G. Philip Stephenson
| G. Philip Stephenson | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 16, 1965 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Harvard College and Harvard Law School |
G. Philip Stephenson (born March 16, 1965) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and ocean conservationist. He is Chairman of the Freedom Group, a set of companies focused on portfolio investing, real estate and hotel development. Mr. Stephenson lives in Northern Virginia.
Early life
Stephenson grew up in Houston, Texas, where he graduated from The Kinkaid School in 1983. He received a magna cum laude BA degree in Government from Harvard College in 1986 and a magna cum laude in JD from Harvard Law School in 1990.[1]
Career
After graduating from law school, Stephenson practiced corporate law in the Washington DC office of Baker & Botts (1990-1991). After briefly serving as a Schedule C appointee in the US Treasury (1991-1993), he founded and served as a General Partner of International Equity Partners (IEP), an investment firm specializing in Asian and East European markets (1993-2001). After selling IEP, he became a shareholder in and Vice Chairman of the Rompetrol Group,[2] a large multinational oil refining and marketing company headquartered in the Netherlands. He sold his entire stake in the Rompetrol Group in late 2007.[3]
Freedom Group
Stephenson is Chairman of the Freedom Group, whose companies focus on portfolio investing, real estate, and hotel development. Freedom Capital Partners LLC (FCP) is a family office that makes and monitors public and private investments globally. FCP does not manage money for third parties. Freedom Development LLC owns and operates (with partners) multifamily residential housing in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Freedom Resorts Ltd purchased the freehold private island of Petit St. Vincent in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2010 and operates the award-winning 22 room boutique hotel there.
- Petit St. Vincent is an eco-friendly boutique resort [4] In 2014 Jean Michel Cousteau opened a diving center on the island.[5]
- The Philip Stephenson Foundation is a 501(c) (3) foundation which promotes ocean exploration and protection. The foundation's commitments include:
- National Geographic Society "Pristine Seas" program
- The Nature Conservancy's program in the Eastern Caribbean,[6]
- Dr. Robert Ballard's 'Ocean Exploration Trust'[7]
- Dr. Sylvia Earle's "Mission Blue/Hopespots"
Stephenson also serves on the National Geographic Society International Council of Advisors.[8] In addition, he serves on the board of trustees for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and the Board of International Counselors of both the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Belfer Center at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
References
- ↑ "The Diplomat Bucharest". www.thediplomat.ro. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- ↑ "An Oil Fortune Bound in Red Tape". The Washington Post. 2005-08-16. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- ↑ "Lawyer has made his fortune, now he sells barbecue". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- ↑ "Marine conservation adventure travel". How To Spend It. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- ↑ Gold, Sarah (2015-02-05). "Petit St. Vincent, a Dot of Green in the Ocean Blue". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- ↑ "Largest Mangrove Habitat in St Vincent and the Grenadines to be Restored. - Radio Grenadines". Radio Grenadines. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- ↑ "Phil Stephenson". Nautilus Live. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- ↑ "Additional Leadership at National Geographic". National Geographic Society Press Room. Archived from the original on 2015-12-23. Retrieved 2016-01-10.