Early Life and Education
Richard Fred Chandler was born in Matangi, New Zealand, in 1958 or 1959. He is the son of Robert Chandler, a beekeeper, and Marija Chandler, a businesswoman. Chandler attended Auckland Grammar School and earned a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland in 1979. He furthered his education at the same institution, completing a master's thesis in 1982 on board structure and accountability in New Zealand, and earned a degree in law the same year.
Rise to Success
Chandler's career began at Arthur Andersen in Auckland in 1982, followed by a stint at KPMG in London. He returned to New Zealand to become the CEO of Chandler House, the family business. In 1986, he and his brother Christopher founded Sovereign Asset Management, an investment firm. They invested in companies across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. The brothers split their assets in 2006, with Richard founding Orient Global, later renamed Clermont Group, and Christopher starting Legatum Capital. By 2013, the Richard Chandler Corporation was valued at an estimated $5 billion. In 2023, Chandler was ranked as the 14th richest person in Singapore by Forbes.
Key Business Strategies
Chandler is known for his deep value investing approach, focusing on global emerging markets and distressed situations. He emphasizes contrarian investment, corporate governance, and social responsibility in his investment strategies. He has a reputation for rebuilding struggling companies successfully. He founded Clermont Group, which builds operating businesses in healthcare, financial services, and technology, with wholly owned subsidiaries and significant minority holdings.
Philanthropy
In 1999, Chandler co-founded Geneva Global, a philanthropic investment bank. In 2007, he launched a $100 million education initiative in India. He is also the founder of the Chandler Foundation, which supports initiatives in global health, education, and sustainable development. He was invited to be a core partner in Co-Impact, a philanthropic organization.
