Ross Goobey , Alastair , 1945-2008 , investment manager and pension fund manager

Ross Goobey , Alastair , 1945-2008 , investment manager and pension fund manager

Alastair Ross Goobey was born in 1945, the son of George Henry Ross Goobey, pension fund manager of Imperial Tobacco. After education at Marlborough and Cambridge he followed his father into the City, starting at Kleinwort Benson in 1968. He then worked at Hume Holdings, 1972-77; Courtauld pension fund, 1977-81 (investment manager); Geoffrey Morley and Partners, 1981-85 (director); James Capel, 1987-1993 (chief strategist); Hermes Pension Management, 1993 onwards (chief executive). He also served as a special advisor to the Treasury, 1986-1987; and was a member of the council of Lloyds.

Ross Goobey was noted for his contributions to the field of responsible investing and better corporate governance. He campaigned for certain elements of the UK Combined Code for the management of public companies, including the limitation of director's contracts, transparency and professionalism of appointments, and greater accountability and openness.

Ross Goobey contributed a column to various publications, and wrote two books: The Money Moguls (1986) on investment management, and Bricks and Mortals (1992) on the property market crash.

Outside the City he was a governor of the Wellcome Trust, helping to improve their income, a governor of the Royal Academy of Music (he was a keen pianist and clarinetist), and sat on the investment committee of the National Gallery.

In 1998 Ross Goobey was diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood cancer. In 2000 he was awarded the CBE for services to pensions. He died in February 2008 aged 62, leaving a wife, Sarah, and a son and daughter.

Source of information: The Times, February 5 2008.