Guy Spier
Encyclopedia
Guy Spier is a Zurich based investor, and commentator. In June 2007 he made headlines by bidding US$650,100 with Mohnish Pabrai
for a charity lunch with Warren Buffett
. In 2009 he was featured in "the Checklist Manifesto", by Atul Gawande regarding his use of checklists as part of his investment process.
Spier manages the Aquamarine Fund, an investment partnership inspired by, and styled after the original 1950's Buffett partnerships. He is a regular media commentator on economic and political affairs, and serves on the advisory board of Horasis
, a Swiss based think tank founded by Frank-Jürgen Richter
.
In 2003, Spier became the target, along with David Einhorn (hedge fund manager), Bill Ackman, and Whitney Tilson
, of investigations by Eliot Spitzer
, then the New York Attorney General, as well as by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regarding short sales of Farmer Mac, MBIA corp and Allied Capital
. The melt down of these companies during the Late-2000s Financial Crisis
completely vindicated their short thesis and was the subject of books by Ackman and Einhorn.
From 2001 to 2007, Spier was the President of the Oxford Alumni Association of New York and initiated the annual Oxford - Cambridge alumni golf and rowing matches. Because of his close association with and support for the University, he became a regular target of demonstrators against animal vivisection
:
Mr. Spier completed his MBA at the Harvard Business School
, class of 1993, and holds a First Class degree in PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) from Oxford University where he studied at Brasenose College with the British Prime minister David Cameron
.
Mohnish Pabrai
Mohnish Pabrai is an Indian-American businessman, investor and philanthropist. In his Pabrai Investment Fund, which is a family of hedge funds inspired by Buffett Partnerships, he successfully manages over 500 mln of assets and consistently achieves overaverage rates of return.In June 2007 he made...
for a charity lunch with Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett
Warren Edward Buffett is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful investors in the world. Often introduced as "legendary investor, Warren Buffett", he is the primary shareholder, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He is...
. In 2009 he was featured in "the Checklist Manifesto", by Atul Gawande regarding his use of checklists as part of his investment process.
Spier manages the Aquamarine Fund, an investment partnership inspired by, and styled after the original 1950's Buffett partnerships. He is a regular media commentator on economic and political affairs, and serves on the advisory board of Horasis
Horasis
Horasis is an independent think tank based in Zurich, Switzerland, which was established in 2005 by Frank-Jürgen Richter, its Chairman. Its stated mission is to "enact visions for a sustainable future" through new platforms for cooperation and knowledge-sharing, particularly between developed...
, a Swiss based think tank founded by Frank-Jürgen Richter
Frank-Jürgen Richter
Frank-Jürgen Richter is a German entrepreneur and currently the Chairman of Horasis. He has served in that role since he founded the organization.-Business Meetings:...
.
In 2003, Spier became the target, along with David Einhorn (hedge fund manager), Bill Ackman, and Whitney Tilson
Whitney Tilson
Whitney Tilson is an author, investor and businessman who also writes for financial publications.Tilson is a disciple of the Graham-Dodd -Buffett-Munger school of value investing, and was one of the authors of Poor Charlie's Almanack , considered by many to be the definitive book on Charlie...
, of investigations by Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
, then the New York Attorney General, as well as by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regarding short sales of Farmer Mac, MBIA corp and Allied Capital
Allied Capital
Allied Capital is a private equity investment firm and mezzanine capital lender providing debt and equity capital for leveraged buyouts, acquisitions and restructurings of established businesses...
. The melt down of these companies during the Late-2000s Financial Crisis
Late-2000s financial crisis
The late-2000s financial crisis is considered by many economists to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s...
completely vindicated their short thesis and was the subject of books by Ackman and Einhorn.
From 2001 to 2007, Spier was the President of the Oxford Alumni Association of New York and initiated the annual Oxford - Cambridge alumni golf and rowing matches. Because of his close association with and support for the University, he became a regular target of demonstrators against animal vivisection
Vivisection
Vivisection is defined as surgery conducted for experimental purposes on a living organism, typically animals with a central nervous system, to view living internal structure...
:
Mr. Spier completed his MBA at the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, class of 1993, and holds a First Class degree in PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) from Oxford University where he studied at Brasenose College with the British Prime minister David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
.
External Links
- Article by Guy Spier, "My $650,000 lunch with Warren Buffett
- The Checklist Manifesto, by Atul Gawande
- Guy Spier on Bloomberg: Steve Jobs one of the Greats of American Business
- Bloomberg News: Guy Spier says no reason to be scared of US financials
- David Cameron: UK's Next Leader? Comments by Guy Spier on tutorials with David Cameron at Oxford University
- The Manual of Ideas Interview with Guy Spier July 2009