Arif Naqvi

CEO of Dubai-based investment bank Abraaj Capital, the leading private equity firm in the Middle East and Northern Africa, Arif Naqvi 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 leading waste water treatment company. [http://www.kippreport.com/networkintro.php?id=26 The Network of Arif Naqvi by kippreport.com, 2008]

Previous Positions:

Vice-President of Business Development for the Olayan Group, Saudi Arabia's largest private trading company.

Mr. Naqvi is a member of the Young Presidents' Organization.

Notable Achievements:

* In 2006, Mr. Arif Naqvi was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan's Third Highest Civilian Award.

* The only non-Arab member serving in the Arab Business Group established by the World Economic Forum.

* Served as Young Presidents Organization, Emirates Chapter Chairman in 2002-2003

* Designated New Asian Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2003-2004.

References