Bruno Schroder

Bruno Lionel Schroder (17 January 1933 – 20 February 2019) was a British banker and billionaire and a significant landowner in Scotland. He was a direct descendant of Johann Heinrich Schröder, co-founder of financial institution Schroders, and the longest serving non-executive board member of any company on the London FTSE 100.[2] Forbes magazine estimated Schroder's family wealth at US$6.2 billion in August 2018.

Bruno Lionel Schroder
Born	Bruno Lionel Schroder 17 January 1933
Died	20 February 2019 (aged 86)
Nationality	British
Education	Eton College
Alma mater	University of Tours University College, Oxford Harvard Business School
Occupation	Banker
Net worth	US$6.2 billion (March 2018)[1]
Spouse(s)	Patricia "Piffa" Holt Suzanne von Maltzahn
Children	Leonie Schroder

Schroder owned the 17,500 acre Dunlossit Estate on the island of Islay in Scotland's Inner Hebrides.[3]

Early life and education

He was born on 17 January 1933,[4][5] and educated at Eton, University of Tours, the School of Languages Hamburg, University College, Oxford, and Harvard Business School.[6][7] Schroder received an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 2012.[8]

Career

Schroder joined the commercial banking and corporate finance division of J. Henry Schroder Wagg & Co. in 1960, and was appointed a director of Schroders in 1963.[3] Schroder was a non-executive director of Schroders and a member of the company's nominations committee.[1] In 2017 Schroder donated £50,000 to the "Remain" campaign against Brexit as well as the campaign against Scotland leaving the UK.[9]

In August 2018, Schroder's net worth was estimated at $6.2 billion.[1]

Personal life

Schroder's first marriage was in 1969, to Piffa. The couple have a daughter, Leonie Schroder.[6][10] Schroder and his second wife, Danish-born Baroness Suzanne von Maltzahn, divide the estate on Islay with Piffa who has her own part of the estate and is in residence when Schroder is in London.[11] In August 2018, Schroders were considering offering his daughter Leonie Schroder his seat on the main board, which he had held since 1963, when he stepped down.[10][12]

Schroder and his daughter were both on the board of the Dunlossit and Islay Community Trust.[13]

Schroder flew his private plane and was a keen breeder of Middle White pigs on the Dunlossit Estate. Schroder funded the Islay lifeboat and sponsored the island's Highland games, the Argyllshire Gathering. Schroder also helped restore an old whisky distillery on Islay.[1]

Schroder was one of a number of wealthy individuals who cashed a cheque for 97 pence sent to them by Bizarre magazine in 2001.[6][14]

He died on 20 February 2019, aged 86, "after a short illness".[15][16][17]

Coat of arms of Bruno Schroder

Motto Vincet Veritas [18]

References

1. "Forbes profile: Bruno Schroder & family". Forbes. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
2. "Bruno Schroder & family". Forbes. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
3. Christine Seib. "Business big shot Bruno Schroder." The Times, London, 24 May 2007: pg 55.
4. "Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Bruno Schroder". Bloomberg LP. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
5. "SCHRODERS PLC – Officers (free information from Companies House)". Companies House, Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
6. Rosser, Nigel (20 March 2002). "Bank Baron enjoys a life less grand". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
7. "Bruno Lionel Schroder". Debrett's. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
8. "Higgs Boson Scientist Awarded Heriot-Watt honorary degree". Heriot-Watt University. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
9. "The 23 biggest donors to the 'Remain' campaign against Brexit". Business Insider. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
10. Banking Editor, Katherine Griffiths (17 August 2018). "Schroders considering board seat for daughter Leonie". The Times. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
11. "Bank Baron enjoys a life less grand". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
12. "Schroder family plans board role for daughter in succession". citywire.co.uk. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
13. "The Dunlossit And Islay Community Trust – Company Profile – Endole". suite.endole.co.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
14. Norman, Matthew (5 April 2001). "The Guardian Diary". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
15. Schroders: Press Release
16. Peter Smith (21 February 2019). "Schroder family patriarch, Bruno Schroder, dies at 86". Financial Times. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
17. Cobley, Mark (21 February 2019). "Banking veteran Bruno Schroder dies at 86". fnlondon.com. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
18. "Goldsmiths Hall, 84 Schroder BL". Baz Manning. Retrieved 22 November 2020.

Further reading

• Roberts, Richard (1992). Schroders: Merchants & Bankers. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-333-44511-2.