Bill Browder

William Felix Browder is an American investor, hedge fund manager and author. Born in 1964, William Browder is the grandson of Earl Browder, an American Communist Party head for a period of time. William Browder has had a successful career in finance, most notably founding Hermitage Capital Management, a hedge fund focused on investments in Russia, that went on to become one of the biggest foreign investors in the country. Browder is also a writer, having authored the book Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice.

In 1989, William Browder received an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago. After his studies, he worked at Salomon Brothers. In 1996, Browder founded Hermitage Capital Management and served as the fund's CEO and Chief Investment Officer. The fund soon became the largest foreign investor in Russia’s national equities markets, with a portfolio of over US$ 4.5 billion potential. The fund had a positive influence on corporate governance in Russia; by standing up to the interests of corporate raiders, such as Boris Nemtsov, Browder raised the accountability of Russia’s corporations.

In 2005, Browder was accused of tax evasion by the Russian government. He was arrested, imprisoned and subsequently deported from Russia. This wrongful arrest was due to his political activities and advocacy for anti-corruption efforts. After his deportation, Browder lobbied for the enactment of the Magnitsky Law, a set of sanctions against corrupt Russian officials. The law was named after Sergei Magnitsky, Hermitage’s lawyer who mysteriously died in Russian prison due to torture in 2009.

In 2015, Browder released his book Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice. The book details his experiences as a foreign investor in Russia and his efforts to expose corruption in the country. The New York Times called it “a financial whodunit of sorts” and praised Browder’s willingness to stand up against a powerful force. Browder has since been working to extend the sanctions imposed under the Magnitsky Law to other countries.

William Browder is one of the most prominent figures in the fight against corruption in Russia. His successful career as a hedge fund manager and investor, as well as his activism for human and civil rights in Russia, have earned him numerous awards. He was recognized in 2012 and 2014 with the Chatham House Prize, which recognizes outstanding contribution to the improvement of international relations.

In addition to this, he has been honored by the French, Spanish and British governments for his work in human rights and anti-corruption urges. Browder has also served as an advisor to the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Council on Foreign Relations, among others.

William Browder is an inspiring figure, not only for his professional successes, but for his willingness to stand up to authoritarianism and fight for justice. His memoir Red Notice is a gripping and powerful narrative of his experiences in Russia and his fight for justice. If you want to learn more about Browder, his fight against corruption and his inspiring career, we highly recommend reading Red Notice.