James Benamor

James Benamor (born 18th of May 1977, Bournemouth, Dorset, United Kingdom) is a British businessman and millionaire.

Business activities

Benamor became one of the wealthiest young people in the United Kingdom after starting his loan brokerage company, the Richmond Group, in 1999 at the age of 21. [ [http://www.toptrack100.com/fasttrack2002/migration/dbDetails.asp?siteID=1&compID=2264&yr=2007 Richmond Group. The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 list. December 2, 2007] ] Unable to afford advertising at the time he printed leaflets and delivered them on foot, walking 300km and delivering 30,000 leaflets in the first month. [ [http://www.toptrack100.com/fasttrack2002/migration/dbDetails.asp?siteID=1&compID=2264&yr=2007 Richmond Group. The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 list. December 2, 2007] ]

He was reportedly worth £77m in the Sunday Times 2008 Young Rich List. [ http://business.timesonline.co.uk/richlist-app/?l=9 The Sunday Times 2008 Rich List - The 100 richest young people, aged 30 and under] ]

The growth of Benamor's Richmond Group has attracted media attention. In 2007 it was reported by the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 as 29th fastest growing company in terms of sales, [ [http://www.toptrack100.com/fasttrack2002/migration/dbDetails.asp?siteID=1&compID=2264&yr=2007 Richmond Group. The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 list. December 2, 2007] ] in 2008 it was ranked 34th in the UK by the Profit Track 100 for profit growth, [ [http://www.toptrack100.com/fasttrack2002/migration/dbDetails.asp?siteID=2&compID=2264&yr=2008 Richmond Group. The Sunday Times Profit Track. April 20,2008] ] and in 2008 it was rated as one of the 100 best companies to work for in the Sunday Times Best 100 Companies list. [ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/career_and_jobs/best_100_companies/article3440515.ece Richmond Group. The Sunday Times Best 100 small companies list. March 2, 2008] ]

Criticism

Benamor has been criticised by the Daily Mirror [ [http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2008/07/caught-out-by-advantage-loans.html Caught out by Advantage Loans and Yes Loans] ] for Richmond's ownership of Advantage Loans, [ [http://www.therichmondgroup.co.uk/richmond-group-structure.php Company Structure] ] a credit broker which specialises in the sub-prime loan market. [ [http://www.advantageloans.uk.com/ccjs-defaults.php CCJs / Defaults NO PROBLEM!] ]

Television appearances

Benamor was featured in an edition of the the Channel 4 documentary series Secret Millionaire, aired on 5th August 2008, a show where wealthy business people go undercover to look for deserving people to give money to. [ [http://www.londoneveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1060516_secret_millionaire_in_Ladywood Birmingham Evening News 'Secret Millionaire in Ladywood. July 31,2008] ] The programme was set in Moss Side in Manchester and revealed that Benamor had dabbled in drugs and turned to petty crime as a teenager. [ http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=my-drug-crime-past-by-tv-s-secret-millionaire&method=full&objectid=20681838&siteid=93463-name_page.html Sunday People Report, 3rd Aug 08] ] Following broadcast of the programme reviews were generally favourableFact|date=August 2008 however renewed criticism of Advantage Loans' business methods appeared in the Daily Mirror. [ [http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2008/08/how-secret-millionaire-james-b.html How Secret Millionaire James Benamor could "give something back"] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.therichmondgroup.co.uk/richmond-group-our-people.php#jamesbenamor Richmond Group website profile]
* [http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/fasttrack2002/migration/dbDetails.asp?siteID=1&compID=2264&yr=2007 Sunday Times Fast Track Article]
* [http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/fasttrack2002/migration/dbDetails.asp?siteID=2&compID=2264&yr=2008 Sunday Times Profit Track Article]
* [http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/08/07/investigate-truth-of-tv-millionaire-115875-20687146/ Daily Mirror investigation]