[3] Hester has had an extensive business career including holding the chief executive position at three FTSE 100 companies over a 17 year period.

[citation needed] He began his career in 1982 with investment bank Credit Suisse First Boston, where he started in corporate finance and then served a year as the chairman's assistant.

[citation needed] As part of its significant restructuring , he was given additional responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer for the wholesale and insurance arms of the bank as well as its support functions.

[citation needed] In November 2004, Hester was appointed chief executive British Land succeeding Sir John Ritblat, the company’s founder.

[4][5] In October 2008, RBS , then the biggest bank in the world by assets, contributed to the cause of the global financial crisis and was bailed out by UK taxpayers.

[citation needed] As part of that change, Hester was asked to leave British Land and replace Fred Goodwin as Chief Executive of the RBS Group.

[citation needed] In addition to restoring financial health the share price of RBS which had troughed at 90p equivalent, rose to 330p by the time he left the bank.

[citation needed] The company was also experiencing a financial crisis and Hester led significant restructuring efforts, streamlining and focusing the business, raising £750 million in a rights issue and changing management whilst cutting costs.

[citation needed] The Company accepted an all cash bid worth £7.2 bn in June 2021 from Intact of Canada and Tryg of Denmark.

[9] One of Hester's passions is said to be development of the gardens and arboretum at the property, part of which was designed by landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith and includes pleached limes, formal beds and five of the first Australian Wollemi pines to be brought into the UK.