Robin Geffen
{{Short description|British racehorse owner}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Robin Geffen
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| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1957}}
| birth_place = London, England
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| spouse = Camilla Geffen
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| children = 2
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Robin Geffen is a British financier and classic-winning racehorse owner.
Early life
Geffen was born in London in October 1957. He attended Oxford University, graduating in 1979 from Keble College in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.{{cite web|url=https://citywire.com/wealth-manager/news/fund-manager-of-the-day-aa-rated-robin-geffen/a274476|title=Fund Manager of the Day – AA Rated Robin Geffen|publisher=Citywire|accessdate=28 June 2022}}
Career
Following graduation, Geffen worked for Charterhouse J Rothschild, before moving to Eagle Star to work across European and Asia Pacific funds. He worked for York Plc, Scottish Equitable and CIO before founding his own business, Neptune Investment Management in 2002.
Geffen was CEO for Neptune, but also continued to work across fund management. The firm enjoyed strong early performance and pioneered a move to encourage UK and European investors to allocate assets towards rapidly-evolving emerging markets. Geffen’s approach was to promote young fund managers rapidly. Whilst many were not successful others went on to found their own asset management businesses. In the later years of the business concerns were raised about staff turnover, fund performance and family promotions within the organisation.{{cite web|url=https://portfolio-adviser.com/rapid-rise-of-neptune-founders-son-concerns-investors/|title=Rapid rise of Neptune founder's son concerns investors
|date=17 July 2019
|publisher=Portfolio Adviser|accessdate=28 June 2022}} In August 2019, profits declined by 90%, Geffen stepped down as CEO as Neptune Investment Management was acquired by Liontrust for £40million.{{cite web|url=https://portfolio-adviser.com/liontrust-acquisition-set-to-revitalise-neptune-funds/|title=Liontrust acquisition set to revitalise Neptune funds|date=31 July 2019 |publisher=Portfolio Adviser|accessdate=28 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://citywire.com/wealth-manager/news/neptune-profits-tumble-90-ahead-sale-to-liontrust/a1261819|title=Neptune profits tumble 90% ahead sale to Liontrust|publisher=Citywire|accessdate=28 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/194639/shake-up-as-neptune-bought-while-new-group-launches.aspx|title=Shake-Up as Neptune Bought, While New Group Launches|publisher=Morning Star|accessdate=28 June 2022}} Geffen remained with Liontrust in a Head of Global Equity role, although the Neptune brand was ultimately dropped.{{cite web|url=https://www.liontrust.co.uk/fund-managers/robin-geffen|title=About Robin|publisher=Liontrust|accessdate=28 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://portfolio-adviser.com/tainted-neptune-name-dropped-in-liontrust-acquisition/|title=Tainted Neptune name dropped in Liontrust acquisition
|date=October 2019
|publisher=Portfolio Adviser|accessdate=28 June 2022}}
Horse racing
File:Simonsig (7149344745).jpg
Geffen's involvement in racing came in the 1990s with ownership through syndicates. In 2010, he became an owner of King Of Wands alongside Rachel Hood, the ROA President. Trained by John Gosden, he won the Esher Cup at Sandown. Geffen and Hood then purchase Arctic Cosmos, and won the St Leger at Doncaster.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/140473/arctic-cosmos-shines-in-st-leger|title=Arctic Cosmos Shines in St. Leger
|publisher=Blood Horse|accessdate=29 June 2022}} Geffen also owned Western Hymn a two time Grade 3 winner, and 6th in the 2014 Epsom Derby.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/846636/western-hymn/form|title=Western Hymn|publisher=Racing Post|accessdate=29 June 2022}} Geffen owned GM Hopkins who won the 2015 Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12426/9888079/royal-ascot-gm-hopkins-narrowly-wins-royal-hunt-cup|title=Royal Ascot: GM Hopkins narrowly wins Royal Hunt Cup|publisher=Sky Sports|accessdate=29 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/2/ascot/2015-06-17/625836|title=Royal Hunt Cup|publisher=Racing Post|accessdate=29 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/the-day-geffen-fluffed-his-lines-after-hopkins-delivers-royal-glory/289659|title=The day Geffen fluffed his lines after Hopkins clinched the Hunt Cup|publisher=Racing Post|accessdate=28 June 2022}}
Alongside his flat horses, he also owned National Hunt horses trained by the likes of Paul Nicholls, David Pipe and Nicky Henderson. Geffen owned the likes of Wonderful Charm a two time Grade 2 winner including the Persian War at Chepstow.{{cite web|url=https://theownerbreeder.com/features/funding-a-passion/|title=Funding a passion|publisher=The Owner Breeder|accessdate=28 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b6437948-383a-11e4-a687-00144feabdc0|title=The joy and pain of owning a racehorse|publisher=The Financial Times|accessdate=28 June 2022}}
In addition to being an owner, Geffen utilised his Neptune Investment Management business as a sponsor. He partnered Cheltenham Racecourse from 2009, and sponsored a broader series of races as "Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdles" across Cheltenham, Sandown and Warwick.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/dec/12/cheltenham-festival-neptune-sponsor|title=Neptune signs up to back Cheltenham Festival race|work=The Guardian|date=12 December 2009 |accessdate=28 June 2022 |last1=Wood |first1=Greg }}{{cite web|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/neptune_investment_management_extends_its_racing_portfolio/|title=Neptune Investment Management extends its racing portfolio|date=10 September 2010 |publisher=Sports Pro Media|accessdate=28 June 2022}}
Personal life
Geffen is married to Camilla and they have two sons.{{cite web|url=https://citywireselector.com/news/robin-geffen-hands-his-son-big-fund-opportunity/a1250653?section=wealth-manager|title=Robin Geffen hands his son big fund opportunity|publisher=Citywire Selector|accessdate=28 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://yalebulldogs.com/sports/mens-crew/roster/harry-geffen/17311|title=Harry Geffen|publisher=Yale|accessdate=28 June 2022}} In 2013, he appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List with a net worth of £90million.{{cite web|url=https://www.investmentweek.co.uk/investment-week/news/2262957/geffen-guy-rich-list-entrants|title=Geffen and Guy among new Rich List entrants|date=22 April 2013 |publisher=Investment Week|accessdate=28 June 2022}}
In 2013 Geffen's ex race horse, King of Wands, was the subject of a dispute between him and Aristocratic Escort Charlotte Colquhoun, whom Geffen had gifted the horse to. Geffen had in addition, paid Colquhoun £2,000 towards costs. Colquhoun subsequently went on to sell King of Wands against Geffen's interests, he later went on to label her a "fantasist".