Citywealth Leaders List, 60 seconds interview – Tom Graham, VAR Capital

Date: 11 Jun 2025

Karen Jones

This week’s 60-second Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Tom Graham, Head of Lending at VAR Capital.

Tell Citywealth Leaders List readers a bit about your role.

I am the Head of Lending at VAR Capital, a multi-family office located in London. As the Head of Lending, I am responsible for overseeing our debt financing function, where we provide bespoke finance solutions from both our own funding line, institutional lenders and banks across the UK and Europe.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My job is very diverse and can vary from day to day depending on the client requirements. Given the people nature of the business, most of my day is generally on the phone or in meetings to understand clients’ needs and the ever-changing appetite of the lending market. Given the full service nature of VAR Capital,  I also work regularly with the asset management team to gain a better understanding of our clients’ situation.

Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received. 

A client asked for my advice regarding the various funding options that were available to him, to assist with the purchase of a new jet.  In place of a fee for my advice, I asked for the opportunity for our investment team to pitch our investment management service to him.   We now manage a significant investment portfolio for him.  I’m still awaiting a ride in the jet though!

What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?

UHNW clients nearly always have complex personal balance sheets and very specific borrowing requirements.  This is even more likely with international clients facing multiple tax jurisdictions and regulations.  Their borrowing needs are rarely met by retail lenders and they are unable to just search the cheapest rates through an online search engine as other borrowers might.  Our ability to understand the needs of UHNW borrowers and the requirements of the wide range of lenders, enables us to propose the most appropriate solution for the client and work with the lender to bring it to completion and beyond.  Our boutique nature means that we are nimble enough to provide flexibility and speed of process that other institutions may not.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

Being made a partner at VAR capital was a special moment for me, as it recognised my ongoing contribution towards a firm that I am proud to work with.

What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?

A leader needs attributes such as empathy and decisiveness. The most important is communication, especially in the lending industry.

Who do you most admire and why?

In our industry, we are lucky to work with some of the world’s most financially successful people who can provide a lot of inspiration in many ways.  I have the most admiration for one particular client, who I have known since the very start of my career.  Despite his enormous success and incredibly busy lifestyle, he has always shown genuine interest in me and all of my colleagues, recalling the smallest details of non-work related conversations from years prior.  

Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?

I recently travelled to Mauritius for the last opportunity for a real holiday before the birth of my little boy.  I’m looking forward to the next one in 18 years time.

If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?

Unfortunately, my golf skills wouldn’t quite get me onto the PGA tour, but I’d settle for being a caddy! 

How do you relax after a long day?

I usually unwind by spending time with my family and friends. There is no better spot than the roof garden at the Oval to watch Surrey and enjoy a beer or two.