Christopher Charles Sherriff Harborne (born December 1962) is a British businessman and technology investor based in Thailand. A University of Cambridge and INSEAD graduate, his donations have enabled the founding of INSEAD San Francisco and the creation of a blockchain research fund. He has also donated to Britain's Conservative Party and more recently has been a major donor to Britain's Brexit Party, donating more than £6 million in 2019.[1] He also holds Thai citizenship under the name Chakrit Sakunkrit.[2]
Christopher Harborne | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 1962 (age 59) |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Chakrit Sakunkrit |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom, Thailand |
| Education | Westminster School |
| Alma mater |
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| Title | Chief Executive Officer |
| Board member of | Sherriff Global Group |
| Relatives | Katharine Harborne |
Christopher Harborne was born in December 1962. He was educated at Westminster School and is a graduate of Downing College, University of Cambridge, from where he received the degrees of MA, MEng and MBA.[3] He also received an MBA from the Institut européen d'administration des affaires (INSEAD) in 1988.[4]
Harborne worked for five years as a management consultant at McKinsey and Co., before running a research company in Asia. He describes himself as an "investor in new tech, including open software blockchain platforms".[5][6] He is the CEO of Sherriff Global Group which trades in private planes, and the owner of AML Global, a firm that sells aviation fuel.[7] He has made a donation to enable the founding of INSEAD San Francisco and to create a Blockchain Research Fund.[4] He has set up a company, Singular AI Consulting Limited, with crypto-currency miner Marco Streng.[5] As of December 2019, he is based in Thailand.[5][8]
Harborne donated more than £6m to Britain's Brexit Party in 2019,[5] £3 million in the summer[7] and £3 million before the British 2019 General Election,[5] making him the largest donor in 2019.[8] His sister Katharine, a scientist and artist who was previously a councillor for the Conservative Party, has been a candidate for the Brexit Party.[9] Before switching his donations to the Brexit Party,[10] Harborne had donated smaller sums, averaging £15,000 per annum since 2001, to the Conservative Party.[5]