Nina Bracewell-Smith
Encyclopedia
Nina, Lady Bracewell-Smith (born 14 November 1955) is an Indian-born, United Kingdom-based businesswoman. She was a major shareholder and former non-executive director
of the English Premier League
football club Arsenal
.
, she is the daughter of an Indian diplomat
. She arrived in London in 1990 and the following year on 20 August 1991 at Westminster Register Office while working as a beauty therapist she married the homosexual Mark Forsyth, a "struggling computer programmer". They never lived as man and wife and formally divorced in 1995. In 1994 she moved in with Sir Charles Bracewell-Smith, 4th Baronet
(of Keighley
in the County of Yorkshire) and in July 1996 they married at Westminster Register Office. He is the son of the former Arsenal director Sir Guy Bracewell-Smith, 2nd Baronet, who was on the Arsenal board of directors from May 1953 to September 1976. Sir Guy was in turn the son of the former Arsenal director Sir Bracewell Smith, 1st Baronet
, who was chairman from 1948 to 1962.
(Life Vice-President), Richard Carr (still a director) and Sarah Carr, now Lady Phipps-Bagge. Sir Charles Bracewell-Smith transferred ownership of his shares to his wife, Lady Bracewell-Smith, and she was made a non-executive director of Arsenal in 2005; her appointment increased the membership of Arsenal's Board of Directors to ten.
As of September 2007, Lady Bracewell-Smith owned a 15.9% stake in the club and was the third largest shareholder in the club following Danny Fiszman
, with 24.11%, and Red and White Holdings, which is co-owned by Farhad Moshiri
and Alisher Usmanov
, which owns 24.0% of the equity. In April 2007, she joined with the other board members, her husband’s cousins, as well as Danny Fiszman and the chairman, Peter Hill-Wood
, in resisting a take-over by Usmanov, which was believed to have the support of former vice-chairman David Dein
. On 17 December 2008 Arsenal Holdings PLC made this announcement: "Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith will be leaving the Boards of the Company and the Club with immediate effect."
On 11 April 2011, she sold her Arsenal shares amounting to 15.9% of club's stake to Stan Kroenke.
in London, which they sold in 1976, together with a large share of the Paris Ritz; they also held the majority of the shares in the Park Lane Hotel
(built by Sir Bracewell Smith in 1920) until its £44m sale in 1996.
She and her husband were ranked 657th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2009
with an estimated family fortune of £85m. She is also 44th on The Sunday Times UK Asian
rich list, 72nd on the women list and is in the European Rich List.
Non-executive director
A non-executive director or outside director is a member of the board of directors of a company who does not form part of the executive management team. He or she is not an employee of the company or affiliated with it in any other way...
of the English Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
football club Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
.
Background
Born Nina Kakkar in New DelhiNew Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, she is the daughter of an Indian diplomat
Foreign relations of India
India has formal diplomatic relations with most nations, as the world's second most populous country and the world's most-populous democracy and recently has one of the fastest economic growth rates in the world...
. She arrived in London in 1990 and the following year on 20 August 1991 at Westminster Register Office while working as a beauty therapist she married the homosexual Mark Forsyth, a "struggling computer programmer". They never lived as man and wife and formally divorced in 1995. In 1994 she moved in with Sir Charles Bracewell-Smith, 4th Baronet
Charles Bracewell-Smith
Sir Charles Bracewell-Smith was born in October 1955 and educated at Harrow School. He is the founder of the Homestead Charitable Trust and author of "The Song of the Saints". He is grandson of Bracewell Smith and son of George Bracewell Smith. He succeeded to the baronetcy after the death of his...
(of Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
in the County of Yorkshire) and in July 1996 they married at Westminster Register Office. He is the son of the former Arsenal director Sir Guy Bracewell-Smith, 2nd Baronet, who was on the Arsenal board of directors from May 1953 to September 1976. Sir Guy was in turn the son of the former Arsenal director Sir Bracewell Smith, 1st Baronet
Bracewell Smith
Sir Bracewell Smith, Bt was a British businessman and Conservative Party politician.-Biography:Born in Keighley, Yorkshire, he attended Wesley Place Primary School in the town. He started as a pupil teacher and attended Leeds University before entering business...
, who was chairman from 1948 to 1962.
Arsenal FC
Lady Bracewell-Smith's share in Arsenal comes from the estate of Sir Bracewell Smith, which was split among his grandchildren, Sir Charles Bracewell-Smith, Clive CarrClive Carr
Clive Carr is a former Vice-President of Arsenal Football Club and a former hotelier.He is the grandson of former Arsenal Chairman Sir Bracewell Smith, alongside his brother Richard, through their late mother Eileen...
(Life Vice-President), Richard Carr (still a director) and Sarah Carr, now Lady Phipps-Bagge. Sir Charles Bracewell-Smith transferred ownership of his shares to his wife, Lady Bracewell-Smith, and she was made a non-executive director of Arsenal in 2005; her appointment increased the membership of Arsenal's Board of Directors to ten.
As of September 2007, Lady Bracewell-Smith owned a 15.9% stake in the club and was the third largest shareholder in the club following Danny Fiszman
Danny Fiszman
Daniel David Fiszman was a diamond dealer, best known as a shareholder in and director of Arsenal Football Club, and played a leading role in the club's move from Highbury to Ashburton Grove, now known as Emirates Stadium....
, with 24.11%, and Red and White Holdings, which is co-owned by Farhad Moshiri
Farhad Moshiri
Farhad Moshiri is an Iranian artist.He was born in Shiraz, Iran, and studied fine arts at CalArts in California. In America he first started experimenting with installations, video art and painting before coming back to Tehran in 1991...
and Alisher Usmanov
Alisher Usmanov
Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov is an Uzbek-born Russian businessman.According to the 2011 edition of Forbes magazine, the oligarch is one of Russia's richest men, with a fortune estimated at US$17.7 billion, and the world's 35th richest person.Usmanov is married and is a graduate of Moscow State...
, which owns 24.0% of the equity. In April 2007, she joined with the other board members, her husband’s cousins, as well as Danny Fiszman and the chairman, Peter Hill-Wood
Peter Hill-Wood
Peter Denis Hill-Wood is a British businessman and the current chairman of Arsenal Football Club.-Biography:Hill-Wood was born in Kensington, London. His father, three uncles and grandfather all played first-class cricket for Derbyshire CCC. He attended Eton College where he was a classmate of...
, in resisting a take-over by Usmanov, which was believed to have the support of former vice-chairman David Dein
David Dein
David Barry Dein is the former vice-chairman of Arsenal Football Club and former vice-chairman of the Football Association. He was also the President of the G-14 group of European football clubs between October 2006 and May 2007 and has sat on various committees within FIFA and UEFA including...
. On 17 December 2008 Arsenal Holdings PLC made this announcement: "Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith will be leaving the Boards of the Company and the Club with immediate effect."
On 11 April 2011, she sold her Arsenal shares amounting to 15.9% of club's stake to Stan Kroenke.
Other business interests
Lady Bracewell-Smith was also formerly a director of the Park Lane Sheraton Hotel. The Bracewell-Smith family has strong connections to hotels having previously owned the Ritz HotelRitz Hotel
The Ritz London is a luxury 5-star hotel located in Piccadilly and overlooking Green Park in London.- History :Swiss hotelier César Ritz, former manager of the Savoy Hotel, opened the hotel on 24 May 1906...
in London, which they sold in 1976, together with a large share of the Paris Ritz; they also held the majority of the shares in the Park Lane Hotel
Park Lane Hotel
The Park Lane Hotel is a 5 Star hotel on Piccadilly, London.The hotel was built in the 1920s in the Grand Art Deco Style by Sir Bracewell Smith. The building is a fine example with a mansard roof and Portland stone facade...
(built by Sir Bracewell Smith in 1920) until its £44m sale in 1996.
She and her husband were ranked 657th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2009
Sunday Times Rich List 2009
The Sunday Times Rich List 2009 was published on 26 April 2009.Since 1989 the UK national Sunday newspaper The Sunday Times has published an annual magazine supplement to the newspaper called the Sunday Times Rich List...
with an estimated family fortune of £85m. She is also 44th on The Sunday Times UK Asian
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
rich list, 72nd on the women list and is in the European Rich List.