Short biography sample

Vincent Tchenguiz

Iranian-British entrepreneur

Vincent Tchenguiz (born 9 October ) is an Iranian-British entrepreneur born in Tehran.

Tchenguiz brothers biography sample pdf Robert Tchenguiz born 9 September is a British entrepreneur , property investor, activist shareholder and securities dealer. The younger brother of Vincent Tchenguiz , he undertook a series of corporate deals, focusing particularly on property assets associated with UK pub and supermarket chains, during the s. However, the value of some of his investments plunged during the financial crisis of —08 , exacerbated by the collapse of his major financial backer, Iceland 's Kaupthing Bank. His and his brother's businesses were also the targets of a UK Serious Fraud Office inquiry and various lawsuits. In the family moved to England after the Iranian revolution.

Robert Tchenguiz is his younger brother. Tchenguiz is known as a major donor to the Conservative Party (UK) and an investor in the controversial company SCL Group, known for the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal involving its subsidiary.[1]

Early life and education

Tchenguiz was born in Tehran, Iran, to an Iraqi-Jewish family,[2] the son of Victor and Violet Khadouri.[3] His family left Iraq in and settled in Iran, where his father, Victor Tchenguiz, a jeweler, worked for the Shah and ran the country's mint, even though he was a foreigner and was Jewish.[3] He also changed the family surname from Khadouri to Tchenguiz.

In the family fled to England after the Iranian revolution.[3]

He has one brother Robert Tchenguiz and a sister Lisa Tchenguiz who divorced BBC Radio 1disc jockey, Gary Davies,[4] and South African-born Del Monte CEO, Vivian Imerman.[citation needed]

Tchenguiz completed his Iranian education in Tehran in He subsequently completed a business administration course at Boston University and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and a Bachelor of Science Honours in Economics from Montreal's McGill University in A master's degree in business administration from New York University followed two years later.[5]

Career

Upon completion of university, Vincent Tchenguiz took employment in London with Prudential Bache as a senior vice president in their fund management division, where he traded financial instruments.

In , he went on to another senior vice-president position, this time trading financial instruments for Shearson Lehman Brothers in London.[5]

Two years later, he and his brother Robert established a commercial property business, Rotch Property Group. Vincent Tchenguiz is the joint managing director and joint chairman.

In , Vincent Tchenguiz set up Consensus Business Group, assuming the position of chairman. Consensus functions as the principal advisor to a family trust, advising on an investment portfolio of residential freeholds and commercial properties valued by Lazard in at approximately billion pounds. Consensus also advises on other investments, including health care, clean technology, biotechnology, homeland security and holdings in funds valued at around million pounds.[citation needed]

Tchenguiz along with the Credit Mercantile Group bought an interest in Chestertons from Arqaam Capital and the Saudi Arabian Commercial Investment Corporation in [6] In December , Mercantile purchased Vincent Tchenquiz's stake, giving them full ownership of Chestertons.[7]

In , Tchenguiz steered the move of Bramdean Alternatives investment trust to move to private equity following the Bernie Madoff scandal.

The fund was taken over by Aberdeen Asset Management and rebranded Aberdeen Private Equity and run by Alex Barr.[8]

On 10 March , Vincent Tchenguiz was arrested by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as part of a wider investigation into the collapse of Icelandic bank Kaupthing. However, he was released the same day without charge.[9]

Subsequently, on 16 March , the High Court in London ruled that Vincent Tchenguiz could sue Kaupthing for damages of £1 billion ($ billion).[10] In September , Kaupthing reached an out-of-court settlement with the Tchenguiz Family Trust in their pursuit of damages against the Icelandic bank.[11] All details of the settlement remain confidential.

On 5 December , Vincent Tchenguiz and other parties in the case wrote to SFO, outlining details of the allegation against the government department and seeking damages of c.£ million.[citation needed]

On 22 December , the SFO and the Treasury Solicitors Department (TSoI) admitted factual errors in the information used to obtain the warrants against Consensus Business Group and Vincent Tchenguiz; stated that the warrants should be quashed; and that material seized under the warrants would be returned that day.

Furthermore, the SFO offered to pay reasonable legal costs.[citation needed]

Vincent Tchenguiz said, "It beggars belief that the SFO has taken so long to realize the error of their ways and I do not regard their actions … as being of their own initiative – their hand has been forced by our legal actions.

Whilst I am glad that they have conceded to pay the significant legal costs incurred – the damage their actions have caused, both financial and to my reputation, are far greater. I intend to pursue them through the civil courts for damages."[12]

In December , the Financial Times reported that the brothers are to seek up to £m in damages from the SFO.[13]

On 25 July , Vincent Tchenguiz agreed a settlement with the SFO for £3m in damages and £3m in legal costs and receives a full apology from SFO Director David Green who "deeply regrets the errors" made by his agency.[14][15][16] In a statement, Vincent Tchenguiz says that "it has become increasingly apparent that the SFO's investigation was influenced by certain third parties acting in their own commercial interest."

Beginning in , Black Cube, a private intelligence firm founded by former Israeli intelligence agents, provided intelligence services to Vincent Tchenguiz in a number of cases, including Tchenguiz’s fight against the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO),[17] following his arrest as part of the SFO investigation into the collapse of the Icelandic bank Kaupthing.[18] Black Cube analyzed the network of relationships surrounding the collapse of the bank,[19] and helped build a successful challenge to the SFO arrests and search warrants, causing the judge to declare the SFO’s actions unlawful in [20] Following this investigation the SFO was ordered by the court to pay over £3m in damages and £3m in legal costs to Tchenguiz in , and to issue a formal apology.[16][21][22] In , Black Cube filed a lawsuit in the UK against Vincent Tchenguiz for unpaid invoices and breach of contract.

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    • Concurrently, Tchenguiz filed a lawsuit in Israel against Black Cube, alleging fraudulent invoices, an allegation denied by Black Cube. Both lawsuits were dropped in a settlement agreement, the details of which are undisclosed.[23]

    In January , Proxima GR Properties, owned by the Tchenguiz family trust of which Tchenguiz is a beneficiary refused to replace flammable cladding, similar to the material responsible for the Grenfell Tower fire.

    The company insisted the leaseholders pay the £2 million cost, up to £31, per flat and any costs incurred in the delay of payments including fire wardens and scaffolding.[24][25]

    Tchenguis has invested more than £, in Israeli defense technology company eVigilo[26] which has cooperated with Ericsson to send warning text messages in specific areas.[27] Tchenguiz has also been the largest shareholder of Cambridge Analytica, the company involved in Facebook scandal.[28][29]

    He was an investor in the controversial company SCL Group, known for the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal involving its subsidiary Cambridge Analytica.[1]

    Donations

    Tchenguiz is known as a major donor to the Conservative Party (UK).[1]

    Personal life

    Tchenguiz resides in Mayfair, London, with additional homes in St Tropez and Cape Town.

    He maintains a foot Mangusta motor yacht on the French Riviera named Veni Vidi Vici, Latin for "I came, I saw, I conquered." The Guardian's Robert Booth reported on 17 January that Tchenguiz purchased a new foot motor yacht, the Da Vinci, in The same article, headlined "Residents of the tower with Grenfell-style cladding told they must foot £2m bill", reported that Tchenguiz had agreed to replace hazardous flammable cladding on his Citiscape complex in Croydon, as soon as its low-income residents pay him £31, per flat in advance to cover the cost.

    SFO case timeline

    9 March – Vincent and Robert Tchenguiz are arrested by City police and SFO investigators.[30] The brothers both deny any wrongdoing and are released on the same day without charge[31]

    18 May – Secret negotiations are revealed that show that the SFO offered to drop their investigation into Vincent Tchenguiz in return for a £50 million donation to charity after Lord Justice Thomas accuses the SFO of acting with "sheer incompetence"[32]

    18 June – The SFO drops its investigation into Vincent Tchenguiz.[33] In a statement, Vincent Tchenguiz said: "I have consistently explained to the SFO that they had got it completely wrong – but, as their investigation collapsed around their ears, they stubbornly maintained that they regarded me as a suspect."[34]

    31 July – The SFO search warrants for the Tchenguiz brothers are deemed "unlawful" by the High Court and the investigators are further accused of "losing key documents and overlooking financial reports"[35]

    15 October – The SFO drops its investigation into the relationship between Robert Tchenguiz and Kaupthing Bank[36]

    3 December – It is announced that Vincent Tchenguiz is to seek extensive damages against the SFO including allegations of misfeasance in public office.[37]

    6 February – Vincent Tchenguiz files his claim against the SFO including allegations of malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.

    The claim is for £ million.[38]

    27 March – SFO is criticized for "unacceptable delays" in their response to the claim made by the Tchenguiz brothers.[39]

    26 July – Grant Thornton, the accountancy firm that provided information to the SFO ahead of Vincent Tchenguiz's arrest, are ordered to disclose the documents shown to the investigators.

    28 July – Grant Thornton are accused of "maliciously misleading" the Serious Fraud office in a series of letters which also accuse them of "criminal wrongdoing"[40][41]

    11 November – It is revealed in court that the SFO shredded key documents in the Tchenguiz case on the order of accountants Grant Thornton in an attempt to reduce the number of documents it was obliged to disclose.[42]

    20 February – An attempt to block the disclosure of five documents shown to the SFO by Grant Thornton ahead of the arrest of Vincent Tchenguiz is blocked by the Court of Appeal on the grounds that they are "plainly relevant" to the case.[43] Grant Thornton Director, Mark McDonald, and Partner, Steve Akers, we ordered to pay the legal costs of the Tchenguiz brothers.

    8 April – The SFO applies to the UK Treasury for emergency funding as it predicts that it could spend £ million fighting the legal case brought against it by Vincent and Robert Tchenguiz.[44]

    25 July – Vincent Tchenguiz agrees on settlement with the SFO and receives a full apology from SFO Director David Green who "deeply regrets the errors" made by his agency.[14][15] In a statement, Vincent Tchenguiz says that "it has become increasingly apparent that the SFO's investigation was influenced by certain third parties acting in their own commercial interest."

    30 July – Robert Tchenguiz settles his case with the SFO and accepts a public apology from the Director of the SFO.[45] Vincent Tchenguiz is granted permission to hand evidence disclosed as part of the SFO investigation to criminal and civil legal teams to examine the possibility for further action against third parties.[46]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ abc"Tory donors among investors in Cambridge Analytica parent firm".

      the Guardian. 21 March

    2. ^Mira Bar-Hillel (26 September ). "The Brothers". The London Magazine. Retrieved 6 October
    3. ^ abcThe Daily Telegraph: "Lisa Tchenguiz and Vivian Imerman: profiles" 22 January
    4. ^The Daily Telegraph: "Just like Diana, I had three people in my marriage" By Bryony Gordon 6 March
    5. ^ abKrieger, Candice (6 September ).

      "Interview: Vincent Tchenguiz". The Jewish Chronicle. London.

    6. ^Barnard, Lucy.

      Tchenguiz brothers biography sample Robert Tchenguiz is his younger brother. Tchenguiz is known as a major donor to the Conservative Party UK and an investor in the controversial company SCL Group , known for the Facebook—Cambridge Analytica data scandal involving its subsidiary. In the family fled to England after the Iranian revolution. Tchenguiz completed his Iranian education in Tehran in A master's degree in business administration from New York University followed two years later.

      "Victor Tchenguiz and Credit Mercantile build stakes in Chesterton". . Retrieved 9 September

    7. ^Hipwell, Deirdre; HipwellT+, Deirdre Hipwell Deirdre. "Mercantile Group buys Vincent Tchenguiz's Chesterton stake". Property Week.

    8. Biography sample for work
    9. Tchenguiz brothers biography sample form
    10. Short biography sample

      11. Retrieved 9 September : CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

    11. ^Lewis, Adam (9 March ). "Bramdean Alternatives to move to private equity - Money Marketing". Money Marketing. Retrieved 29 October
    12. ^"Robert and Vincent Tchenguiz arrested in Iceland probe".

      Tchenguiz brothers biography sample format

      Robert and Vincent Tchenguiz are Iranian-born businessmen who emigrated to Britain from Tehran in , after the overthrow of the Shah. Their father reportedly changed their surname from Kedorie to Tchenguiz. Robert Tchenguiz also launched his own investment firm, R20, in , partnering with Guy Dellal, son of well-known financier "Black Jack" Dellal. The financial crisis hit the Tchenguiz brothers hard, and they were forced to liquidate most of their assets. Robert Tchenguiz focused on rebuilding his position, investing heavily in the software company Asite Ltd.

      BBC News. 9 March Retrieved 10 May

    13. ^"Vincent Tchenguiz can sue bank". BBC News. 16 March Retrieved 10 May
    14. ^"UPDATE 1-Tchenguiz settles civil claims against Kaupthing". Reuters. 19 September Retrieved 10 May
    15. ^"SFO setback in Vincent Tchenguiz investigation".

      . Retrieved 10 May

    16. ^Hammond, Ed (). "Tchenguiz brothers seek up to £m from SFO". Financial Times. Retrieved 3 December
    17. ^ ab"SFO in £3m settlement with Tchenguiz". 25 July Retrieved 20 February
    18. ^ ab"British prosecutor to pay $ million in case related to Kaupthing inquiry"
    19. ^ abRankin, Jennifer (31 July ).

      "Tycoon Robert Tchenguiz gets £m as SFO seeks end to Iceland banks inquiry". The Guardian. ISSN&#; Retrieved 6 March

    20. ^Efrat Peretz, "Investigating the investigators"Archived 26 June at the Wayback Machine "Globes" 3 February
    21. ^Business Desk "Robert and Vincent Tchenguiz arrested in Iceland probe" "BBC" 10 March
    22. ^Liz Bolshaw, "A new breed of commercial intelligence company" "The Financial Times" 26 March
    23. ^"Inside Black Cube - The "Mossad" of the Business World - Forbes Israel".

      Forbes Israel.

      Biography sample for work: Vincent Tchenguiz (born 9 October ) is an Iranian-British entrepreneur born in Tehran. Robert Tchenguiz is his younger brother. Tchenguiz is known as a major donor to the Conservative Party (UK) and an investor in the controversial company SCL Group, known for the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal involving its subsidiary. [1].

      13 November Archived from the original on 13 February Retrieved 13 February

    24. ^"The Serious Fraud Office and Vincent Tchenguiz announce settlement of civil claims". Serious Fraud Office. 25 July Retrieved 22 September
    25. ^Bolshaw, Liz (25 March ). "A new breed of commercial intelligence company".

      Financial Times. Retrieved 19 February

    26. ^Simon Bowers, "Vincent Tchenguiz settles Black Cube legal dispute" "The Guardian" 22 April
    27. ^Booth, Robert (17 January ). "Residents of tower with Grenfell-style cladding told they must foot £2m bill". the Guardian. Retrieved 17 January
    28. ^"Residents hit with £2m 'Grenfell' bill".

      BBC News. Retrieved 18 January

    29. ^"homepage".

      Free biography sample For the last decade the name Tchenguiz has become a by-word in the City for eye-catching acquisitions both successful and thwarted of a succession of household brands and their adjoining real estate, including Odeon cinemas, the Somerfield supermarket chain, the Selfridges department stores and the All Bar One pub empire. It is no accident that his surname pronounced chen-geez is the Iranian version of Genghis, another figure famed for his acquisitiveness and steely determination. Despite being born in Iraq to a longstanding family of Jewish merchants, he spent his childhood in Tehran after his parents fled to Iran in Or at least that was the case. The recent turmoil in the global credit and stock markets has made this most dynamic of London's millionaires one of the biggest losers of the current downturn.

      . Retrieved 6 March

    30. ^Hipwell, Deirdre. "Property tycoon buys into Israeli missile alert system". The Times. ISSN&#; Retrieved 6 March
    31. ^Watt, Holly; Osborne, Hilary (21 March ). "Tory donors among investors in Cambridge Analytica parent firm".

      The Guardian. ISSN&#; Retrieved 6 March

    32. ^"Who is Behind Trump's Political Data Analytics Company?". Tablet Magazine. 11 January Retrieved 6 March
    33. ^"Tchenguiz brothers arrested in Kaupthing raids"
    34. ^"Tchenguiz brothers arrested in Kaupthing investigation"
    35. ^"SFO offered to do £50m deal over Tchenguiz arrests"
    36. ^"Serious Fraud Office drops month investigation into Vincent Tchenguiz"
    37. ^"SFO drops investigation into Vincent Tchenguiz"
    38. ^"SFO search warrants in Tchenguiz raid 'unlawful', High Court rules"
    39. ^"SFO drops corruption investigation into Robert Tchenguiz and Kaupthing"
    40. ^"Tchenguiz brothers seek up to £m from SFO"
    41. ^"SFO faces £m claim in Tchenguiz case"
    42. ^"Judge issues rebuke over delays Tchenguiz case"
    43. ^"Grant Thornton accused of wrongdoing in Tchenguiz case"
    44. ^"Tchenguiz vs Grant Thornton"
    45. ^"SFO ‘shredded documents’ in Tchenguiz case"
    46. ^"Grant Thornton pair fail to block the release of Tchenguiz documents"
    47. ^"Fighting Tchenguiz case could cost SFO £m"
    48. ^"UK’s fraud office settles Robert Tchenguiz claims"
    49. ^"Tchenguiz wins SFO arrest review"