Trevor Chinn

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Person.png Trevor Chinn   Powerbase SourcewatchRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(businessman)
Born24 July 1935
ResidenceKnightsbridge,  London
NationalityUK
Alma materPolack's House, Clifton College, King's College Cambridge
SpouseSusan Chinn
UK businessman and pro-Israel activist. Has a long history of financing pro-Israel groups in both main parties of government, including Keir Starmer.

Trevor Chinn is a UK businessman and "philanthropist" of Jewish heritage. A dedicated activist leader for Israel, he has contributed large sums to the campaigns of a number of Labour Party politicians, including MPs Tony Blair, Ruth Smeeth, Liz Kendall, Tom Watson and Dan Jarvis,[1] and has a long history of financing pro-Israel groups in both main parties of government.[2]

Sir Keir Starmer received a £50,000 donation from Chinn, information which was not disclosed until after he won the Labour leadership election.[3]

Background

Chinn attended Polack's House, a boarding house for Jewish boys which forms part of Clifton College.[4]

Affiliations

  • Israel-Britain Business Council (IBBC) - formerly UK Chairman[5]
  • Chinn is President of Norwood Children and Families Trust[6]
  • United Jewish Israel Appeal, President
  • Labour Friends of Israel - Chinn is reported to be a member of the LFI who has also donated a 'six figure sum' to the Labour Party[7].
  • Jewish Community Centre - Board member[8].
  • The Jewish Association for Business Ethics - Trustee[9]. Chinn remains a Trustee in 2008, a position he has served since at least 1999[10]
  • Centre Europeen Juif D’Information - Chinn was previously a Vice Chairman, being listed as part of their Board in 1996/97[11]
  • Tel Aviv University - Board of Governors member[12].
  • Aurora Russia Ltd - Chairman[13]. Chinn resigned from this position in September 2008 to concentrate on his new role with the Mayor’s Fund for London. His replacement is Dan Koch, head of Deloitte & Touche in Russia.[14].
  • Aurora Investment Advisors Limited (AIAL) Chinn is reported to have created a trust which holds 10% of the non-voting preference shares in AIAL. He is reported to hold 'no interest'[15].
  • Lex Service - Chairman. In this role Chinn oversaw the acquisition of RAC[16]. Chinn retired from this position in 2003[17]. Chinn became managing director of his father's company Lex Garages in 1968[18]. In 2001, Lex won a £500million contract with the Ministry of Defence[19]
  • Harrison - Chief Executive of Easyjet. Chinn is reported to have been a mentor for Harrison and to have helped him 'enormously' in his career[20].
  • Itis Holdings - Chairman. Itis produces road pricing technology and has contracts with Transport for London and 'several local authorities'. Former transport minister, Stephen Ladyman joined Itis in 2008. The Sunday Times reports that Ladyman 'would not lobby the government for a year after he stood down as a minister', but goes on to state that he 'is able to assist Itis in seeking contracts in the EU'[21]. In Chinn's biography, Itis is described as 'an AIM-listed provider of traffic information with a subsidiary in Israel'[22]. Chinn is reported to have 'forked out £475,245 on a million shares in two deals to take his holding to 1.73m or 1.76%' of Itis in 2005[23] [24]
  • Streetcar - The 'pay-as-you-go' car club is chaired by Chinn[25]. Chinn is also reported to have made a personal investment in the company, but no further details are divulged[26]. Streetcar is part of the portfolio of private equity group Smedvig Capital[27].
  • Motability - Governor[28].
  • Automobile Association - Chairman[29].
  • Kwik-Fit - Chairman[30]. Chinn also holds 3.5% ownership in Kwik Fit[31]
  • Pendragon - Chairman. Pendragon is described as the Uk's largest car dealer[32].
  • Motorists Forum - a government advisory panel. Chinn took up the position of Chairman in 1999[33]. In 2006, Chinn is reported to have headed the Forum's study the 'Local Authority Parking Attendants And London Congestion Charge Administration'[34]. The Motorist's Forum was set up in 1999 'to counter the claims of the road lobby that it is ignored in Whitehall'[35]
  • Commission for Integrated Transport - Vice Chair. Chinn was appointed to this position by the then Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott in 1999 and continued in this role until stepping down in June 2004[36]. The Commission id described as providing 'independent advice to Government on future transport policy options, the potential for new technology, the identification of best practice in transport and on transport issues which cross departmental boundaries'[37]. It is also claimed that it 'carries out independent research on transport issues and their interface with environment health, the economy and society'[38].
  • Automotive Skills - Director[39]. The aims of Automotive Skills includes to 'Influence government, its agencies and education and training suppliers to respond to employers’ needs'[40]. Automotive Skills merged with the Institute of the Motor Industry(IMI)[41]. The IMI is part of the Skills for Business Network[42]
  • Vigilant Technology - Chairman. Vigilant describes itself as 'a leading provider of intelligent IP based digital video/audio solutions for high-end CCTV security and surveillance markets'[43]. In 2006, Chinn purchased 800,000 ordinary shares of NIS 0.01 each in the Company ('Ordinary Shares') at 10p per share. The report continued that 'Chinn is now interested in 2,805,810 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 4.97% of the issued share capital of the Company'[44]. Chinn joined Vigilant in 2005[45].
  • CVC Capital Partners - Advisory Board member[46]. CVC Capital Partners is a global private equity and investment advisory firm. It's headquarters are in Luxembourg and it has a network of 19 offices across Europe, Asia and the USA[47].
  • Mayor’s Fund for London - In July 2008, Chinn was appointed as Chair[48]. In an interview he states that this role will take up two days of his week, 'but insists he will not move away from his responsibilities to Israel' which is 'something he is particularly passionate about'.
  • Variety Club of Great Britain where Chinn was previously Chief Barker for two successive terms. He was also previously chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards scheme and vice-chair of the Wishing Well Appeal for Great Ormond Street, for which it is reported that he was knighted in 1990[49].
  • Royal Academy of Arts - In 2002, Chinn was Deputy to chairman Anthony Tennant who was charged with conspiring to fix the price of commissions at Sotherby's and Christie's auction houses. The academy is described as a charity which is run by artist for artists. Chinn and Tennant were criticised by Academians within the academy for trying to push it towards a more business way of working 'completely contrary to the Academy's status as a charity'. The proposals were described as 'a disgrace' which undermined 'the whole basis of the Academy' and taking 'away the control of the Academy from the members'[50].

Friends and Acquaintances

  • Geoff Hoon - In November 2003 Secretary of State for Defence, Hoon gave a speech to the United Jewish Israel Appeal. In his speech he declared that he is a 'strong supporter' of Labour Friends of Israel and a good friend of Trevor Chinn[51].
  • Stewart Steven, who was editor for the Evening Standard is decribed by Chinn as having been a 'close friend'[52].
  • Gerald Ronson, Chief Executive of Heron International - Chinn was in attendance at Heron's annual luncheon at the Savoy Hotel, central London in 2004 where he proposed a vote of thanks[53]. This was not his first attendance at such an event, he is also reported to have been at the 2001 annual luncheon too[54]. It appears that this is a regular occurrance for Chinn who is described as a 'friend' of Ronson who sits at his table at the 300 guest events[55]. Ronson was convicted of conspiracy, theft and false accounting in 1990 for his involvement in the 1980's takeover bid for Guiness in what became known as the 'Guiness Four' scandal[56]. He served 6 months in Ford Open prison West Sussex and paid a £5m fine[57]. It is reported that Ronson and his co-accused had 'cynical disregard of laws and regulations... cavalier misuse of company monies... and contempt for truth and common honesty'. Yet none of the business men involved were disqualified from working as company directors[58]. In the 1980's Ronson was Britain's 15th richest man worth an estimated £548m[59].

Funding New Labour

Trevor Chinn is reported to have been one of a 'group of businessmen courted by Lord Levy before the last election' (prior to 2001). As a result, Chinn reportedly donated a total of £500,000 to Tony Blair's private office[60].

On 4 April 2020, following the 2020 Labour Party leadership contest,[61] Sir Keir Starmer was elected Leader of the Labour Party to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.[62] On 17 April 2020, it was revealed that Starmer had received a £50,000 donation from pro-Israel lobbyist Trevor Chinn – information which was not disclosed until after polls had closed in the leadership election.[3]

Events and Conferences

KIVUNIM (directions) 2008

In 2008, Chinn participated as a speaker at the KIVUNIM (directions) 2008 conference on capital markets and corporate governance held at Prime Sagol Gan Oranim in Tel Aviv. Other speakers included Shraga Brosh - Manufacturers Association of Israel president; Ronnie Bar-On - Finance Minister; Tom Phillips - British Ambassador; David Lewis - Lord Mayor of the City of London; Victor Blank - Lloyds chairman; Zvi Marom - BATM Advanced Communications chairman; Graham Dallas - London Stock Exchange senior manager[63].

Israeli Prime Minister’s Conference 2005

In 2005, Chinn led a delegation from the Israel-Britain Business Council (which he serves as Council Co-Chairman) at the Israeli Prime Minister’s Conference for Export and International Cooperation. They met with MAI President Shraga Brosh (who is also Co-Chairman of the Council) and 'a group of high-level representatives of Israel’s business and economic sector'. The delegation discussed...

'the British business community’s growing interest in involvement in economic development in the Middle East region, including deeper cooperation with Israel, the PA, Egypt and Jordan. The security, antiterror and anti-crime fields in Israel were particular noted as targets for increased cooperation'[64]

The day before the Prime Ministers Conference, senior members of the IBBC held a meeting. Those in attendance included Trevor Chinn, Shraga Brosh (IBBC Chairman and Manufacturers Association president), Lord Sterling (former IBBC Chairman), Tony Warwick (Britech chairman), Simon McDonald (UK Ambassador to Israel), Uriel Lynn (Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce president and the former Israeli chairman of IBCC), Benjamin Gaon, Dov Tadmor (Aviv Venture Capital chairman), Dov Lautman (Delta Galil Industries chairman), Gideon Siterman, Hanan Achsaf, Shmuel Frankel (Epsilon Investment House chairman and CEO), Gad Propper (Osem International managing director), Amnon Dotan (British-Israel Chamber of Commerce chairman), Ehud Geller (Collgard Biopharmaceuticals chairman), Aryeh Zeiff, Amir Hayek, Yoram Blizovsky (Manufacturers Association managing director), Maj-Gen (res) Danny Rothschild, Giyora Eiland (National Security Adviser) and Yoav Biran (Ministry of Foreign Affairs director-general). The meeting included being shown 'targets and tools for realizing measures for enhancing binational cooperation'[65]

Meeting with American Jewish Committee

In 2006, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) report a meeting with Chinn in 'an effort to strengthen AJC’s ties to British Jewry'

The report states that:

'AJC President E Robert Goodkind led a leadership delegation to London to meet with the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the main community organizing body for British Jews, as well as with the Community Service Trust and the newly formed Jewish Leadership Council. The group also met with British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, longtime Jewish community leaders Lord Greville Janner and Sir Trevor Chinn, and with leadership from the Reform, Liberal and Conservative Masorti movements. In addition, the group held meetings with those Members of Parliament who initiated a serious parliamentary investigation of anti-Semitism, and with younger leaders of Conservative Friends of Israel and Labour Friends of Israel. AJC Board members Stanley Bergman and Peter Rosenblatt joined Goodkind on the mission[66].

Foreign Secretary David Miliband Hosting Annual UJIA Patrons Dinner

In 2008, David Miliband was a guest of honour and host at the Annual UJIA Partons Dinner. The event took place at the Foreign Office where Miliband welcomed 160 UJIA members. Miliband was introduced by UJIA President Trevor Chinn. At the dinner, Chinn 'recalled the time they spent together in Israel visiting Gap Year students' (during Miliband's first year as foreign secretary), he also described Milliband as a "clever and courageous Foreign Secretary.”

Miliband is reported to have said that it was “a privilege to be amongst friends”. In his speach he described the UJIA as “an organisation with an inclusive vision of Zionism” that the 'whole of Britain' can take inspiration from. He described the organiation as not being "scared to put itself in danger and teaches us that it is Israel which breathes new life into Jewish people". [67]

Wielding great influence on British Jewry

In 2008, The Jeruselem Chronicle declared 'the top spots' on their second annual list of those who 'wield the greatest influence on British Jewry'. Trevor Chinn is listed at number 14[68]. The criteria for being listed is described as 'those with a vision for Jewish life in this country and who did their utmost to bring it about using either money; persuasion; religion; culture; political or social leadership; or simply inspiring through word and deed'. In order for someone to be listed in the top 20, it was generally necessary to demonstrate influence in more than one of the spheres[69].

Others included in the list were Lord Levy (number 9), Ron Prosor (number 10), Daniel Finkelstein (number 11), John Mann (number 17), Jonathan Freedland (number 18), Julia Neuberger (number 19), Lord Janner (number 20), Prime Minister Gordon Brown (number 29) & Poju Zabludowicz (number 30)[70].

UK/Israel Academic Research and Exchange Programme

In September 2008 it was announced that Gordon Brown was to visit Israel and in doing so reveal plans for an academic research and exchange programme, to be administered by the British Council and supported by a range of partners such as the Pears Foundation, Trevor Chinn, and the UJIA. It was expected that the Pears Foundation would give around £100,000 a year (over five years) and the UJIA contribute £50,000 annually towards the venture. Other 'potential' partners include the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and Israel’s Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport. The aim was described as to enhance academic links and research between higher education in Israel and the UK and the programme could commence as soon as the start of the 2008 academic year[71].

Family

Trevor Chinn has two sons — David Chinn, a partner at McKinsey management consultancy in Israel and Simon Chinn who is a TV and film producer.

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/multi-millionaires-who-keep-blair-in-his-office-1352967.html
  2. ↑ https://electronicintifada.net/content/secret-document-reveals-israel-lobbys-dominance-labour/36591
  3. ↑ a b "Keir Starmer received £50,000 donation from pro-Israel lobbyist in leadership bid"
  4. ↑ Bristol Evening Post 'Jewish Community Celebrates Landmark Anniversary'. 12th May 2003
  5. ↑ Speaker Biographies, Opportunities and challenges facing Israel as a vibrant democracy, Inter-Agency Task Force website, acc 5 May 2010
  6. ↑ Norwood Children and Families Trust Annual Review 2003-2004 Accessed 2nd July 2008
  7. ↑ Atlantic Free Press Labour Friends of Israel in the House'. 25th December 2007.
  8. ↑ Jewish Community Centre About Us Accessed 21st August 2008
  9. ↑ The Jewish Association for Business Ethics Trustees Accessed 1st November 2008
  10. ↑ Moody, A. (1999) 'Spirituality is new religion in the boardroom'. Mail on Sunday 9th January 2000
  11. ↑ CENTRE EUROPEEN JUIF D’INFORMATION, 'Annual Report 1996/97'. Accessed 13th September 2008
  12. ↑ Globes [online] - Israel's Business Arena. 'Vigilant Technology valued at £24.3m for AIM IPO; The security and surveillance technology company will issue 23,255,814 shares at £0.43 each'. 19th December 2005
  13. ↑ Thomson Financial News CNF Regulatory News formerly Company News Feed 'Aurora Russia Ltd - Final Results'. 31st March 2008
  14. ↑ Krieger, C. (2008) 'Sir Trevor Chinn resigns to pursue philanthropy'. The Jewish Chronicle 10th September 2008
  15. ↑ Thomson Financial News CNF Regulatory News formerly Company News Feed 'Aurora Russia Ltd - Final Results'. 31st March 2008
  16. ↑ Jameson, A. (2008) 'Flying high as airlines brace themselves for turbulent times ahead'. The Times (London). 10th March 2008
  17. ↑ Kahn, S. (2007) 'BLACKFRIAR; CITY AND BUSINESS EDITED BY STEPHEN KAHN' The Express11th April 2007
  18. ↑ Krieger, C. (2008) 'Sir Trevor’s big plans to transform London'. The Jewish Chronicle. 4th July 2008
  19. ↑ The Regulatory News Service 'Lex Service PLC - AGM Statement'. 26th April 2001
  20. ↑ Jameson, A. (2008) 'Flying high as airlines brace themselves for turbulent times ahead'. The Times (London). 10th March 2008
  21. ↑ Watt, H. (2008) 'Ex-transport minister takes job at road pricing firm'. Sunday Times (London). 6th January 2008
  22. ↑ Vigilant Technology Board of Directors. Accessed 26th July 2008
  23. ↑ Daily Star 'WHO'S DEALING; IT'S THE BUSINESS'. 17th June 2005
  24. ↑ Company News Feed formerly Regulatory News Service 'ITIS Holdings PLC - Director Shareholding' 16th June 2005
  25. ↑ Wood, Z. (2007). 'Business & Media: Business: News: Streetcar desires share float'. The Observer. 7th October 2007
  26. ↑ Hotten, R. (2007) 'AUTOMOTIVE AA chief drives desire for Streetcar'. The Daily Telegraph (LONDON)10th April 2007
  27. ↑ Daily Star 'Movers & groovers; IT'S THE BUSINESS'. 11th April 2007
  28. ↑ Motorists Forum Annual Report 2006/2007 Accessed 16th August 2008
  29. ↑ The Guardian. 'Birthdays'. 24th July 2007.
  30. ↑ The Guardian (London). 'Birthdays'. 24th July 2006
  31. ↑ reid, S. (2005) 'JAPANESE TYRE GIANT TARGETS KWIK-FIT' Evening News (Edinburgh). 3rd June 2005
  32. ↑ Walsh, F. (2006) 'Pendragon urges rivals to join in £900m car dealership'. The Guardian,/i> (London). 28th January 2006
  33. ↑ Vigilant Technology Board of Directors. Accessed 26th July 2008
  34. ↑ Williams, D. (2006) 'Watchdog threatens parking takeover'. The Evening Standard (London). 6th November 2006
  35. ↑ The Economist 'Foot off the escalator'. 13th November 1999
  36. ↑ Company News Feed formerly Regulatory News Service. 'Aurora Russia Ltd - AIM First Day Dealings'. 24th March 2006
  37. ↑ DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT 'APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMISSION FOR INTEGRATED TRANSPORT'. Hermes Database 18th June 2004
  38. ↑ Hermes Database 'SPELLAR WELCOMES CFIT ANNUAL TRANSPORT SURVEY'. 18th July 2001
  39. ↑ Company News Feed formerly Regulatory News Service. 'Aurora Russia Ltd - AIM First Day Dealings'. 24th March 2006
  40. ↑ Institute of the Motor Industry 'Learning and Skills – Licensed to train' Accessed 31st July 2008
  41. ↑ Institute of the Motor Industry Home page Accessed 31st July 2008
  42. ↑ Institute of the Motor Industry 'About the IMI' Accessed 31st July 2008
  43. ↑ Vigilant Technology Corporate Overview Accessed 26th July 2008
  44. ↑ Company News Feed formerly Regulatory News Service 'Vigilant Technology - Director/PDMR Shareholding'. 17th October 2006
  45. ↑ Globes [online] - Israel's Business Arena. 'Vigilant Technology valued at £24.3m for AIM IPO; The security and surveillance technology company will issue 23,255,814 shares at £0.43 each'. 19th December 2005
  46. ↑ Company News Feed formerly Regulatory News Service. 'Aurora Russia Ltd - AIM First Day Dealings'. 24th March 2006
  47. ↑ CVC Capital Partners Home page Accessed 31st July 2008
  48. ↑ Krieger, C. (2008) 'Sir Trevor’s big plans to transform London'. The Jewish Chronicle. 4th July 2008
  49. ↑ Krieger, C. (2008) 'Sir Trevor’s big plans to transform London'. The Jewish Chronicle. 4th July 2008
  50. ↑ Alberge, D. (2002) 'Tennant's plan for RA increases calls to quit'. The Times. 29th April 2002
  51. ↑ Hoon, G. (2003) Speech by Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon, to the United Jewish Israel Appeal. 13th November 2003. accessed 2nd July 2008
  52. ↑ Krieger, C. (2008) 'Sir Trevor’s big plans to transform London'. The Jewish Chronicle. 4th July 2008
  53. ↑ Gibson, R. (2004) 'Ronson forecasts 'successful period' for Heron'. EGI Webnews. 3rd June 2004
  54. ↑ The Express. 'BLACKFRIAR; CITY BUSINESS'. 29th March 2001
  55. ↑ Levy, G. (2001) 'ronson's resurrection'. Daily Mail. 17th February 2001
  56. ↑ BBC News 1990: 'Guinness Four' guilty. 27th August 1990. Accessed 19th September 2008
  57. ↑ Hosking, P. (2001) 'How they live now'. Evening Standard 21st December 2001. Accessed 19th September 2008
  58. ↑ BBC News Guinness directors showed 'contempt for truth' 28th November 1997. Accessed 19th September 2008
  59. ↑ Hosking, P. (2001) 'How they live now'. Evening Standard 21st December 2001. Accessed 19th September 2008
  60. ↑ Russell, B. (2001) 'ELECTION 2001: BUSINESS - BROWN PROMISES POUNDS 150M LOAN FUND TO FOSTER 'SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE'. The Independent (London). 15th May 2001
  61. ↑ "Labour leadership: Phillips and Nandy secure nominations"
  62. ↑ "Congratulations to @Keir_Starmer, the new Leader of the Labour Party!"
  63. ↑ Greer Fay Cashman (2008) 'CONFERENCE CIRCUIT' The Jerusalem Post 20th January 2008
  64. ↑ World Trade Center Israel Ltd. Newsletter Issue No.77. Spring 2006. Accessed 22nd July 2008
  65. ↑ BBC Monitoring Middle East - Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring. 'New head of Israel-Britain Business Council comments ahead of meeting'. 8th November 2005
  66. ↑ American Jewish Committee London Jewish Community Greets AJC President Update 236, 20th December 2006. Accessed 21st August 2008
  67. ↑ UJIA David Miliband hosts UJIA Patrons Accessed 18th September 2008
  68. ↑ The Jewish Chronicle JC Power 100: Sacks stays on top, as new names emerge. 9th May 2008. Accessed 16th August 2008
  69. ↑ The Jewish Chronicle How we made our selection 9th May 2008. Accessed 16th August 2008
  70. ↑ The Jewish Chronicle JC Power 100: Sacks stays on top, as new names emerge. 9th May 2008. Accessed 16th August 2008
  71. ↑ Kreiger, C. (2008) 'PM to unveil new UK-Israel academic links'. The Jewish Chronicle 10th July 2008.
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