernard Wetherill (Savile Row men's outfitters) and Fitriani (women's fashion design and retailer).

Hay acquired construction company Fosroc.[8]

Horse racing

In 2006 Hay purchased Uplands, The Lambourn Yard from John and Lavinia Taylor.[9] In 2008 the Hay family were reported to have topped the list of buyers at South Africa’s yearling sales.[10]

In 2011, they purchased a share in Irish Derby and Champion Stakes winner Cape Blanco and four-time Group 1 winner Fame and Glory.[11][12] Fame and Glory went on to win the 2011 Ascot Gold Cup, on a day when the Hays were invited to join the Queen's Royal procession in open-topped carriages from Windsor Castle.[13]

Birch Grove
Birch Grove entrance gates

In 2011, Hay and his wife Fitri purchased Birch Grove, the former home of Harold Macmillan in West Sussex. The estate includes a private golf course.[13]

Personal life

On 25 August 1996, Hay married Fitriani "Fitri".[14][3] Fitriani was born in Jambi, Sumatra, Indonesia.[3] They live in Dubai, and have two daughters.[14][3]

In 2015, Fitriani Hay was the second-largest donor to the British Conservative Party, with £66,850.[15] In 2017, she had donated £125,000.[16] In 2022, she was the largest single donor to Liz Truss's leadership campaign, with £100,000.[17]

References
  1. "Jim Hay Bio". University of Strathclyde. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  2. Times, The Sunday (12 May 2019). "Rich List 2019: profiles 351-399=, featuring the Queen, Elton John and David Beckham". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  3. McQueen, Catherine (26 December 2019). "In conversation with Fitri and James Hay Racing's Golden Couple". Ccercle. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  4. "Jim Hay Wins Award at 2013 Event". University of Strathclyde.
  5. "Strathclyde People Spring 2009" (PDF). Strath.ac.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  6. Armytage, Marcus (16 August 2006). "Owner plans to make hay at Uplands" (Press release). London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  7. "JMH Group Company Overview". Bloomberg Business Week. Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  8. "Fosroc Company Overview". The Construction Index.
  9. Armytage, Marcus (3 August 2005). "Uplands to Change Hands" (Press release). London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  10. Hogg, Alec (5 April 2008). "Foreigners scoop SA bloodstock cream" (Press release). MoneyWeb. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  11. "Tom Tate Parts Company with Jim & Fitri Hay". Racing Post.
  12. "NTRA Bio on Jim Hay". Racing Post.
  13. Eden, Richard (6 November 2011). "Carole Middleton's racehorse-owning friend Dr Jim Hay buys Harold Macmillan's former home" (Press release). The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  14. Wood, Greg (24 March 2011). "Jim Hay hopes to bring peace to warring Coolmore and Darley factions". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  15. Singh, Arj (16 April 2015). "Tory election war chest swelled by business chiefs - and biggest one's named Mr Tory". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  16. Taylor, Joshua (2 June 2017). "Faces of the mega-rich Tory donors helping raise £19,000 an hour to get Theresa May back into power". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  17. Allegretti, Aubrey (8 September 2022). "Liz Truss reveals campaign donation of £100,000 from wife of ex-BP executiv". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
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