THE founder of York-based business CPP lost more than £100 million in a year, as the nation’s richest men and women were battered by the recession.

Hamish Ogston, who founded the credit card security company in 1980, has seen his fortune fall from £530 million to £428 million, according to the Sunday Times Rich List 2009, published yesterday.

Despite the fall, Mr Ogston, who donated £2 million last August to the restoration of York Minster, climbed 22 places in the annual list, from 149th to 127th.

Paul Sykes, who runs Harrogate Property firm Highstone Group, was the highest Yorkshireman or woman in the list, placed 79th.

His wealth was estimated at £550 million, although the change from last year was unavailable.

Another Harrogate tycoon, Peter Wilkinson, also made the list, at 177th. Mr Wilkinson’s fortune is now worth £301 million, down £2 million from last year. His IT firm won a major NHS contract in January.

The owners of York department store Fenwick’s also made the list, despite a five per cent drop in their wealth.

Mark Fenwick and family came second in the north-east, and 144th in the country.

They were beaten into top spot in the north-east by Mike Ashley, the owner of Newcastle United Football Club.

The Fenwicks, who own the store in York’s Coppergate Centre, were up from 232nd last year. Their wealth was put at £365 million, down from £386 million last year.

A Sunday Times spokesman said: “Increased profits of £41.7 million in 2007/8 for Fenwick department stores is good news for the Fenwick family and the stores’ employees.

“The Newcastle-based business has net assets of just under £400 million.

“The company is chaired by 60-year-old Mark Fenwick, who once managed Roxy Music.”

The Sunday Times values the group at £350 million, with a further £15 million added for the family’s other assets.

Nationwide, the recession knocked billions of the country’s richest men and women.

Steel magnate Lakshi Mittal lost £16,900 million – 61 per cent of his wealth – in the past 12 months, according to the Sunday newspaper’s research.