Arif Naqvi
Encyclopedia
Arif Naqvi is the CEO of Dubai-based investment bank Abraaj Capital
, the leading private equity firm
in the Middle East and Northern Africa. He has spent 27 years in the banking, finance and investments industry.
Arif Masood Naqvi
earned his BSc Economics in 1982 from the London School of Economics
and is originally from Karachi
, Pakistan
.
In 1982, Naqvi began his career with Arthur Andersen
in London. Later, he went back to Pakistan to join the American Express Bank and helped create Pakistan's first investment banks. He launched a private equity firm called Cupola
.
Over the years, Naqvi has also overseen the acquisition and exit of Aramex
International, Inchcape Middle East the first and largest leveraged buyout
transaction in the region, and the privatisation by the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
of Jordan Aircraft Maintenance Company (JorAMCo). This is in addition to the acquisition of a significant stake in the leading supermarket chain in the Middle East – Spinneys, and the total acquisition of Septech, a controversial waste water treatment company.
Naqvi was vice-president of business development for the Olayan Group
, Saudi Arabia's largest private trading company.
Naqvi currently serves on the Board of Directors of Endeavor
, an international non-profit development organization that finds and supports high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
, Pakistan's Third Highest Civilian Award.
Naqvi is the only non-Arab member serving in the Arab Business Group established by the World Economic Forum
.
He served as Young Presidents Organization, Emirates Chapter Chairman in 2002-2003
Designated "New Asian Leader" by the World Economic Forum
in 2003-2004.
Abraaj Capital
Abraaj Capital is among the world's 50-biggest private equity groups, and invests in the growing Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region, a region also known as MENASA. Abraaj manages about $6.6 billion of funds and stakes in about two dozen companies, including some of the best known in...
, the leading private equity firm
Private equity firm
A private equity firm is an investment manager that makes investments in the private equity of operating companies through a variety of loosely affiliated investment strategies including leveraged buyout, venture capital, and growth capital...
in the Middle East and Northern Africa. He has spent 27 years in the banking, finance and investments industry.
Arif Masood Naqvi
Naqvi
The surname "Naqvi" are the descendants of Islamic Prophet Muhammad through the lineage of Ali al-Hadi...
earned his BSc Economics in 1982 from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and is originally from Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
In 1982, Naqvi began his career with Arthur Andersen
Arthur Andersen
Arthur Andersen LLP, based in Chicago, was once one of the "Big Five" accounting firms among PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst & Young and KPMG, providing auditing, tax, and consulting services to large corporations...
in London. Later, he went back to Pakistan to join the American Express Bank and helped create Pakistan's first investment banks. He launched a private equity firm called Cupola
Cupola
In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....
.
Over the years, Naqvi has also overseen the acquisition and exit of Aramex
Aramex
Aramex is a global transportation and logistics services company providing a variety of express, logistics, freight forwarding and domestic distribution services. The company was established in 1982 and is headquartered in Amman, Jordan...
International, Inchcape Middle East the first and largest leveraged buyout
Leveraged buyout
A leveraged buyout occurs when an investor, typically financial sponsor, acquires a controlling interest in a company's equity and where a significant percentage of the purchase price is financed through leverage...
transaction in the region, and the privatisation by the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
of Jordan Aircraft Maintenance Company (JorAMCo). This is in addition to the acquisition of a significant stake in the leading supermarket chain in the Middle East – Spinneys, and the total acquisition of Septech, a controversial waste water treatment company.
Naqvi was vice-president of business development for the Olayan Group
Olayan Group
The Olayan Group , is a Saudi conglomerate established in 1947 by Sulaiman S. Olayan and his son Khaled S. Olayan . The Olayan Group traces its origins back to the General Contracting Company , founded to work on the construction of the Trans-Arabian Pipeline alongside the American contracting...
, Saudi Arabia's largest private trading company.
Naqvi currently serves on the Board of Directors of Endeavor
Endeavor (non-profit)
Endeavor is a non-profit organization that pioneered the concept of High-Impact Entrepreneurship in emerging markets. Its mission is to “lead the global movement to catalyze long-term economic growth by selecting, mentoring, and accelerating the best High-Impact Entrepreneurs around the...
, an international non-profit development organization that finds and supports high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
Notable achievements
In 2006, Mr. Arif Naqvi was awarded Sitara-i-ImtiazSitara-i-Imtiaz
The Sitara-i-Imtiaz , is the third highest honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes the individuals who made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavors"...
, Pakistan's Third Highest Civilian Award.
Naqvi is the only non-Arab member serving in the Arab Business Group established by the World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
.
He served as Young Presidents Organization, Emirates Chapter Chairman in 2002-2003
Designated "New Asian Leader" by the World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
in 2003-2004.