The Founders

Arisaig is an independent investment management firm, established in 1996 in Singapore by our three Founders, James Alexandroff, Lindsay Cooper and Torquil McAlpine.

The founders built a business that aimed to capture emerging market growth for enlightened capital and instilled a long term outlook and the importance of stewardship, which we now articulate as Purposeful Growth. As part of the succession to the new team of Partners, the Founders stepped away from the running of the business in 2016 and remained as Directors on the Fund Boards until the end of 2020.

The three Founders, Torquil McAlpine, Lindsay Cooper and James Alexandroff.

Arisaig harbour in the Scottish Highlands
Arisaig harbour in the Scottish Highlands

The firm was named Arisaig after a location close to the hearts of the Founders.

The word means ‘safe place’ in Scottish Gaelic.

Timeline

1996

Arisaig founded by James Alexandroff, Lindsay Cooper and Torquil McAlpine, headquartered in Singapore. Our first fund launches with a European client base.

1997

ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS begins, 8 months following our launch.

2000

Founders, James Alexandroff and Torquil McAlpine, relocate to London.

2003

SARS EPIDEMIC IN ASIA.

2004

Arisaig Partners Foundation established and makes its first grants.

2006

Arisaig celebrates its 10th Anniversary.

2008

GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS.

2009

Funds are refocused around a tighter and more disciplined consumer sector definition and become more concentrated. Asia went from 120 investments across four funds, to under 30.

2010

Arisaig is the first EM Investment Manager to become a signatory of the PRI.

2011

We host our first Symposium in Shanghai & Mumbai.

2013

We host our second Symposium in Peru.

2015

The new Partners group, which includes Rebecca Lewis, as Managing Partner, and Hugo Robinson, is formed and succession begins. We host our third Symposium in Capetown.

2016

Arisaig celebrates its 20th Anniversary.

2017

We host our fourth Symposium in Mumbai.

2018

Arisaig is awarded Best Responsible Investment Report 2017 by Responsible Investor.

2019

Gordon Yeo and David Lanning become Partners.

2020

We become founder signatories to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative.

2021

Arisaig Partners becomes a certified B Corporation and Desmond Tan is appointed as the newest Partner.