Hugh Osmond

Commentary: Osmond graduated from Oxford and went to America, working in clubs before joining an investment bank in Spain. Back in the UK, he ran PizzaExpress, which was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1993, turned private again in 2003, and was recently sold by Cinven to a Chinese group. Osmond headed investment firm Sun Capital Partners, which secured a major investment in Pearl Group in 2005, and was involved in a number of corporate turnarounds involving pubs and insurance.

Osmond founded Punch Taverns in 1997 as a pub and bar operator, and remained as executive chairman until 2001, selling all his shares by 2003. Most recently, Osmond formed Rare Bird Hotels, where his partner Lucy Potter is managing director, to acquire The Swan at Streatley, a 45-bed riverside hotel, from John Nike, the Bracknell entrepreneur. He then bought the Great House at Sonning for some £25 million. Former tennis star Tim Henman is a minority shareholder in Rare Bird Hotels.

Quote: “If you look at our track record, we have always left behind businesses that are functioning better.“

Year of Birth: 1962

Residence: Moulsford

Business: Sun Capital Partners, Rare Bird Hotels

Business Location: Streatley-on-Thames, Sonning and London

Turnover and year: Undisclosed

Worth: £250m*

Description: Financier and hospitality industry entrepreneur