Charles Field-Marsham was born on January 29, 1968, and is the second son of Rupert Charles Edward Field-Marsham and Marilyn Field-Marsham. He attended Upper Canada College, and McGill University where he obtained a bachelor's degree with distinction in economics and politics.
Business interests
At the age of 19 and while an undergraduate at McGill University, Charles Field-Marsham started his first successful business, Advantage Clothing. After graduating from McGill he joined Credit Suisse First Boston in New York City as a financial analyst. From 1993 to 2003 Charles Field-Marsham lived in Kenya with his Kenyan wife Rita, during which time he established and acquired several companies. His first move was to open a stock brokerage, Kestrel Capital in 1995, Kestrel Capital has become Kenya's leading stock brokerage firm. He then set up the Panafrican Group in 1996, a Komatsu distributor for mining and construction equipment across Africa. The company grew rapidly by supplying equipment to the mining operations across Africa. In 1997 he bought the Kenya Fluorspar Company, a loss-making state-owned company, and entered into a 20-year lease with the government. The mine was to become one of the country's leading foreign currency earners. It was described as one of the largest and lowest cost producers of fluorspar in the world. In 2004 Charles Field-Marsham returned to Toronto and founded Kestrel Capital Management Capital. The company provides investment consultancy services to businesses outside of Canada. In 2020, Charles Field-Marsham became an investor and board member of Slingshot Sports LLC, one of the world’s leading kiteboarding equipment makers.
Philanthropy
Charles Field-Marsham has supported the following charitable organisations: AMREF Canada: former board member and donor. Field-Marsham Foundation: Founder and sponsor for numerous projects and charities in Kenya. Kenya Scholar Access Project : Became chairman and major sponsor in 2005 ; an initiative that has helped secure scholarships for over 200 high-achieving disadvantaged Kenyan students in elite US universities. KENSAP produced it first Harvard graduate, Kipyegon Amos Kitur, in 2009. Sick Kids Foundation: former Director and donor. Grand Challenges: former board member. The Canadian Council on Africa: Board director. CCA promotes all sectors of African economic development in Canada. NEXT Canada : In 2010, Charles Field-Marsham became one of the founding donors and a board director for the organization. In July 2012 Charles Field-Marsham sponsored and opened the first international class Taekwondodojo in Kenya. Situated in the grounds of the Fluorspar School in Kerio Valley, the free of charge dojo is supported by The Field Marsham Foundation, and is led by of Champion Taekwondo, and the Kenya Fluorspar Company. The opening was attended by the high commissioner of Canada to Kenya, David Collins, and Lornah Kiplagat.
