Stephen Grabiner
| Stephen Grabiner
| |
|---|---|
| Image |  Stephen Grabiner (Guardian photograph, published 2012) |
| Born | September 1958 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Media executive and investor |
| Known for | Chairman of The Jewish Chronicle, 2013–2019; former head of media at Apax Partners |
Stephen Grabiner (born September 1958) is a British media executive and investor who chaired The Jewish Chronicle from October 2013 to June 2019. He was earlier managing director of the Daily Telegraph and head of the media portfolio at the private equity firm Apax Partners.[1][2]
Newspaper and investment career
The Guardian reported in 2012 that Grabiner had been managing director of the Daily Telegraph for three years, had run Express Newspapers while at United News & Media in the late 1990s, and had left Apax Partners in 2010 after 11 years as head of its media portfolio.[1] In June 2012 he was appointed a director of Times Newspapers, publisher of The Times and The Sunday Times.[1] Companies House records him as a director of Times Newspapers Holdings Limited from 13 June 2012 to 3 March 2022, and as a director or member of Apax Partners companies until 30 November 2010.[2]
Jeremy Warner's 1998 profile in The Independent said Grabiner had come across the Telegraph in the mid-1980s as a management consultant with Coopers & Lybrand. He was hired by Andrew Knight as marketing director at the age of 27, on a year's secondment, and was later made managing director. He then ran Lord Hollick's newspaper interests at United News and Media before he was recruited by Michael Green of Carlton Communications to run ONdigital.[3]
The Jewish Chronicle
Companies House records Grabiner as a director of Jewish Chronicle Limited and Jewish Chronicle Newspaper Limited from May 2005 to December 2008, and as a director of the Kessler Foundation from 7 March to 23 October 2013.[2][4] On 24 October 2013 The Jewish Chronicle reported that an extraordinary general meeting had appointed a new board, that the Kessler Foundation, its majority shareholder, had decided to appoint Grabiner to lead it, and that he would stand down as a member of the foundation. The outgoing board included Anthony Julius, Lord Finkelstein, Paul Mann and Michael Marx.[5] Companies House records his reappointment as a director of both companies on 22 October 2013.[2]
Asked in December 2013 about a rumoured editorial appointment, Grabiner told the Evening Standard that the paper "is owned by a trust that is there to ensure the paper's editorial independence, so any significant changes would be beyond my remit".[6]
He stepped down as chairman in June 2019, when the paper was refinanced through donations to the Kessler Foundation and Alan Jacobs succeeded him.[7] The foundation's chair, Clive Wolman, referred to "the huge unpaid contribution" Grabiner had made over six years.[8] Companies House records his resignation from both company boards on 21 June 2019.[2]
ONdigital and eVentures
In 1998 The Independent described Grabiner as chief executive of ONdigital, the digital terrestrial pay-TV service owned by Carlton and Granada, then preparing to compete with BSkyB.[3] On 16 July 1999 the paper reported that he had quit ONdigital "after just 18 months" to develop the British venture capital business of eVentures, which the paper called Rupert Murdoch's "new Internet venture capital arm", headed by Mark Booth.[9] In 2002 The Independent said he had worked at Apax Partners since 2000, "specialising in investing in media and communications businesses".[10]
Coniston Capital
Coniston Capital, a London private equity firm launched in May 2021, said Grabiner supported its founder Amit Hindocha as non-executive chairman.[11] Its website states that "Stephen chairs Coniston Capital and our investment committee" and that he "previously led the Global Media Team and the London Practice of Apax Partners".[12] His Coniston LLP memberships appear in the table below.[2]
The Blue Thread
Grabiner chairs the trustees of The Blue Thread (registered charity 1130704), which describes itself as "the Grabiner family foundation", established with "resources gained over the last 30 years through work in the media and private equity industries".[13] The Charity Commission lists him as a trustee, and the charity's accounts name him as chair.[14][15] The charity made grants of £3,337,059 in 2024–25, mostly to organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers. Its accounts record that Grabiner Management Company Ltd, "a company whose directors are also Trustees of the Charity", recharged it £173,629 in payroll costs that year.[15] Companies House records Grabiner as a director of that company since 20 February 1998.[2]
Family
The Independent named Mike Grabiner, chief executive of Energis, and Robert, "one of the banking world's top IT specialists", as his brothers.[3] In 2002 it reported that Mike Grabiner had joined "his brother, Stephen Grabiner", as a director at Apax.[10] The Jewish Chronicle described Robert Grabiner, founder of the online tutoring company MyTutorWeb, as Stephen's twin brother.[16] Stephen Grabiner was a director of My TutorWeb Limited from 27 October 2014 to 26 May 2020.[2] The Daily Telegraph reported in 2002 that the retail executive Ian Grabiner was a "first cousin of businessmen brothers Stephen and Michael Grabiner".[17] The Independent in 1999 called the barrister Anthony Grabiner "another relation" without stating the relationship.[9]
Company appointments
| Company (number) | Role | Appointed | Resigned | Company status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telegraph Books Limited (02002119) | Director[2] | Before 16 May 1991 | 7 June 1996 | Dissolved |
| Telegraph Publishing Limited (01984132) | Director[2] | Before 16 May 1992 | 7 June 1996 | Active |
| Telegraph Media Group Limited (00451593) | Director[2] | 5 April 1993 | 8 May 1996 | Liquidation |
| Reach Printing Services (West Ferry) Limited (01997219) | Director[2] | 27 October 1995 | 26 February 1998 | Active |
| GPC Manchester Limited (01985540) | Director[2] | 2 November 1995 | 7 June 1996 | Active |
| UBMG Holdings (00152298) | Director[2] | 6 June 1996 | 23 April 1998 | Active |
| Express Newspapers (00141748) | Director[2] | 24 June 1996 | 23 April 1998 | Active |
| United Advertising Publications Limited (01377454) | Director[2] | 21 February 1997 | 23 April 1998 | Dissolved |
| Regional Independent Media Limited (01768656) | Director[2] | 27 May 1997 | 26 February 1998 | Dissolved |
| Johnston Publishing (North) Ltd. (03392487) | Director[2] | 6 October 1997 | 26 February 1998 | Dissolved |
| United Regional Newspapers Limited (03212881) | Director[2] | 1 December 1997 | 23 April 1998 | Dissolved |
| PA Media Group Limited (00004197) | Director[2] | 11 December 1997 | 2 April 1998 | Active |
| Yorkshire Post Newspapers Limited (00002899) | Director[2] | 30 January 1998 | 26 February 1998 | Dissolved |
| Lancashire Evening Post Limited (01344614) | Director[2] | 30 January 1998 | 26 February 1998 | Dissolved |
| Blackpool Gazette and Herald Limited (00042125) | Director[2] | 3 February 1998 | 26 February 1998 | Dissolved |
| Sheffield Newspapers Limited (00780919) | Director[2] | 18 February 1998 | 26 February 1998 | Dissolved |
| Grabiner Management Company Ltd (03162888) | Director[2] | 20 February 1998 | — | Active |
| Apax Partners UK Ltd (01342446) | Director[2] | 16 July 1999 | 31 July 2003 | Active |
| Hallco 413 Limited (03949621) | Director[2] | 7 April 2000 | — | Dissolved |
| Oberon Media (UK) Limited (03555358) | Director[2] | 31 August 2000 | 21 November 2001 | Dissolved |
| Hibu plc (04180320) | Director[2] | 21 May 2001 | 11 June 2002 | Dissolved |
| Yell Holdings 2 Limited (04180359) | Director[2] | 24 May 2001 | 15 July 2003 | Dissolved |
| Yellow Pages Limited (04175821) | Director[2] | 24 May 2001 | 15 July 2003 | Dissolved |
| Yell Limited (04205228) | Director[2] | 24 May 2001 | 15 July 2003 | Active |
| YH Limited (04193755) | Director[2] | 24 May 2001 | 15 July 2003 | Active |
| Hibu plc (04180320) | Director[2] | 2 July 2002 | 30 June 2003 | Dissolved |
| Yell Studio Limited (01674826) | Director[2] | 22 July 2002 | 15 July 2003 | Liquidation |
| Yell Sales Limited (01403041) | Director[2] | 22 July 2002 | 15 July 2003 | Active |
| Apax WW Nominees Ltd. (04693597) | Director[2] | 11 March 2003 | 30 November 2010 | Dissolved |
| Apax PP Nominees Limited (04255152) | Director[2] | 6 June 2003 | 30 November 2010 | Dissolved |
| Apax Partners Europe Managers Ltd (04094238) | Director[2] | 18 June 2003 | 30 November 2010 | Liquidation |
| Apax Partners LLP (OC303117) | LLP Member[2] | 31 July 2003 | 30 November 2010 | Active |
| NCJ Realisation Limited (formerly Jewish Chronicle Newspaper Limited) (00961929) | Director[2] | 1 May 2005 | 12 December 2008 | Dissolved |
| Jewish Chronicle Limited (00095587) | Director[2] | 1 May 2005 | 12 December 2008 | Dissolved |
| Apax WW No.2 Nominees Ltd (05841825) | Director[2] | 9 June 2006 | 30 November 2010 | Dissolved |
| Apax Summer (Holdco) Limited (05938779) | Director[2] | 18 September 2006 | 8 November 2007 | Dissolved |
| Apax Summer (Topco) Limited (05938774) | Director[2] | 18 September 2006 | 8 November 2007 | Dissolved |
| Infopro Digital (Bidco) Limited (05938776) | Director[2] | 18 September 2006 | 8 November 2007 | Active |
| Apax Europe VII Nominees Ltd (06599576) | Director[2] | 21 May 2008 | 30 November 2010 | Dissolved |
| Travelex Holdings Limited (05356574) | Director[2] | 22 May 2008 | 29 January 2015 | Dissolved |
| Apax Summer UK Acquisition Limited (06337735) | Director[2] | 20 August 2009 | 22 June 2010 | Dissolved |
| Spring Allies UK Limited (06997570) | Director[2] | 11 September 2009 | — | Dissolved |
| Grabiner LLP (OC357320) | LLP Designated Member[2] | 23 August 2010 | — | Active |
| UK Israel Business (00488496) | Director[2] | 18 March 2011 | 20 February 2013 | Active |
| Yachad Ltd (07638945) | Director[2] | 18 May 2011 | 12 September 2013 | Active |
| Portland Place Advisers LLP (OC366512) | LLP Designated Member[2] | 14 July 2011 | 1 August 2012 | Dissolved |
| The Jewish Museum London (02655110) | Director[2] | 15 September 2011 | 31 October 2016 | Active |
| Timewise Foundation C.I.C. (05274371) | Director[2] | 12 October 2011 | 7 May 2018 | Active |
| Times Newspapers Holdings Limited (00206377) | Director[2] | 13 June 2012 | 3 March 2022 | Dissolved |
| C Squared Networks Ltd (08391925) | Director[2] | 7 February 2013 | — | Active |
| The Jacob Foundation (01864076) | Director[2] | 7 March 2013 | 23 October 2013 | Active |
| Rnbills Limited (08475257) | Director[2] | 5 April 2013 | — | Dissolved |
| Blue Light Developments Limited (08675416) | Director[2] | 11 September 2013 | 17 October 2022 | Dissolved |
| Jewish Chronicle Limited (00095587) | Director[2] | 22 October 2013 | 21 June 2019 | Dissolved |
| NCJ Realisation Limited (formerly Jewish Chronicle Newspaper Limited) (00961929) | Director[2] | 22 October 2013 | 21 June 2019 | Dissolved |
| Timewise Solutions Limited (08795991) | Director[2] | 29 November 2013 | 7 May 2018 | Active |
| Timewise Jobs Limited (08796200) | Director[2] | 29 November 2013 | 7 May 2018 | Dissolved |
| Timewise Recruitment Limited (08796204) | Director[2] | 29 November 2013 | 7 May 2018 | Dissolved |
| Grabiner Capital Ltd (08913789) | Director[2] | 26 February 2014 | — | Active |
| My TutorWeb Limited (08580263) | Director[2] | 27 October 2014 | 26 May 2020 | Active |
| Grabiner Property Ltd (01040409) | Director[2] | 15 December 2014 | — | Active |
| Pointkirk Group Ltd (09442124) | Director[2] | 16 February 2015 | — | Dissolved |
| Sportsarchivesco Ltd (09515208) | Director[2] | 27 March 2015 | 15 July 2020 | Active |
| Jewish Literary Trust Limited (01189861) | Director[2] | 14 March 2016 | 12 September 2017 | Active |
| Original Talent Limited (09976212) | Director[2] | 17 October 2019 | 22 June 2022 | Active |
| Alana AI Limited (12075488) | Director[2] | 3 June 2020 | 20 September 2024 | Active |
| Grabiner Haymarket Ltd (12847049) | Director[2] | 31 August 2020 | — | Dissolved |
| Coniston Founder LLP (OC434175) | LLP Designated Member[2] | 11 November 2020 | 12 February 2021 | Active |
| Coniston Capital Management LLP (OC434157) | LLP Designated Member[2] | 11 November 2020 | 12 February 2021 | Active |
| Coniston Capital GP LLP (OC434177) | LLP Designated Member[2] | 11 November 2020 | 12 February 2021 | Active |
| Grabiner CBG LLP (OC434496) | LLP Designated Member[2] | 1 December 2020 | — | Dissolved |
| Grabiner ESG LLP (OC435259) | LLP Designated Member[2] | 27 January 2021 | — | Dissolved |
| Coniston Founder LLP (OC434175) | LLP Member[2] | 2 March 2021 | — | Active |
| Coniston Capital Management LLP (OC434157) | LLP Member[2] | 2 March 2021 | — | Active |
| Coniston Capital GP LLP (OC434177) | LLP Member[2] | 2 March 2021 | 28 June 2022 | Active |
| Coniston Founder II LLP (OC456815) | LLP Member (in a trustee capacity)[18] | 8 August 2025 | — | Active |
The table lists every appointment on the Companies House officer records cited; it does not cover company registers outside the United Kingdom. Companies House holds these appointments under 2 separate officer records in the same name and month of birth; the additional records are included where career details or co-officers corroborate the identity. Companies House also holds a second entry for his Jewish Literary Trust directorship, dated 1 March 2016, under a separate officer record.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Josh Halliday, Stephen Grabiner joins Times board of directors The Guardian, 15 June 2012, accessed 7 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 2.38 2.39 2.40 2.41 2.42 2.43 2.44 2.45 2.46 2.47 2.48 2.49 2.50 2.51 2.52 2.53 2.54 2.55 2.56 2.57 2.58 2.59 2.60 2.61 2.62 2.63 2.64 2.65 2.66 2.67 2.68 2.69 2.70 2.71 2.72 2.73 2.74 2.75 2.76 2.77 2.78 2.79 2.80 2.81 2.82 Companies House, Stephen GRABINER personal appointments (two pages), accessed 7 November 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Jeremy Warner, Profile: Stephen Grabiner – All set for the TV showdown The Independent, 16 August 1998, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, The Jacob Foundation (01864076): officers (two pages), accessed 7 November 2026.
- ↑ The JC's new Board The Jewish Chronicle, 24 October 2013, accessed 7 November 2026.
- ↑ Is it all change at the Jewish Chronicle? Evening Standard, 24 December 2013, accessed 7 November 2026.
- ↑ Good news about the future of the JC The Jewish Chronicle, 20 June 2019, accessed 7 November 2026.
- ↑ Community Leaders Secure the Future of the Jewish Chronicle InPublishing, 21 June 2019, accessed 7 November 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Nigel Cope, Friction, explosive rows and humiliation at ONdigital The Independent, 16 July 1999, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Liz Vaughan-Adams, Former Energis chief exec to join brother on board of Apax Partners The Independent, 15 February 2002, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ Coniston Capital, Mobeus and BGF Alum Launches Coniston Capital, 1 May 2021, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ Coniston Capital, The Team: Stephen Grabiner, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ The Blue Thread, The Blue Thread – London Based Family Foundation (official website), accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Blue Thread – 1130704: Trustees (register), accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 The Blue Thread, Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 5 April 2025, filed with the Charity Commission 21 January 2026, accounts and annual returns page, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ Candice Krieger, Tutoring — for the digital age The Jewish Chronicle, 24 January 2013, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ Kate Rankine, Green puts Grabiner in key Arcadia post The Daily Telegraph, 11 December 2002, accessed 8 November 2026 (read from the Wayback Machine copy).
- ↑ Companies House, Stephen Grabiner In His Capacity As Trustee Of THE STEPHEN GRABINER CHILDREN'S TRUST: appointments (1 appointment), accessed 7 November 2026.