R. Stephen Rubin
British Zionist, businessman and chairman of Pentland Group
| Robert Stephen Rubin | |
| Born | December 1937 |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Residence | |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Chairman and co-owner of Pentland Group (owner of Speedo, Berghaus and other brands) |
| Parents | Berko Rubin and Minnie Rubin |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Andrew Rubin (son) |
| Sibling(s) | |
| Website | |
Robert Stephen Rubin (born December 1937) is a British businessman. He is chairman and co-owner (with family members) of Pentland Group, the privately held holding company for a portfolio of sporting goods brands including Speedo and Berghaus, headquartered in Finchley, north London.
Early life
Rubin was born in December 1937. He attended Canford School in Dorset and graduated from University College London in 1958 with a law degree, initially intending to become a barrister.[1]
Career
In 1959, aged 21, Rubin stood unsuccessfully as the Liberal Party parliamentary candidate for Streatham.[1][2]
He joined the family business, the Liverpool Shoe Company, founded by his parents Berko and Minnie Rubin. He was joint managing director with his father for ten years until Berko's death in 1969, when he became chairman.[1][3]
Rubin transformed the company, renaming it Pentland Group in 1973. A pivotal moment came in August 1981 when Pentland acquired 55% of Reebok for $77,500. By 1985 Reebok accounted for 70% of Pentland’s turnover and the company’s shares rose dramatically. Rubin sold the Reebok stake in 1991 for $770 million.[4]
In 1998 he appointed his son Andrew Rubin as chief executive while remaining chairman. He took Pentland private in 1999. The group remains one of the largest privately owned sports apparel and footwear companies in the UK.[5]
Rubin served as World Chairman of the Textile Institute (1994–2006) and twice as president of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (1995–1998 and 1999–2001).
Robert Stephen Rubin (born December 1937), is a British businessman. He is the chairman, and co-owner (alongside members of his family) of Pentland Group, the holding company for a number of sporting goods companies, including Speedo and Berghaus, based in Finchley, north London.
Early life
Robert Stephen Rubin was born in December 1937.[6] After attending Canford School in Dorset, Rubin graduated from University College, London in 1958 with a degree in law, with the intention of becoming a barrister.[1]
Career
After he unsuccessfully stood for the House of Commons at Streatham as a Liberal Party parliamentary candidate in 1959, aged 21,[1][2] he joined the Liverpool Shoe Company, founded by his parents, Berko and Minnie Rubin.[1][3] He was joint managing director with his father for 10 years until his father's death in 1969, when he took the role of chairman.[1]
Rubin transformed the company, renamed Pentland Group in 1973,[1] into the UK's largest sports apparel and footwear company,[7] owning a number of brands including Berghaus, Brasher, Ellesse, Hunter, Mitre and Speedo, amongst others. It is also the majority owner of JD Sports Fashion plc.[5] Its success largely came from an investment in August 1981, acquiring 55% of Reebok for $77,500. By 1983/84, Reebok accounted for 70% of Pentland's turnover. Pentland's shares rose from 55p at the start of 1984 to £3 at the end of the year and up to £10 in 1985, while profits rose from £1 million in 1983 to £12.9 million in 1985.[4] Rubin then sold off Pentland's stake in Reebok for $770m in 1991.[1][2][5]
Rubin was chairman and chief executive of Pentland until 1998 when he split his role and appointed his son, Andrew, chief executive, retaining the post of chairman.[3]
Rubin took Pentland private in 1999 to focus on longer-term investments.[7] However, it appears that City institutions were unhappy with the way Rubin was running the company, which had underperformed the market by 40% since it floated in 1989.[3] Rubin served as World Chairman of the Textile Institute from 1994 to 2006. From 1995 to 1998 and again from 1999 to 2001, he was president of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry.
Affiliations and philanthropy
Rubin has held leadership roles in several organisations, many focused on combating antisemitism and supporting Jewish and pro-Israel causes:
- Director, Parliamentary Committee Against Antisemitism / Parliamentary Committee Against Antisemitism Foundation (2001–2015)
- Antisemitism Policy Trust
- Advisory Board member, Community Security Trust (circa 2010)
- Board member, Centre Europeen Juif d'Information (CEJI)
- Vice President, United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA)
- President, Holocaust Educational Trust
- Vice President, Council of Christians and Jews (circa 2017)
- Trustee, Rubin Foundation Charitable Trust
Personal life
Rubin is married and has at least one son, Andrew Rubin, who succeeded him as chief executive of Pentland Group.
See also
External links
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Neel, Julia, Hall of Fame: Stephen Rubin Footwear News, 26 November 2012. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "FN Nov 12" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Tyler, Richard, Sportswear veteran swoops again Financial Times, 3 February 2011. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "FT Feb 11" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Ahmad, Sameena, Concern as sportswear boss gives son top job The Independent, 4 September 1997. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "Independent Sept 97" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 4.0 4.1 Blakey, George G., A History of the London Stock Market 1945–2009, Harriman House, 2010. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "Blakey 2010" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Pentland Group, About Us Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "Pentland About Us" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Pentland Group plc. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Pentland's private route to 'best UK workplace'. 16 October 2003.