MAJOR REX JACOBS DSO
​​Thomas Jacob’s second son, Reginald 'Rex' Jacobs proved to be both an excellent merchant banker and successful army officer. In 1923 the family banking company, Gordon Jacobs & Co, was reorganised so that Rex became a partner; the firm was heavily exposed to US securities at the time of the Wall Street Crash but under his excellent management – including the crucial merger with Harry Randolph and the Randolph Investment Trust in 1924 to form Randolph Jacobs – the company’s value nearly doubled between 1928 and 1935.
Rex Jacobs and Harry Randolph were close friends as well as business partners and together had a seemingly magic touch, steering Randolph Jacobs through the inter-war period with a combined flair for spotting investment opportunities and avoiding hidden perils that sank many of their competitors.
Now approaching 60, Rex is unmarried and has no children – he’s known as mostly good-natured and jovial, but sometimes his enthusiasm can become a driven intensity and he suffers from the family tendency to black moods on occasion. Rex is a charismatic figure who can hold a room, is deeply patriotic, believes firmly in the importance of family and is looked up to by many as a leader.
He always attends Shareholders meetings in person and is very hands-on in his running of the business.
NELLA RANDOLPH
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The daughter of Illinois industrialist, Albert Voichek, Nella was Harry Randolph’s second wife, and has children from her own previous marriage to ‘King Rubber’, Raymond B. Atlas.
Her marriage to Harry wasn’t especially popular within the wider Randolph family or with Rex Jacobs, but Nella has always brushed off their snobbery and is known as the hostess of lavish parties at the Randolph ‘Casa Calida’ – a Spanish-style mansion in Beverly Hills.
She hasn’t been seen much since Harry’s sudden death and the continuing legal wrangling over his lack of a Will is keeping teams of lawyers in business.
You wouldn’t expect Nella to attend the AGM – civilian travel from the US is difficult right now, and she’s never shown any special interest in the company, but you are sure she will make her presence felt through the lawyer Calvin Moyer – after all, her shares are equal to Rex’s and he can’t push anything through without her support, or that of more than half of the minor shareholders...
MR. ARCHIBALD
Company Secretary
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​The dry and serious Company Secretary who wishes only for a well-run meeting – if you have attended before you will be familiar with Mr. Archibald. He generally also represents the wishes of absent British shareholders.
CALVIN MOYER
Lawyer
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A smooth American lawyer from Cutler Pickering Swaine LLP – based in their London and New York offices. He often attends to represent absent American shareholders and is a close confidante of Nella Randolph.
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