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Warren Kanders

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Warren Kanders
Born1957 or 1958
New Jersey, U.S.
EducationBrown University
Occupation(s)Businessperson and investor

Warren Beatty Kanders (born 1957 or 1958) is an American businessman and investor. From 1996 to 2007, he was chairman of Armor Holdings, a company involved in the defense and law enforcement industries. He has been chairman and CEO of Cadre Holdings since 2012.

An arts patron, Kanders joined the board of the Whitney Museum, in New York, in 2006. He resigned as vice chair in 2019 following protests over sales of tear gas by Safariland, a subsidiary of Cadre Holdings.

Early life

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Warren Beatty Kanders was born in 1957 or 1958.[1] His father worked as a periodontist in New Jersey.[2] He studied at the Choate School, a prestigious boarding school in Connecticut, and earned a bachelor's degree at Brown University in Rhode Island.[1][3]

Business career

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Finance

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Kanders first worked in mergers and acquisitions at the investment firm Morgan Stanley,[3] and then in the 1980s was employed by the New York firm Oppenheimer & Company in the same line of work.[2] He also worked for Canadian businessman Jim Pattison.[4] Since 1990, he is the owner and president of a Connecticut-based investment firm, Kanders & Company.[1][5]

Retail

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Kanders was one of two bankers who created Benson Eyecare in 1992 from the merger of shell public company Ehrlich Bober, an optical retail chain and Benson Optical, which was acquired from the pension fund of General Electric for $2.3 million. Benson Eyecare relisted from the American Stock Exchange to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and Martin E. Franklin served as its CEO, making Franklin the youngest CEO of a corporation listed on the NYSE.[6][7][8] Through a series of acquisitions and organic growth, Benson Eyecare grew from $40 million in annualized revenue in 1992 to $150 million in 1996, when the company was sold to Essilor for $300 million, creating a 23-fold return for early investors.[7][9] Forbes estimated that Kanders received more than $30 million from the transaction.[4]

Defense and law enforcement

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Kanders $3 million of his $30 million profit to buy 70% of the Florida-based American Body Armor, a company which was a predecessor to Armor Holdings, a manufacturer of body armor equipment and provides security services.[10][11][12] Armor initially focused on customers in municipal governments and the private sector.[10] It acquired Safariland, a policing equipment manufacturer, in 1999,[12] and shortly before the September 11 attacks in 2001, Kanders predicted that "there would be more friction" in the world and the company acquired O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt, which provided the armoring for military Humvees. The company armored 51 Humvees each month in 2003.[10] The company had made 28 acquisitions by 2006 and had gone public; Forbes wrote that Kanders and Robert Schiller, the CEO, had converted Armor into a "prime military contractor".[10] He was chairman of Armor Holdings from 1996 until 2007, when Armor Holdings was bought by BAE Systems for $4.1 billion in 2007.[5][12] Kanders received a $300 million payout as a result of the purchase.[13]

Kanders began an effort in 2008 to become CEO of the Federal Signal Corporation after announcing he held a 5.7% stake in the company. He also criticized the company for the sale of a subsidiary and later publicly alleged that its chairman of "may have been involved in a coverup of insider trading". In response to the allegation, the company said that it was "nothing more than another desperate attempt to undermine the credibility of the company's highly qualified board of directors".[14][15] Also in 2008, Kanders bought outdoor equipment manufacturer Gregory Mountain Products, which was part of Armor Holdings when it was purchased by BAE Systems.[12] Kanders and Schiller were managers at Clarus Corporation, based in Connecticut, when in 2010, it purchased Gregory Mountain Products and the Utah-based Black Diamond Equipment, for a combined $135 million. Following the deal, the two companies were combined into one company, named Black Diamond, with Kanders as executive chairman.[16][17] Kanders returned to Safariland as its chairman and CEO after its purchase from BAE Systems for $124 million in 2012.[12][11]

Forbes estimated his net worth at $700 million in 2018, mostly derived from Safariland's value.[4] In 2021, the parent company of Safariland, Cadre Holdings, announced that it was going public, with Kanders remaining as CEO and maintaining a 51% voting interest.[18]

Arts patronage and protests

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Kanders joined the board of the Whitney Museum in New York in 2006.[19] Kanders and his wife, Allison, redesigned their house in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 2013 to incorporate their collection of contemporary art; they owned works by John Baldessari, Jeff Koons, Gerhard Richter, and Cindy Sherman.[20] The New York Times in 2019 reported that Kanders donated more than $10 million to the Whitney Museum, among donations to "various charities" and Republican and Democratic Party politicians.[3]

The couple endowed $2.5 million to the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado in 2016.[21] They were major donors to the Aspen Art Museum for 2017 to 2018,[22] and his wife was a board member in 2018.[23]

Whitney Museum protests

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Kanders was listed as a "significant contributor" to the Whitney Museum's retrospective exhibition on Andy Warhol on November 12, 2018.[19] By this time, he was vice chairman of the board.[19] An article in Hyperallergic magazine later that month connected Kanders to tear gas canisters thrown at the San Diego–Tijuana border which, according to journalist Patrick Timmons, were shown on photos to be labeled with the Safariland logo.[19] The magazine previously reported on Kanders in 2015, connecting his arts patronage to riot gear sold by the company.[24] In response to the article, around 100 museum employees signed an open letter asking the museum to request Kanders's resignation as they did not feel as though they could work at the museum while a defense contractor was on its board.[19][4] Museum director Adam D. Weinberg responded to the letter, but did not specifically address Kanders or the request for his resignation, while Kanders released a statement in which he said he could provide facts about his company to facilitate "a more informed and constructive dialogue".[4]

Decolonize This Place protestors in the lobby of the Whitney Museum with banners demanding Kanders's removal from the museum board in 2019

In December, the group Decolonize This Place organized a protest at the museum to protest Kanders's board membership.[25] In response to plans for the 2019 Whitney Biennial, Decolonize This Place launched a series of nine weekly protests from March 22 to May 17, calling for his removal from the board, and around two-thirds of the 75 Biennial participants signed a letter authored by various art critics, academics, and other figures that called for the same goal.[19][26][27] The New York Times reported that the protests had "reached a climax" during the opening of the Biennial, when a large tear gas sculpture was installed close to the entrance and protestors marched to Kanders's house in Greenwich Village.[3] After eight artists left the program in solidarity with the protests, on July 25, Kanders resigned from his position and his wife left her position as co-chair of the painting and sculpture committee.[3]

Kanders announced in 2020 that Safariland planned to divest itself of divisions producing "crowd-control solutions, including chemical agents, munitions and batons, to law enforcement and military agencies"—specifically Defense Technology and Monadnock Lifetime Products—amid criticism that tear gas sold by one of its divisions was used by police in protests over the murder of George Floyd.[28] Despite earlier announcing that he would leave the industry, The Intercept reported in 2022 that Kanders was still profiting from his company's sales of tear gas.[29] Defense Technology and Safariland reportedly remained registered as subsidiaries of Kanders' company Cadre Holdings.[30]

Brown University protests

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An op-ed in The Brown Daily Herald authored by four fellow Brown University alumni in February 2018 criticized the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) for allowing Kanders on its advisory council as they alleged Safariland's products had been used to "suppress protests, maim or kill activists and intimidate social movements." Kanders defended Safariland's products in a letter to the editor.[4] After protests by student groups, in October 2019, the university announced changes to its gift acceptance policy.[31][32]

Personal life

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Family

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Kanders married to Sarah Phillips in 1982.[33] Following a divorce, he married Allison Smith in 1998.[1] They have three children.[23]

Real estate

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Kanders bought a 20-acre Colonial Revival house in Greenwich around 1996.[34][23] With his wife Allison, he had the property renovated by architect Oliver Cope and interior designer Mica Ertegun around 2001,[34] and later had the interiors redesigned with contemporary art by designer Joe Nahem, from the firm Fox-Nahem Associates, around 2013.[20][23] The couple purchased a townhouse in Greenwich Village, New York City, for $17.8 million in 2012.[35] The New York and Connecticut homes were the sites of demonstrations in 2020 due to Safariland's past sales of tear gas; the Connecticut protest had some protestors affiliated with the Service Employees International Union.[36]

They purchased the Palm Beach, Florida home of singer Jimmy Buffett and Buffett's wife for $6.9 million in 2020.[37] A limited liability company (LLC) connected to Kanders purchased the Palm Beach home of businesswoman Adrien Arpel for $25.38 million in 2021. It was sold for $39.9 million the following year, in June 2022, after the town did not approve the plan of a new house that Kanders and his wife sought to build on the property.[38][39] Later in June, Kanders's LLC purchased the Palm Beach home of Eugene Applebaum, founder of the Arbor Drugs drug stores, and Applebaum's wife for $56 million.[39] Kanders and his wife donated "nearly $400,000" of equipment from his company Cadre Holdings to the Palm Beach police department the following year.[40]

Kanders and his brother, Alan, an investor and hotel owner, became owners of the Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington, Connecticut, with the property's foreclosure in 2010.[41] Grace Hotels became a majority owner in 2013.[42] In 2011, he was reported to be part owner of the Hotel Saint-Barths Isle de France on the Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy.[41][43]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "WEDDINGS; Allison Smith, Warren Kanders". The New York Times. June 28, 1998. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Sarah E. Phillips Plans Wedding". The New York Times. July 25, 1982. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e Pogrebin, Robin; Harris, Elizabeth (July 25, 2019). "Warren Kanders Quits Whitney Board After Tear Gas Protests". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Çam, Deniz (December 6, 2018). "Meet The Safariland Multimillionaire Getting Rich Off Tear Gas and More In The Defense Industry". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Board of Directors". Clarus Corporation. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  6. ^ Petruno, Tom (January 3, 1993). "Stocks That Were Hot, Not So Hot in 1992: Year-End Tally: Stock of 'infomercial' company jumps 450%, while many health issues droop". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 12, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Gallagher, Leigh (October 27, 2003). "Master of the Mundane: Martin Franklin is making millions from kitchen matches, twine and canning jars". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  8. ^ Serwer, Andrew E. (April 17, 1995). "A Man with a Vision Consolidates the Eye-Care Business". Fortune. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  9. ^ "Essilor Plans to Buy Benson Eyecare for $225 Million". The New York Times. Bloomberg Business News. February 13, 1996. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d "Survivor". Forbes. October 14, 2006. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Just, Olivia (July 31, 2012). "Kanders completes goal of buying body armor company". Connecticut Post. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e Bull, Roger (July 30, 2012). "Jacksonville manufacturer of body armor part of $124 million sale". The Florida Times-Union. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  13. ^ Newcomb, Peter (March 5, 2008). "America's 50 Richest Paydays". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  14. ^ "Federal Signal lapse alleged". Chicago Tribune. August 19, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  15. ^ Cundiff, Rick (July 1, 2008). "E-One firm candidate takes aim CEO hopeful ducks test, buys stock instead". Ocala StarBanner. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  16. ^ Lee, Richard (May 10, 2010). "Clarus purchase unites two outdoor equipment makers". Stamford Advocate. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  17. ^ Gorrell, Mike (May 10, 2010). "Utah's Black Diamond Equipment sold for $90 million". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on May 12, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  18. ^ Basch, Mark (July 12, 2021). "Safariland parent Cadre Holdings Inc. planning IPO". Jax Daily Record. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d e f Greenberger, Alex (March 22, 2019). "The Whitney Museum and Warren B. Kanders: A Timeline of the Controversy". ARTnews. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Shaw, Dan (June 2013). "A Greenwich, Connecticut Home with Cutting-Edge Style". Architectural Digest. Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Fort, Patrick (March 21, 2016). "Aspen Music Festival and School receives $2.5 million gift". Aspen Public Radio. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  22. ^ Williams, Maxwell (August 6, 2019). "Mega collectors raise $2.3m at Aspen Art Museum's annual ArtCrush benefit". The Art Newspaper. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c d Boodro, Michael (November 8, 2018). "On View: Allison and Warren Kanders Invite AD Into Their Art-Filled Sanctuary". Architectural Digest. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  24. ^ Steinhauer, Jillian (July 1, 2015). "The Unlikely Connection Between the Whitney Museum and Riot Gear". Hyperallergic. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  25. ^ Greenberger, Alex (December 9, 2018). "'No Space for Profiteer of State Violence': Decolonize This Place Protests Whitney Vice Chair Warren B. Kanders". ARTnews. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  26. ^ Moynihan, Colin (May 18, 2019). "Protests at the Whitney Over a Board Member Whose Company Sells Tear Gas". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  27. ^ "Decolonize This Place Launches "Nine Weeks of Art and Action" with Protest at Whitney Museum". Hyperallergic. March 23, 2019. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  28. ^ Pogrebin, Robin (June 9, 2020). "Warren Kanders Says He Is Getting Out of the Tear Gas Business". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  29. ^ Voon, Claire (June 7, 2022). "Former Whitney Museum vice chairman Warren Kanders still profits from tear gas sales despite claiming he would divest". The Art Newspaper. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  30. ^ "Ousted Whitney Trustee Warren Kanders Reneges on Promise Not to Sell Tear Gas". Artforum. June 6, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  31. ^ Diep, Francie (October 31, 2019). "Universities Are Facing Criticism for Taking Dirty Money. Do Their Donor Policies Protect Them?". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  32. ^ Goldberg, Daniel (October 28, 2019). "University releases naming, gift acceptance policies to public". The Brown Daily Herald. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  33. ^ "Marriage of Phillips / Kanders". Daily Record. New Jersey. September 19, 1982. p. 48. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ a b Thurman, Judith (October 1, 2001). "Mica Ertegun of MAC II Renovates an Estate on Long Island Sound". Architectural Digest. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  35. ^ Velsey, Kim (June 22, 2012). "Art Patron and Business Bigwig Moves From Greenwich to Greenwich Village, Into $18 M. Hovanian Townhouse". The New York Observer. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  36. ^ Marchant, Robert (July 15, 2020). "Demonstrators target Greenwich businessman who had ties to tear gas". Greenwich Time. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  37. ^ Hofheinz, Darrell (November 30, 2020). "Jimmy Buffett, wife sell house in Palm Beach for $6.9 million". Palm Beach Daily News. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  38. ^ Hofheinz, Darrell (June 3, 2022). "Lakeside Palm Beach house brings $39.9M after selling last year for $25.4M, records show". Palm Beach Daily News. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  39. ^ a b Hofheinz, Darrell (June 27, 2022). "Lakeside estate sells for $56 million in off-market deal, Palm Beach deed shows". Palm Beach Daily News. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  40. ^ Wagner, Jodie (January 3, 2023). "Palm Beach Police get donation of ultralight tactical gear". Palm Beach Daily News. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  41. ^ a b "Posh Mayflower Inn & Spa Has New Owners". Hartford Courant. July 28, 2011. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  42. ^ Tuz, Susan (August 10, 2013). "Mayflower joins Grace Hotel group". Greenwich Time. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  43. ^ Tuz, Susan (July 27, 2011). "Career hoteliers take the reins at Mayflower". CT Post. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
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