- Nadhim Zahawi
-
Nadhim Zahawi MP Member of Parliament
for Stratford-on-AvonIncumbent Assumed office
6 May 2010Preceded by John Maples Majority 11,346 (22.4%) Personal details Born 2 June 1967
Baghdad, IraqNationality British Political party Conservative Spouse(s) Lana Zahawi Children 2 Sons Alma mater University College London Occupation Member of Parliament Website zahawi.com Nadhim Zahawi (Arabic: ناظم الزهاوي, Nāḍim az-Zahāwī; born 2 June 1967) is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Stratford-on-Avon since 2010, after the retirement of previous MP John Maples.
He is also the co-founder of the international internet-based market research firm YouGov of which he was Chief Executive until February 2010.
Contents
Early life
Born in Baghdad, Iraq, to Kurdish parents, Zahawi's family fled Iraq during Saddam Hussein's rise to power.[1]
Education
Zahawi was educated at King's College School, at the time a boys-only independent school in Wimbledon in West London, followed by University College London, where he studied Chemical Engineering, receiving a BSc.[2]
Career
Co-Founder of YouGov
Following a career as European Marketing Director for Smith & Brooks Ltd, Nadhim Zahawi co-founded YouGov with Stephan Shakespeare, a former spokesperson for Jeffrey Archer. Zahawi became YouGov's CEO.[3]
Political career
Zahawi and fellow Kurd Broosk Saibwas were aides to Jeffrey Archer during Archer's "Simple Truth" campaign to help Kurdish victims of the Gulf War. Zahawi and Saibwas were nicknamed "Lemon kurd" and "Bean kurd" by Archer.[4] In 1994 Archer helped campaign for Zahawi for a seat on Wandsworth council. Zahawi also ran Archer's unsuccessful campaign for Mayor of London in 1998.[5]
Zahawi was elected as a Conservative Councillor in the London Borough of Wandsworth, serving three times from 1994 to 2006, and stood as a candidate at Erith and Thamesmead in 1997, coming second to Labour.[6]
In 2010 Zahawi was selected by the local Conservative party for Stratford-on-Avon as a prospective parliamentary candidate in the 2010 general election.
Parking ticket
Zahawi won 'craziest parking ticket of the year', a couple of years prior to being elected in 2010 for having got a ticket while he was in an ambulance.[7]
Musical Tie
Zahawi appeared in ITN news coverage of the debate discussing the end of the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme. He was wearing a musical tie which proceeded to play during his contribution. The Deputy Speaker advised him to be more select when choosing ties to avoid a musical accompaniment to debate in the chamber[8]
References
- ^ Parris, Matthew (25 Feb 2010). "Nuclear reaction wins over rural hearts". London: The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article7039975.ece.
- ^ "YouGov pollsters survey future". London: The Times. 28 Oct 2007. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/movers_and_shakers/article2752091.ece.
- ^ "About Nadhim". Zahawi (Zahawi.com). 6 May 2010. http://www.zahawi.com/page.php?page=about.
- ^ Sengupta, Kim (2001-08-05). "Jeffrey Archer said he raised £57m. But the Kurds say they got only £250,000". The Independent.
- ^ "In the City". Private Eye (London: Pressdram Ltd) (1265): 8. 25 June 2010.
- ^ "Tories' secret plan to kill off party dinosaurs". Daily Mail. 19 Feb 2010. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1252145/David-Camerons-plan-impose-women-gays-ethnic-candidates.html.
- ^ Essen, Yvette (5 June 2006). "Market profile: Nadhim Zahawi". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2940347/Market-profile-Nadhim-Zahawi.html.
- ^ "MP's tie too loud for Parliament". ITN video clip. 20 Jan 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML_ySRkvyGQ.
External links
- Nadhim Zahawi MP official site
- Interview after winning his seat in 2010 at Catch21
Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded by
John MaplesMember of Parliament for Stratford-on-Avon
2010–presentIncumbent Categories:- Kurdish politicians
- People from Baghdad
- Conservative Party (UK) MPs
- Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for English constituencies
- 1967 births
- Living people
- UK MPs 2010–
- Iraqi emigrants to the United Kingdom
- Alumni of University College London
- Councillors in Wandsworth
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