Russell arrived in Kuala Lumpur at age seven, in 1890; the country's primary export at the time was tin.

Prior to BOH, Russell had worked in the Straits Trading Company, learning to speak several Chinese dialects (along with Malay) and making connections with wealthy Chinese tin miners.

Besides investing in tin, Russell and his brothers (Philip, Donald, and Robert) put money in the nascent rubber industry in 1908.

Despite the worldwide Great Depression at the time BOH was founded in 1929, Russell was optimistic about the tea plantation business, due to steady demand.

At the time, the land was undeveloped jungle terrain, on steep slopes; with a steamroller and mule teams, the stepped plantation was created.