Ernest Bader

Bader, a Swiss-born Quaker, built the resin and chemicals company Scott Bader in Northamptonshire and in 1951 gave most of it to the Scott Bader Commonwealth, a charity in which employees are members, completing the transfer in 1963. Employees elect members to the board and decide how part of the profits go to charity. The company still trades internationally under that structure, which makes it one of the longest-running tests of the idea.