Hector’s father, Adam Fleming, moved to Johannesburg in 1990 to set up what subsequently became Fleming Martin & Co. Through relationships built up across the continent, the family started co-investing in other businesses including mining, real estate and agriculture and still has holdings in more than 10 separate businesses across 6 different countries in Africa.
Robert Fleming, Hector’s great grandfather was a jute merchant’s clerk from Dundee, Scotland whose career grew at the end of the 19th century as an originator in the formation of investment trusts originally based on opportunities in the railway industry in America.
Ably continued by his descendants, the company grew to opening 40 offices worldwide and employ over 7,000 people, including joint ventures with Jardines in Hong Kong, Martin & Co in South Africa, and T Rowe Price in America before a sale of the business in 2000 to Chase Manhattan (now JP Morgan).
Three generations of experience investing and managing multi-sector companies in sub- Saharan Africa, notable milestones include: Founded an African family conglomerate in the 1920's, Susman Brothers & Wulfsohn, with 2000 employees in 5 African countries including large scale agriculture (300,000 acres, 26,000 cattle, dairy, piggery, crops), 30 butcheries, abattoirs, 150 retail trading stores, wholesaling, hardwood and softwood timber mills, hotel, garage, blanket manufacturer, real estate and financial services.
Founded Trans Zambezi Industries in the 1990s, a listed sub-Saharan industrial holding company with 8,200 employees. Raising capital from major US institutions and delivering value through active management including 5 IPO's of African companies on 2 African exchanges and a European exchange.
In Europe, acquired the Stenham Group in the 1950’s converting it into a two family, family office and then growing it into a diversified financial services group with USD8 billion under management engaged in asset management, property investment, private equity, trust and company administration, and trade finance. Owned by the families and management until its sale in 2008 to a South African listed institution.