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IHS
Sir Chris Hohn established IHS (formerly The Children's Investment Fund Management) in London in 1993.
IHS
Sir Chris Hohn established IHS (formerly The Children's Investment Fund Management) in London in 1993. The firm began as a standalone activist hedge fund known for taking large stakes in underperforming public companies and pushing for operational or strategic changes. Hohn's wealth, estimated by Forbes at over $6B, originates from his management fees and personal returns from this investing strategy. IHS invests across global public equity markets, focusing on developed economies including the United States and Europe. Hohn is known for concentrated bets in sectors such as financial services, industrials, and healthcare. Notable activist campaigns have included ABN AMRO, where Hohn pressured for a sale (per Financial Times, 2007), and positions in companies like Oracle and United Technologies. The firm deploys capital directly through the fund and also via personal vehicles. Hohn maintains a lean team of approximately 10-15 investment professionals based in London. The family office structure overlaps with the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), one of the world's largest philanthropic organizations dedicated to children's health and education, with an endowment approaching $5B (per CIFF, 2024). Hohn has publicly stated he intends to give away the majority of his wealth. The structural differentiator is IHS's integration of activist investing with philanthropic capital. Hohn's fund returns directly fund CIFF, creating a closed loop where market discipline funds social outcomes. The firm does not accept external capital from third-party LPs, operating as a single-family office with a unique hybrid mandate.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
1993
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
City
London
Corporate office
London, United Kingdom
Principals
Sir Chris Hohn
Founder
Sir Chris Hohn
CEO and Portfolio Manager
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at IHS?
Sir Chris Hohn is the founder, CEO, and sole portfolio manager of IHS. He makes all investment decisions personally, drawing on a tight team of analysts in London. Hohn was formerly a manager at Perry Capital before establishing IHS in 1993.
What is the relationship between IHS and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)?
IHS is the family office and investment vehicle of Sir Chris Hohn. A portion of its returns flows to CIFF, the philanthropic foundation Hohn established with his former wife. CIFF has an endowment estimated at over $4.8B (per CIFF, 2024) and focuses on children's health, education, and climate issues. The two entities operate with shared governance but distinct legal structures.
What investment strategy does IHS employ?
IHS pursues a concentrated activist equity strategy. Hohn takes large stakes in publicly traded companies, often targeting underperformance relative to peers, and pushes for board changes, asset sales, or strategic overhauls. The portfolio is typically invested in 10-15 positions across North American and European equities.
Does IHS accept external capital from other investors?
No. IHS operates as a single-family office and does not manage funds on behalf of external limited partners. All capital under management belongs to Sir Chris Hohn and his philanthropic entities. The firm was originally open to outside investors in its hedge fund structure but shifted to a closed family-office model.
How does IHS's philanthropic mandate affect its investment decisions?
Hohn has said the long-term horizon of CIFF allows him to be patient with activist campaigns. The investment team does not rely on quarterly liquidity withdrawals, which reduces short-term pressure. However, the strategy remains return-driven; philanthropy is a use of proceeds, not a constraint on the portfolio.
Which campaigns is IHS best known for?
The most famous campaign was targeting ABN AMRO in 2007, where IHS helped force the Dutch bank's auction to a consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland (per Financial Times, 2007). Other notable engagements include positions in United Technologies, where Hohn pushed for restructuring, and Japan's NTT (per Reuters, 2018).
Where is IHS headquartered, and does it have additional offices?
IHS is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Public records show no additional offices; the firm operates from a single location in Mayfair. Hohn has stated a preference for a compact team based in one city.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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