Jeremy Michael Isaacs
Jeremy Isaacs CBE is the founding partner of private equity investment firm JRJ Group and a former senior executive of the Lehman Brothers bank.
He was knighted in the 2025 New Year Honours for services to philanthropy and to children's hospice care.[1][2] Companies House filings from 2025 onwards style him "Sir Jeremy Michael Isaacs".[3] He is not the broadcaster Sir Jeremy Isaacs, who was knighted in 1996.[4]
He was made a CBE in the Queens Birthday Honours List in 2015 'his work with Imperial College NHS Trust in London'[5] - a role which according to Private Eye is only 'a minor job'.[6]
Career
Isaacs held a number of positions at Lehman Brothers bank, including CEO Europe and Middle East and CEO Asia-Pacific. During his time at the bank, with Roger Nagioff, he was 'instrumental in the development of Lehman Brothers' international operations.[7] Isaacs was named in the 2010 official report into the collapse of the bank. 'The report cites emails showing how Isaacs pretended things were ok even as the black hole was growing'. An example of this is in August 2008, when Lehman was in secret talks to sell 50 percent of its shares to Korean financiers in order to keep afloat, Ian Lowitt, the chief financial officer, contacted Isaacs about his worries over the deal but received the message 'Fingers crossed. Things usually work out for the best!' - the sale failed. According to Private Eye, Isaacs left Lehman a week before it collapsed and authorised a $5 million pay off for himself.[6]
Prior to joining the Lehman Brothers, Isaacs led the European equity derivatives trading business of Goldman Sachs.[7]
In 2008 Isaacs founded private equity investment firm JRJ Group with three other former Lehman executives, Peter Sugarman, Roger Nagioff and Joanna Nader.[8] At JRJ he 'is closely involved with the implementation and guidance of fund strategy'.[7]
Donor
Isaacs is a member of The Leader's Group, the premier Conservative Party supporter group. Through an annual membership fee of £50,000 donors are able to secure access to leading members of the party.
Political donations
| Date | Name of donor | Amount | Donated to | Subsidiary (parties only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/06/2006 | Jeremy M Isaacs | £50,000.00 | Conservative Party | Central Party |
| 09/03/2007 | Jeremy M Isaacs | £20,000.00 | Conservative Party | Central Party |
| 13/12/2007 | Jeremy M Isaacs | £25,000.00 | Conservative Party | Central Party |
| 01/02/2010 | Jeremy Isaacs | £50,000.00 | Conservative Party | Central Party |
| 23/09/2010 | Jeremy Isaacs | £50,000.00 | Conservative Party | Central Party |
| 10/08/2011 | Jeremy Isaacs | £3,000.00 | Michael Gove MP | |
| 27/03/2012 | Jeremy M Isaacs | £50,000.00 | Conservative Party | Central Party |
| 27/06/2013 | Jeremy M Isaacs | £50,000.00 | Conservative Party | Central Party |
| 28/04/2016 | Jeremy Isaacs | £25,000.00 | Britain Stronger in Europe |
Affiliations
- Marex Spectron, chairman of the board
- Food Freshness Technology, director
- The J Isaacs Charitable Trust, trustee
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, non-executive director
- Bridges Development Fund Advisory Board, member
- Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, trustee
- London Business School, honorary fellow[7]
- Community Security Trust - director since 2010.
Charity trusteeships
| Charity | Role | From | To | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Jewish Israel Appeal (1060078) | Director (trustee) | 18 March 2010 | 7 October 2015 | [10] |
Companies
Companies House lists the following appointments for Jeremy Isaacs.[11]
| Company | Number | Role | Appointed | Resigned | Company status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Jewish Israel Appeal | 03295115 | Director | 18 March 2010 | 7 October 2015 | Active |
Links to Israel and the IDF
Jeremy Isaacs is recorded as a trustee of United Jewish Israel Appeal (from 18 March 2010 to 7 October 2015).[10] Support relevant to the Israel Defense Forces documented in the charity's records: unrestricted grants to Israeli Scouts Western Europe, operator of Garin Tzabar Europe; promotion of gap years with an optional Marva course; bursaries for Bnei Akiva gap-year and mechina programmes.[12]
Notes on identity matching
The Companies House record is linked because the officer appears on the officer list of the charity's own company, under a matching name (born March 1964). The United Jewish Israel Appeal appointment is filed under a separate officer record for Jeremy Michael Isaacs (born March 1964). Other Companies House records under the same full name and birth month and year hold appointments that match the career described on this page, including Lehman Brothers Europe Limited (2000–08), Marex UK Holdings Limited (2010–24), JRJ Investments Limited (from 2008), Food Freshness Technology Holdings Limited and Noah's Ark – The Children's Hospice.
Notes
- ↑ Noah's Ark Children's Hospice, Honorary Life Chair, Jeremy Isaacs CBE, awarded a knighthood (Noah's Ark Children's Hospice-side), 7 January 2025, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ JRJ Group, Sir Jeremy Isaacs, CBE (JRJ Group-side), accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, Sir Jeremy Michael ISAACS – appointments (officer ID LPKx-45nHZU31MCPBhQJLfBGPOA; date of birth March 1964), accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ The London Gazette, issue 54663, 28 January 1997 (Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood), accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Adam Lusher Queen's Birthday Honours: Sir Henry Angest, banker who gave Tories millions, is knighted in reward for 'political service' Independent, 12 June 2015, accessed 1 July 2015.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Private Eye Tory wealth bombers get their rewards, accessed 1 July 2015.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 JRJ Group Jeremy Isaacs, accessed 1 July 2015.
- ↑ Lucy Tobin Jeremy Isaacs tells of his sadness over Lehman Evening Standard, 22 March 2011, accessed 1 July 2015.
- ↑ Electoral Commission Search: Jeremy Isaacs, accessed 1 July 2015.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Companies House, United Jewish Israel Appeal (03295115) – officers, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, Jeremy Michael ISAACS – appointments (officer ID 3drDC43zRPByVU4jVCE_Wffr4KQ; 1 appointment(s); date of birth March 1964), accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Charity Commission, United Jewish Israel Appeal (1060078): accounts and annual returns Register of Charities, accessed 21 October 2026.