Sir Martyn Arbib (born 27 June 1939) is a British businessman who founded and led the Perpetual fund management company during the late 20th century.

Early life

Arbib was born in Hendon on 29 June 1939, and attended Felsted School, Essex. His family is Jewish.

Career

Arbib founded Perpetual Limited in 1973 in a small office at Hart Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. The company remained in the town as it expanded into newly built headquarters in 1994. He sold Perpetual to the fund manager AMVESCAP in 2001 for more than £1 billion, receiving £113m together with AMVESCAP shares worth £300m, and the company became known as Invesco Perpetual. He is a director of the Perpetual Japanese Investment Trust plc. He stepped down from Perpetual's board in 2015. In January 2008, Swindon Town Holdings Limited, where Arbib is an investor but not a director, took control of Swindon Town FC. The Arbib Foundation, established in 1987, sponsors schools in Slough, Berkshire which include the Langley Academy. Arbib was a major benefactor in the establishment of the River and Rowing Museum at Henley, which opened in 1998. He was knighted in 2003 for services to charities, especially in education.

Political activity

Arbib is a Conservative Party donor. During the 2019 general election, he donated £10,000 to the central party and £5,000 each to Conservative candidates Danny Kruger and Dominic Raab.

Personal life

In his spare time, Arbib is interested in horse racing. His horse Snurge won the St. Leger Stakes in 1990. As well as Henley, he also has a home in Barbados. His daughter Annabel is married to businessman Paddy Nicoll. Her father bought Culham Court for her in 1997 for £12 million, and in 2006, the Swiss-born British financier Urs Schwarzenbach bought it for £35 million, £10 million above the asking price.