Who we are
Founded in 2019 by Nima Sarikhani, Ziba Sarikhani and John Dennis – with Chairman Ali Sarikhani – Hambleden Capital represents the next generation of the family office.
Our aim is to invest in successful businesses that demonstrate the qualities that we look for. We want to work with passionate entrepreneurs who are dedicated to building meaningful and prosperous businesses.
Hambleden Capital was born from a strong family heritage and a thriving business. While our history is so important to us, we don’t want it to fully define us. Our roots are only the beginning of what we hope will become a long and fruitful story.
Our founders have professional backgrounds in financial services and corporate finance, and hope to capture the entrepreneurial spirit of the Sarikhani family by enabling like-minded people to succeed through our capital.
Our roots
To get a true sense of Hambleden Capital, you need to start at the very beginning. For Hambleden, that is our Chairman – Ali Sarikhani.
Family is at the heart of everything the Sarikhani family does. Whether it is the family you have or the family you make, long-term relationships are what gives our business strength.
We value
integrity
and honesty
Trust – not politics
We are proud of our collaborative and supportive approach that our team demonstrates on a daily basis. We value integrity and honesty, and for that reason, we shy away from a traditional, overly-structured approach to running Hambleden Capital.
Throughout his career our Chairman has striven to create an environment based on trust – not politics – and everyone at Hambleden Capital shares a determination to replicate this trust-based environment.
A successful entrepreneur, our Chairman’s career spans over four decades during which he has founded several renowned businesses including Chiltern Group, Kinetic Partners LLP and the ZEDRA Group. Ali trained as a chartered accountant in practice with what is now Ernst & Young, was made a Partner in 1976 at the age of 29 and went on to set up his own practice in London in 1980. This practice is now known as Vistra Trust and Ali managed this business for its first 25 years. Ali is still as passionate about his family business today as he was in 1980, and places huge importance on strong professional relationships, having worked with some of our current business partners for over 40 years.
As one of Hambleden Capital’s two Managing Partners, Nima oversees all aspects of the office together with fellow Managing Partner John. London born and bred, Nima spent over eight years working in the City as a trader before moving across London to assist the growth and expansion of his family’s businesses in 2011. Nima co-founded Hambleden Capital in 2019 and has worked with John to grow the breadth and reach of the investment operations to what it is today. Outside of work, Nima loves to explore the wild and remote wilderness and is an avid photographer specialising in wildlife photography.
A long time friend of the Sarikhani family, John co-founded Hambleden Capital in 2019 and as a fellow Managing Partner is responsible for running all aspects of the family office with Nima. John has over 18 years of experience in the global financial services sector, most latterly as the Global Head of Corporate Development for Barclays. When not working or enjoying time with his family, he has a love of golf and fine wine.
Ziba has returned to Hambleden Capital to work alongside Ali, Nima and John, after completing her MBA at the London Business School. Ziba previously worked with the family to set up the family office, and before that in wealth management and M&A. She loves the purpose, and the family, behind Hambleden. Outside of the office she enjoys spending time with friends and family, art, travel and sports.
A law graduate and chartered accountant, Matthew was COO of the Intertrust group and a main Board member of Vistra after being with the business for over 20 years. Matthew has also worked with Ali in the development and growth of a number of major companies in the financial services sector including the Chiltern Group, where he was CEO and Kinetic Partners LLP. When time allows, Matthew enjoys spending time outdoors walking and mountain biking.
Walter has long experience in the financial services sector, most recently as a managing director at Barclays. In his 16 years at Barclays, Walter held several senior roles, including head of strategy, head of the global trust business and COO of Barclays Investment Solutions Ltd, the private client investment subsidiary of Barclays UK. Walter has worked with the family office since 2020, taking a leading role in the acquisition of the Coutts and NatWest trust business and its transfer to into Ludlow Trust Company.
Emmet joined Hambleden Capital in 2022 after eight years in audit and corporate finance. Emmet monitors investment performance, provides accountancy support to the portfolio and diligences new opportunities. In his own time Emmet finds calm doing crosswords in the parks of South-East London.
Chala, our Chief Compliance Officer – and the inspiration for our logo – is rarely found anywhere but by Nima’s side. Rest assured, she might sit in on important meetings, but she has signed a global NDA.
