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| Presidents Club: who was invited to the all-male charity gala? | Presidents Club: who was invited to the all-male charity gala? |
| (11 days later) | |
| The guestlist to this year’s Presidents Club dinner included the following names. The Guardian has not confirmed all of them attended, but they were allocated tables and seats. | The guestlist to this year’s Presidents Club dinner included the following names. The Guardian has not confirmed all of them attended, but they were allocated tables and seats. |
| Makram Azar Vice-chairman of investment banking at Barclays, Azar previously spent 18 years at Lehman Brothers. Barclays confirmed Azar attended the dinner in a personal capacity as a guest of the charity. They said he believed it was a fundraising event and he is not a member of the club. | Makram Azar Vice-chairman of investment banking at Barclays, Azar previously spent 18 years at Lehman Brothers. Barclays confirmed Azar attended the dinner in a personal capacity as a guest of the charity. They said he believed it was a fundraising event and he is not a member of the club. |
| Richard Caring The British businessman worked in the rag trade before moving into property. He also owns a string of London restaurants including the Ivy. Caring’s solicitors said he arrived late at the dinner and left early and was not involved in or aware of the inappropriate behaviour reported. The solicitors added that no allegations have been made against him. | Richard Caring The British businessman worked in the rag trade before moving into property. He also owns a string of London restaurants including the Ivy. Caring’s solicitors said he arrived late at the dinner and left early and was not involved in or aware of the inappropriate behaviour reported. The solicitors added that no allegations have been made against him. |
| David Walliams Thecomedian, author and Britain’s Got Talent judge has hosted the dinner for the past three years. He tweeted: “I was there in a strictly professional capacity and not as a guest. I left immediately after I had finished my presenting on stage at 11.30pm. I did not witness any of the kind of behaviour that allegedly occurred and am absolutely appalled by the reports.” | David Walliams Thecomedian, author and Britain’s Got Talent judge has hosted the dinner for the past three years. He tweeted: “I was there in a strictly professional capacity and not as a guest. I left immediately after I had finished my presenting on stage at 11.30pm. I did not witness any of the kind of behaviour that allegedly occurred and am absolutely appalled by the reports.” |
| Rami Ranger Founder of Sun Mark, which exports British supermarket products worldwide and four-time Queen’s Award for Enterprise winner. He said: “Someone invited me for the first time in my life ... I went because it was a charitable event ... After dinner there was an after-party around the corner. I was totally surprised when I heard about the FT story, as I was surprised things can go this far. These are well-established businessmen successful in their own right.” | Rami Ranger Founder of Sun Mark, which exports British supermarket products worldwide and four-time Queen’s Award for Enterprise winner. He said: “Someone invited me for the first time in my life ... I went because it was a charitable event ... After dinner there was an after-party around the corner. I was totally surprised when I heard about the FT story, as I was surprised things can go this far. These are well-established businessmen successful in their own right.” |
| Michael Sulkin The director of Aston Chase, Sulkin joined the independent estate agency specialising in high-value property sales and lettings in 1995. He has worked in London’s super-prime residential property market for over 30 years. He confirmed he was at the event but said he did not want to comment. | Michael Sulkin The director of Aston Chase, Sulkin joined the independent estate agency specialising in high-value property sales and lettings in 1995. He has worked in London’s super-prime residential property market for over 30 years. He confirmed he was at the event but said he did not want to comment. |
| Tim Steiner A former Goldman Sachs banker, Steiner is chief executive and a co-founder of online grocer Ocado. The father of four is worth an estimated £125m. His press team said he did attend, but in a purely personal capacity. When approached by the Guardian he refused to comment and hung up the phone. | Tim Steiner A former Goldman Sachs banker, Steiner is chief executive and a co-founder of online grocer Ocado. The father of four is worth an estimated £125m. His press team said he did attend, but in a purely personal capacity. When approached by the Guardian he refused to comment and hung up the phone. |
| Nadhim Zahawi British Conservative MP who was appointed as education minister in a recent reshuffle. He chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for Kurdistan and is also the co-founder of the web-based market research firm YouGov. A Downing Street spokesman said: “Mr Zahawi clearly did attend the event briefly and has himself said he felt uncomfortable at it at the point at which the hostesses were introduced by the host.” | Nadhim Zahawi British Conservative MP who was appointed as education minister in a recent reshuffle. He chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for Kurdistan and is also the co-founder of the web-based market research firm YouGov. A Downing Street spokesman said: “Mr Zahawi clearly did attend the event briefly and has himself said he felt uncomfortable at it at the point at which the hostesses were introduced by the host.” |
| Presidents Club gala dinner guest list | Presidents Club gala dinner guest list |
| (Scroll down to see the names) | (Scroll down to see the names) |
| Glenn Spiro East London-born jewellery designer, gemstone dealer and former Christie’s expert, Spiro runs a private atelier in Mayfair, specialising in colourful bespoke pieces. Spiro confirmed he had attended the dinner but said he did not see any sexual harassment taking place. | Glenn Spiro East London-born jewellery designer, gemstone dealer and former Christie’s expert, Spiro runs a private atelier in Mayfair, specialising in colourful bespoke pieces. Spiro confirmed he had attended the dinner but said he did not see any sexual harassment taking place. |
| Lord Mendelsohn Jonathan Mendelsohn is a lobbyist, a Labour peer and fundraiser for the party. His wife, Nicola, is vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Facebook. A Labour spokesperson said:“Lord Mendelsohn attended part of the dinner as president of a charity that received support from the event. He was not there for, or had any knowledge of, an after-party. “Lord Mendelsohn did not see any of the appalling incidents described in the report but he unreservedly condemns such behaviour.” | Lord Mendelsohn Jonathan Mendelsohn is a lobbyist, a Labour peer and fundraiser for the party. His wife, Nicola, is vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Facebook. A Labour spokesperson said:“Lord Mendelsohn attended part of the dinner as president of a charity that received support from the event. He was not there for, or had any knowledge of, an after-party. “Lord Mendelsohn did not see any of the appalling incidents described in the report but he unreservedly condemns such behaviour.” |
| David Meller The joint chairman and chief executive of the Meller Group, a luxury homeware and beauty supplier, he is also one of the main forces behind the Presidents Club. Formerly vice-chairman of Watford FC, he was a board member for the Department for Education, until he was asked to step down on Wednesday. In the most recent honours list he received a CBE for services to education for his work on academies. | David Meller The joint chairman and chief executive of the Meller Group, a luxury homeware and beauty supplier, he is also one of the main forces behind the Presidents Club. Formerly vice-chairman of Watford FC, he was a board member for the Department for Education, until he was asked to step down on Wednesday. In the most recent honours list he received a CBE for services to education for his work on academies. |
| Bruce Ritchie Property tycoon Bruce Ritchie is one of two joint chairmen of the Presidents Club. Ritchie founded Residential Land in 1991 and, according to the firm’s website, controls about 1,200 residential homes in central London together with a number of commercial premises. He describes himself as “a philanthropist and benefactor of many of London’s worthy charitable institutions”. He refused to confirm whether he attended this year’s controversial annual dinner. | Bruce Ritchie Property tycoon Bruce Ritchie is one of two joint chairmen of the Presidents Club. Ritchie founded Residential Land in 1991 and, according to the firm’s website, controls about 1,200 residential homes in central London together with a number of commercial premises. He describes himself as “a philanthropist and benefactor of many of London’s worthy charitable institutions”. He refused to confirm whether he attended this year’s controversial annual dinner. |
| Ian Urbanowski A director of Coutts, the private bank that includes the Queen among its customers, is not the most obvious job title to appear on the guest list. Urbanowski has been at Coutts for a decade, spending the last seven years “managing client relationships in real estate”. A Coutts spokesperson said: “Ian was there but wasn’t witness to anything so has nothing to say.” | Ian Urbanowski A director of Coutts, the private bank that includes the Queen among its customers, is not the most obvious job title to appear on the guest list. Urbanowski has been at Coutts for a decade, spending the last seven years “managing client relationships in real estate”. A Coutts spokesperson said: “Ian was there but wasn’t witness to anything so has nothing to say.” |
| Rashid Al Habtoor – hotel chain billionaire. | Rashid Al Habtoor – hotel chain billionaire. |
| Liam Botham – former rugby player, son of the former England cricketer Ian Botham. | Liam Botham – former rugby player, son of the former England cricketer Ian Botham. |
| Presidents Club gala dinner brochure | Presidents Club gala dinner brochure |
| Ben Caring – son of the Ivy owner, Richard Caring. | Ben Caring – son of the Ivy owner, Richard Caring. |
| Raffaele Costa – ex-Goldman Sachs banker, hedge fund investor and superyacht owner. | Raffaele Costa – ex-Goldman Sachs banker, hedge fund investor and superyacht owner. |
| Gino D’Acampo – celebrity TV chef. | Gino D’Acampo – celebrity TV chef. |
| Lord Dalmeny – deputy chairman of Sotheby’s UK auction house. | Lord Dalmeny – deputy chairman of Sotheby’s UK auction house. |
| Andrew Danenza – financier. | Andrew Danenza – financier. |
| Prof Sir Christopher Evans – biotechnology entrepreneur. | Prof Sir Christopher Evans – biotechnology entrepreneur. |
| We are keen to hear from people who work in hospitality and have worked at this or similar events about what it’s like. We are also keen to hear from those who work in the city and in major businesses about whether this behaviour is widespread. | We are keen to hear from people who work in hospitality and have worked at this or similar events about what it’s like. We are also keen to hear from those who work in the city and in major businesses about whether this behaviour is widespread. |
| You can share your story by using our encrypted form here. | You can share your story by using our encrypted form here. |
| We will feature some of your contributions in our reporting. | We will feature some of your contributions in our reporting. |
| Jamie Gourlay – private fine art dealer. | Jamie Gourlay – private fine art dealer. |
| Sir Philip Green – retail billionaire. | Sir Philip Green – retail billionaire. |
| Gary Hersham – property tycoon. | Gary Hersham – property tycoon. |
| Ross Hilton Kemper – real estate investor and son-in-law of the deceased Las Vegas billionaire Kirk Kerkorian. | Ross Hilton Kemper – real estate investor and son-in-law of the deceased Las Vegas billionaire Kirk Kerkorian. |
| Prof George Holmes – vice-chancellor of the University of Bolton. | Prof George Holmes – vice-chancellor of the University of Bolton. |
| Phillip Hylander – former Goldman Sachs banker. | Phillip Hylander – former Goldman Sachs banker. |
| Peter Jones CBE – Dragons’ Den panellist. | Peter Jones CBE – Dragons’ Den panellist. |
| Vernon Kay – presenter and former model. | Vernon Kay – presenter and former model. |
| Adam Kaye – restaurateur behind the pan-Asian Tasty chain. | Adam Kaye – restaurateur behind the pan-Asian Tasty chain. |
| Jimmy Lahoud – restaurateur, former owner of L’Escargot. | Jimmy Lahoud – restaurateur, former owner of L’Escargot. |
| Nick Minkoff – partner in property at the law firm Mishcon de Reya. | Nick Minkoff – partner in property at the law firm Mishcon de Reya. |
| Arun Nayar – textiles heir and actor Liz Hurley’s ex-husband. | Arun Nayar – textiles heir and actor Liz Hurley’s ex-husband. |
| Roger Orf – partner and head of Apollo’s real estate business in Europe. | Roger Orf – partner and head of Apollo’s real estate business in Europe. |
| Brett Palos – Sir Philip Green’s stepson. | Brett Palos – Sir Philip Green’s stepson. |
| Theo Paphitis – Dragons’ Den panellist. | Theo Paphitis – Dragons’ Den panellist. |
| David Pears – William Pears property group. | David Pears – William Pears property group. |
| Daniel Pittack – friend of Sir Philip Green. | Daniel Pittack – friend of Sir Philip Green. |
| Jay Rutland – Tamara Ecclestone’s husband. | Jay Rutland – Tamara Ecclestone’s husband. |
| Mark Steinberg – property investor. | Mark Steinberg – property investor. |
| Peter Shalson – property investor. | Peter Shalson – property investor. |
| David Sonnenthal – founder of New Bond Street Pawnbrokers. | David Sonnenthal – founder of New Bond Street Pawnbrokers. |
| Alexander Spencer-Churchill – grandson of the 10th Duke of Marlborough and a distant relative of Winston Churchill. | Alexander Spencer-Churchill – grandson of the 10th Duke of Marlborough and a distant relative of Winston Churchill. |
| Nathan Sugar – grandson of Alan Sugar. | Nathan Sugar – grandson of Alan Sugar. |
| Touker Suleyman – owner of the fashion brands Hawes & Curtis and Ghost, and Low Profile Holdings. | Touker Suleyman – owner of the fashion brands Hawes & Curtis and Ghost, and Low Profile Holdings. |
| Jack Sullivan – son of the West Ham owner David Sullivan. | Jack Sullivan – son of the West Ham owner David Sullivan. |
| Robert Tchenguiz – property investor. | Robert Tchenguiz – property investor. |
| Ceawlin Thynn – Viscount Weymouth. | Ceawlin Thynn – Viscount Weymouth. |
| Moni Varma – the “rice king”, founder of VeeTee Rice. | Moni Varma – the “rice king”, founder of VeeTee Rice. |
| Dan Wagner – internet entrepreneur. | Dan Wagner – internet entrepreneur. |
| Henry Wyndham – former chairman of Sotheby’s Europe. | Henry Wyndham – former chairman of Sotheby’s Europe. |
| Poju Zabludowicz – billionaire chief executive of the fund manager Tamares Group. | Poju Zabludowicz – billionaire chief executive of the fund manager Tamares Group. |
| • This article was amended on 25 January 2018. Adam Kaye no longer owns the Zizzi restaurant group, while Jimmy Lahoud sold L’Escargot in 2014. | • This article was amended on 25 January 2018. Adam Kaye no longer owns the Zizzi restaurant group, while Jimmy Lahoud sold L’Escargot in 2014. |
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