Javad Marandi | Official Profile on The Marque

Javad Marandi’s Biography

Javad Marandi OBE is a British entrepreneur, philanthropist and investor with over 25 years of experience in business, both nationally and internationally.

Javad’s investment portfolio consists of a varied set of assets across retail, real estate, hospitality and construction including: a number of residential developments throughout the UK and premium British brands such as Emilia Wickstead, Anya Hindmarch, The Conran Shop and Wed2B, the UK wedding apparel retailer. Javad’s portfolio also includes several hotels and restaurants around the UK, including Soho Farmhouse, located in Oxfordshire, and a number of commercial real estate properties throughout Europe.

In 2017, Javad co-founded The Marandi Foundation with his wife, Narmina. The foundation supports disadvantaged children, families and communities as well as art and cultural initiatives in the UK. It is the core funder of The Royal Foundation for TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, their primary philanthropic and charitable vehicle. The foundation is also the founder and sole funder of The Watercolour World, where HRH The... Javad Marandi OBE is a British entrepreneur, philanthropist and investor with over 25 years of experience in business, both nationally and internationally.

Javad’s investment portfolio consists of a varied set of assets across retail, real estate, hospitality and construction including: a number of residential developments throughout the UK and premium British brands such as Emilia Wickstead, Anya Hindmarch, The Conran Shop and Wed2B, the UK wedding apparel retailer. Javad’s portfolio also includes several hotels and restaurants around the UK, including Soho Farmhouse, located in Oxfordshire, and a number of commercial real estate properties throughout Europe.

In 2017, Javad co-founded The Marandi Foundation with his wife, Narmina. The foundation supports disadvantaged children, families and communities as well as art and cultural initiatives in the UK. It is the core funder of The Royal Foundation for TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, their primary philanthropic and charitable vehicle. The foundation is also the founder and sole funder of The Watercolour World, where HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall are joint patrons. Javad is Co-Chair of the Growth Board of homelessness charity, Centrepoint and Narmina is Co-Chair of the British Fashion Council Foundation and the Serpentine Cultural Committee. In 2021, the foundation sponsored the inaugural ‘The Conran Shop and Marandi Foundation Award for Designer of the Future’ at the prestigious New Designers Awards.

Born in Tehran, Javad came to Britain as a child and grew up in London. He has a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Cardiff University and is a chartered accountant. Prior to his solo career, he worked for PwC, Coca-Cola International and Philip Morris International. He was awarded an OBE in the 2020 New Year Honours List for services to business and philanthropy. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Javad Marandi’s Newsfeed

A profile of an influential entrepreneur and philanthropist

The journey of Javad Marandi, from a child forced to flee revolutionary Iran with his parents to becoming one of the UK’s leading businessmen, is nothing short of remarkable.

Javad Marandi’s Background

Alitas Group

Investment Portfolio | Entrepreneur & Investor

Oct 1998 - Present

London, UK

Alitas Group is a high-end investment portfolio encompassing art, real estate, strategic land regeneration projects, hotels and restaurants.

FMCG Distribution Companies

Shareholder

Sep 1998 - Present

Baku, AZ

Javad is an investor and shareholder in several Azerbaijan FMCG distribution companies. His companies are exclusive distributors of British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco, Japan Tobacco and several other large corporations.

McDonald's

Master Franchisor

Aug 2004 - Present

Baku, AZ

McDonald's is a global fast-food franchise that operates in over 100 countries with more than 36,000 restaurants worldwide, employing over one million people globally. Javad is the Master Franchisor of McDonald's in Azerbaijan.

Nema Strategic Land

Chairman

2020 - 2022

London, UK

Nema Strategic Land was founded with the goal of investing in and advancing strategic land and mixed-use regeneration opportunities around Greater London and the United Kingdom.

Philip Morris International

Strategic Planning & Area Manager for Emerging Markets

Oct 1993 - Dec 1998

Lausanne, CH

Philip Morris International is a leading global tobacco company, researching and developing cigarettes, electronic smoking devices and accessories.

Coca-Cola, Eurasia & Africa Group

Business Development Manager

Sep 1991 - Aug 1993

Baku, AZ

The Coca-Cola Company is a global food and beverages organisation with a footprint in more than 200 countries.

Coopers & Lybrand

Chartered Accountant

Sep 1988 - Jul 1991

London, UK

Coopers & Lybrand was an accountancy firm that became what is now known as PricewaterhouseCoopers when it merged with Price Waterhouse in 1998.

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Philanthropy

The Marandi Foundation

Co-Chair

London, UK

Javad is the Co-Chair of The Marandi Foundation, which he founded in 2017 with his wife. The foundation provides disadvantaged young people with access to education and wellbeing and mental health support services. The foundation also focuses on funding public art institutions and major cultural initiatives while also showing support for young, talented designers.

Centrepoint

Co-Chair of Growth Board

London, UK

One of the UK's leading charitable organisations combatting homelessness among the youth. Centrepoint successfully houses and finds employment for the UK's youth on a daily basis.

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Interviews

Saving the world’s watercolours one byte at a time

Interviewee

London, UK

Javad speaks of his new art venture, The Watercolour World, a foundation that is dedicated to digitising watercolours across the world.

Javad Marandi: From Immigrant Child To Global Entrepreneur - The Making Of A British Success Story

Interviewee

Oct 2020

London, UK

Javad reflects on his journey from immigrant child to global entrepreneur as he describes the triumphs of his success and his resilient business drive.

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Features

Following in Sir Terence Conran's footsteps: how the pandemic has inspired a bold new era of design

Featured

Sep 2021

London, UK

Javad is mentioned in an article by International Business Times regarding The Conran Shop's dedication to furthering their commitment of using environmentally friendly and alternative materials which will benefit both consumers and the planet.

BFC Charity Appoints Co-Chairs to Help Meet Target of £2,000,000 to Support British Creative Talent

Featured

Apr 2021

London, UK

Javad Marandi's wife, Narmina Marandi is featured in this British Fashion Council article regarding her appointment as Co-Chair of the British Fashion Council (BFC) Foundation. Her role is to draw together an International Advisory Committee which will support the foundation as well as the development of its Patronage Programme.

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Publications

We've launched a revolutionary scheme to combat the cost of living crisis

Author

May 2022

Javad discusses the cost of living crisis and the Centrepoint Independent Living Programme, which is aimed at alleviating the crisis in this article for The Telegraph. Javad explains this ground-breaking scheme which offers inexpensive accommodation for young people who are employed or enrolled in an apprenticeship.

We must boost wages to fill staff vacancies

Author

Sep 2021

In an article written for The Telegraph, Javad argues that other business leaders need to start recognising the fact that Britain's low-wage and low-status model is not working.

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Awards & Recognition

New Year Honours

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Jan 2020

London, UK

Javad was awarded an OBE, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for his services to Business and Philanthropy in HM The Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2020.

Javad Marandi’s Education

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales

Chartered Accountant

1988 - 1991

Cardiff University

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

1985 - 1988

Javad Marandi OBE

Entrepreneur, Investor & Philanthropist

London, UK

Javad Marandi’s Biography

Javad Marandi’s Newsfeed

Javad Marandi’s Background

Philanthropy

Interviews

Features

Publications

Awards & Recognition

Javad Marandi’s Education

Company

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