Neil Hirsch
{{Short description|American businessman and entrepreneur (1947–2021)}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Neil S. Hirsch
| image = Neil Hirsch.jpg
| caption = Hirsch in February 2005
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|06|07}}
| birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|06|24|1947|06|07}}
| death_place = Wellington, Florida
| occupation = Entrepreneur
| parents = Harold Hirsch, Ida Bell Hirsch
| spouse = {{plainlist|
}}
| relatives = Emmett Shear
}}
Neil S. Hirsch (June 7, 1947 – June 24, 2021) was an American businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the founder of Telerate, a pioneering global financial communications network, as well as Loanet, a securities-tracking firm.
Hirsch was a prominent figure in the equestrian world, owning the Black Watch Polo Team and co-founding the Bridgehampton Polo Club.
Career
At the age of 21, Hirsch dropped out of the University of Bridgeport to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions. In 1969, Hirsch founded Telerate, a global communications network that provided real-time financial information to institutions worldwide.Leitzes, Adam & Joshua Solan [https://www.forbes.com/2000/12/28/1228netcents.html "A Pioneer's Perspective"], Forbes Magazine, December 28, 2000. Under Hirsch's leadership as president and chief executive, Telerate became a crucial platform in the financial services industry.Reuters, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-22-fi-747-story.html "The Media: Dow Jones Makes an Offer for Remainder of Telerate"], The Los Angeles Times, September 22, 1989. By 1990, the company was sold to Dow Jones & Company for over $1.5 billion, marking one of the most successful business deals of its time.
Hirsch later founded Loanet, a firm that specialized in securities-tracking, and served as its chairman.Stern, Jared Paul Stern [http://nymag.com/nymetro/travel/hamptons/features/3274 "Hamptons Heat Wave: The Mile-High Club"], New York Magazine; accessed September 15, 2016. Loanet had become a dominant player in the US securities lending market by the time Hirsch sold to SunGard Data Systems in 2001,{{Cite journal |last=Natarajan |first=Niki |date= June 11, 2001 |title=SunGard grows with Loanet deal |url=https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/sungard-grows-with-loanet-deal-20010611 |journal=Financial News London}} bolstering Hirsch’s reputation as an innovator in financial technology.
In December 2013, Hirsch expanded his business portfolio by purchasing Backstage magazine and Sonicbids, companies that served the entertainment and music industries. Hirsch's RZ Capital sold its share of these ventures in 2018.
Personal life
In 1973, he married Caroline Hirsch. In 1981, the couple acquired Carolines on Broadway, a former New York comedy club. After a 14-year union, they separated and divorced in 1988.{{Cite news |last=Gallo |first=Hank |date=March 1, 1992 |title=Caroline's |work=Daily News |pages=14–16}}
In 1999, Hirsch purchased the Player's Club Restaurant in Wellington, Florida.{{Cite news |last=Park |first=Louis Hillary |date=March 11, 2001 |title=Polo fans game for Hirsch's Players Club |work=Palm Beach Daily News |pages=A1, A12}}
Polo
In 1995, Hirsch co-founded the Bridgehampton Polo Club with his childhood friend Peter M. Brant.{{Cite web |last=Bensimon |first=Kelly Killoren |author-link=Kelly Killoren Bensimon |date=August 17, 2010 |title=My Polo – Mercedez Benz Bridgehampton Polo |url=http://www.kellykillorenbensimon.com/blog/tag/neil-hirsch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919145509/http://www.kellykillorenbensimon.com/blog/tag/neil-hirsch |archive-date=2016-09-19 |website=kellykillorenbensimon.com}}{{better source needed|date=September 2024|This is a blog.}}{{Cite magazine |date=August 19, 2002 |title=They've Got Game |url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/travel/hamptons/features/6305/ |magazine=New York Magazine}} The club quickly attracted top players.{{Cite news |last=Sicha |first=Choire |date=July 25, 2005 |title=The Polo Crashers |url=https://observer.com/2005/07/the-polo-crashers/ |work=The New York Observer}} Hirsch served as its president for many years, until he sold his share to Peter Brant in 2011.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
Hirsch also founded the Black Watch Polo Team, which became notable for star players such as Nacho Figueras, Facundo Pieres and Mariano Aguirre.{{Cite news |last=Webbe |first=Alex |date=February 25, 2007 |title=Whitney showdowns today to decide semifinal lineup |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/298957511/?match=1&terms=nacho%20neil%20hirsch |work=Palm Beach Daily News |pages=A6}} Ralph Lauren became the team's corporate sponsor in 2007, following Figueras' role as the face of Ralph Lauren's Black Label clothing line and the Polo Black fragrance line.{{Cite news |last=Tschorn |first=Adam |date=July 25, 2010 |title=Polo's Advocate |work=Los Angeles Times |pages=P2}}
Hirsch's impact on polo, particularly in Bridgehampton and Wellington, helped elevate the sport’s visibility in the U.S. Hirsch was also an advocate for anti-doping legislation in equestrian sports.{{Cite magazine |last=Padgett |first=Tim |date=April 23, 2009 |title=The Dead Polo Ponies and Their Millionaire Owner |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1893280,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426052415/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1893280,00.html |archive-date=2009-04-26 |magazine=Time}}
Philanthropy
Hirsch was a notable philanthropist recognized for his significant contributions to the Wellington community. In 2012, Hirsch donated $1.5 million to help build the village's Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club.{{Cite web |last=Malek |first=Mitra |title=Polo team founder donates $1.5 million to new Wellinton Boys & Girls Club |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2012/05/06/polo-team-founder-donates-1/7293139007/ |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=The Palm Beach Post |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://neilhirsch.com/ Official website]
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Category:American businesspeople