Nemir Kirdar

Nemir Kirdar was an Iraqi-born British businessman and investor who founded Investcorp, a global alternative investment group that operates in Manama, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha and Singapore. He was born in Kirkuk, Iraq, to a prominent family of Turkmen origin. He studied engineering and economics at Robert College in Istanbul, then moved to the United States where he graduated from the University of the Pacific in California and Fordham University in New York. He started his career as a teller at the First National Bank of Arizona, then returned to Iraq where he ran several businesses. He left Iraq for good in 1969, after being imprisoned for 10 days without charges by the Ba'athist regime. He settled in New York and worked for Allied Bank International and Chase Manhattan Bank, where he became the vice president in charge of the Middle East operations. In 1982, he founded Investcorp with the backing of 67 wealthy Arab investors, including sheikhs, princes and government officials. He envisioned Investcorp as a bridge between the oil-rich Middle East and the investment opportunities in the West, especially in luxury brands and real estate. He led Investcorp to acquire or invest in companies such as Tiffany & Co, Gucci, Saks Fifth Avenue, Chaumet, Ebel, Carrefour, Dell, and Uber. He also diversified into hedge funds, technology, and credit management. He was known for his vision, integrity, and philanthropy, as well as his influence and connections in the business and political world. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Bar-Ilan University and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015. He died in 2020 in Antibes, France, at the age of 83, after suffering from dementia.