Roger Lawson – In Memoriam

A force for individual shareholders

It is with profound sadness that the Board of ShareSoc received the news of the death of Roger Lawson on 25th March.

Roger was ShareSoc’s founder, first Chairman, and a tireless champion for the rights of individual investors. 

He was the key motivator behind the creation of ShareSoc in 2011. At a time when private shareholders often felt sidelined by dominant institutional interests, Roger envisioned a powerful, collective voice that could challenge corporate boards and demand fair treatment. He laid the foundations for an organisation that is now recognised as the pre-eminent representative for individual investors in the UK. 

Many of our members will remember Roger as a forceful and courageous promoter of shareholder rights. He was never afraid to speak truth to power, leading high-profile campaigns against corporate governance failures, unfair remuneration structures, and the disenfranchisement of investors on nominee platforms. His deep understanding of the City and his sharp, analytical mind made him a formidable advocate who was respected—and sometimes feared—in boardrooms across the country. 

While Roger kept a weather eye on global markets, his heart was primarily rooted in UK shares. He was a staunch believer in direct share ownership rather than being tucked away in opaque funds. He wanted to own the business, not just a line item on a monthly statement. He had a particular affinity for small and mid-cap companies, where he felt the individual investor could truly gain an edge through diligent research. 

Roger believed that attending Annual General Meetings was a shareholder’s duty. To him, an AGM was an opportunity to hold boards to account through direct interaction. He wrote hundreds of AGM reports, meticulously detailing board competence, executive pay, and strategy. These weren’t just summaries; they were essential reading for the private investor community, often exposing the stuff that corporate communications tried to hide.  

He was a source of great knowledge, sharing his insights through his popular blog, Roliscon, and his book, Business Perspective Investing. He believed that investing was not just about numbers, but about understanding the quality of a business and its management. 

Roger Lawson leaves behind a more transparent investment landscape and a vibrant community of active, informed investors. We owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we remain committed to continuing the work he so passionately began. 

Roger’s family have informed us that his funeral will be private. Anyone wishing to honour Roger’s memory should donate to St Christopher’s Hospice, whose help and support in his final months cannot be praised highly enough.  

3 Comments
  1. James Carthew says:

    Thank you for highlighting the great work that Roger did on behalf of individual investors. He’ll be sorely missed.

  2. Mark Lauber says:

    Very sorry to hear this, he was a staunch defender of the private investor and a great font of knowledge. He will be sorely missed.

  3. Dr Krishna Mehendale says:

    Yes, remember meeting him at many AGMs.

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