Quick Facts
Biography
Charles Field-Marsham (born Rupert Charles Field-Marsham) is an entrepreneurial businessman and philanthropist based in Toronto, Canada. He has businesses in both Canada and Africa, spanning Kenya, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Tanzania. He also has offices in Dubai. His philanthropic enterprises focus mainly on education, development and health in Africa.
Early life
Charles Field-Marsham was born on 29 January 1968, and is the second son of Rupert Charles Edward Field-Marsham and Marilyn Field-Marsham (née Maughan). He attended Upper Canada College, and McGill University where he obtained a bachelor's degree with distinction in economics and politics.
Business Interests
At the age of 19 and whilst an undergraduate at McGill University, Charles Field-Marsham started his first successful business, Advantage Clothing. After graduating from McGill he joined Credit Suisse First Boston in New York City as a financial analyst
From 1993 to 2003 Charles Field Marsham lived in Kenya with his Kenyan wife Rita, during which time he established and acquired several companies. His first move was to open a stock brokerage, Kestrel Capital in 1995, Kestrel Capital has become Kenyas largest brokerage with a market share of 18.5%. He then set up the Panafrican Group in 1997, importing Komatsu industrial equipment and selling across Africa. The company grew rapidly by supplying equipment to the emerging mining operations across Africa. Also in 1997 he bought the Kenya Fluorspar Company, a loss-making state-owned company, and entered into a 20 year lease with the government The mine was to become one of the country's leading foreign currency earners.It has been described as one of the largest and lowest cost producers of fluorspar in the world In 2006 Charles Field-Marsham returned to Toronto and founded Kestrel Capital Management Capital (KCMC), the company provides investment consultancy services to his interests outside of Canada.
Philanthropy
Charles Field-Marsham sits on the boards of the following charitable organisations:
AMREFCanada: Board member and donor.
Field-Marsham Foundation: Founder and sponsor for numerous projects and charities in Kenya.
Grand Challenges Canada: Director and donor.
Kenya Scholar-Athlete Project (KENSAP): Chairman and major sponsor to place students from underserved regions of Kenya in elite US universities. KENSAP produced it first Harvard graduate, Kipyegon Amos Kitur, in 2009
Sick Kids Foundation: Director and donor.
The Canadian Council on Africa: Board director. He promotes all sectors of African economic development in Canada.
The Next 36: Board director.
In July 2012 Charles Field-Marsham sponsored and opened the first international class Taekwondo dojo in Kenya. Situated in the grounds of the Fluorspar School in Kerio Valley, the free of charge dojo is supported by The Field Marsham Foundation, and is led by Victor Luke of Champion Taekwondo, and the Kenya Fluorspar Company. The opening was attended by the high commissioner of Canada to Kenya, David Collins, and Lornah Kiplagat.