Makram Azar

Makram Azar’s Biography

Makram Azar founded Full Circle Capital, a private investment and advisory group partnered with some of the world’s most prominent UHNW families, institutional and sovereign investors. The firm sources direct principal investments that offer attractive absolute returns on a risk-adjusted basis across the full spectrum of private equity - including venture and buy-outs - in the UK, continental Europe, North America and the Middle East, with an emphasis on cross-sector tech, media, telecom, consumer and impact & sustainability.

Makram was CEO of Golden Falcon Acquisition Corp, a SPAC listed on the NYSE focusing on the TMT and Fintech sectors in Europe, Israel, the Middle East or North America, until August 2023.

Makram was Chairman of Banking EMEA and Chairman of Barclays Bank PLC, MENA until January 2019 and a Senior Advisor to Barclays from January 2019 until January 2021.

Makram joined Barclays in September 2010 from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) where he was Managing Director and Head of MENA. Prior to joining KKR, Makram spent 18 years at Lehman Brothers, latterly as... Makram Azar founded Full Circle Capital, a private investment and advisory group partnered with some of the world’s most prominent UHNW families, institutional and sovereign investors. The firm sources direct principal investments that offer attractive absolute returns on a risk-adjusted basis across the full spectrum of private equity - including venture and buy-outs - in the UK, continental Europe, North America and the Middle East, with an emphasis on cross-sector tech, media, telecom, consumer and impact & sustainability.

Makram was CEO of Golden Falcon Acquisition Corp, a SPAC listed on the NYSE focusing on the TMT and Fintech sectors in Europe, Israel, the Middle East or North America, until August 2023.

Makram was Chairman of Banking EMEA and Chairman of Barclays Bank PLC, MENA until January 2019 and a Senior Advisor to Barclays from January 2019 until January 2021.

Makram joined Barclays in September 2010 from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) where he was Managing Director and Head of MENA. Prior to joining KKR, Makram spent 18 years at Lehman Brothers, latterly as Global Head of Sovereign Wealth Funds and Chairman of Media Investment Banking EMEA. Previously he led the Media, Consumer & Retail Investment Banking businesses of Lehman Brothers in EMEA.

During his 30-year career in the banking and investment industries, Makram has worked on over 215 deals across a broad geographic and sector spectrum, including numerous multi-billion dollar deals in telecoms, media, consumer, retail, hospitality, real estate and natural resources, for a broad range of clients across multinational corporates, sovereign wealth funds and governments.

Makram holds a Master’s degree in Management and Finance from École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) in Paris and a BA in Applied Economics from the University Paris-IX Dauphine. Makram supports numerous philanthropic initiatives across several causes and geographies in developed and developing countries. more less

Makram Azar’s Newsfeed

Bloomberg

MNG Airlines to Go Public in Deal With Azar, Freidheim SPAC

Logistics and transport company, MNG Airlines, is going public through a merger with a blank-check company led by European dealmakers Makram Azar and Scott Freidheim.

Makram Azar’s Background

Full Circle Capital

Founder & CEO

Jan 2019 - Present

Full Circle Capital provides financial and strategic advice to key partners and select clients within its network, leveraging its global reach and experience across a broad range of sectors and geographies. The FCC team is comprised of highly skilled investment professionals with cumulative experience of over 85 years across more than 400 transactions exceeding $500 billion in value.

Golden Falcon Acquisition Corporation

Chief Executive Officer

2020 - Aug 2023

London, UK

Golden Falcon Acquisition Corp. (GFX.U) is a Special Purpose Acquisition Company founded by Makram Azar and Scott Freidheim to pursue a business combination with companies in the TMT and FinTech sectors headquartered in Europe, Israel, the Middle East, or North America.

Barclays PLC

Senior Advisor

Jan 2019 - Jan 2021

London, UK

Barclays PLC is a British multinational investment bank and financial services company, headquartered in London. Apart from investment banking, Barclays is organised into four core businesses: personal banking, corporate banking, wealth management, and investment management.

Barclays PLC

Chairman of Banking, EMEA

Sep 2010 - Jan 2019

Barclays PLC is a British multinational investment bank and financial services company, headquartered in London. Apart from investment banking, Barclays is organised into four core businesses: personal banking, corporate banking, wealth management, and investment management.

KKR

Head of MENA

Oct 2008 - Aug 2010

KKR & Co. Inc. is an American global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit and, through its strategic partners, hedge funds.

Lehman Brothers

Managing Director, Head of Sovereign Wealth Funds

Aug 1990 - Sep 2008

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was a global financial services firm. Lehman was the fourth-largest investment bank in the United States

View all Hide

Philanthropy

HEC Paris

Grand Donateur

Paris, FR

Established in 1881, HEC Paris is a selective international business school that offers programmes such as MSc, MBA and EMBA, as well as a Master in Management programme, Phd and executive education programmes.

Lebanese International Finance Executives

Senior Member

London, UK

Founded in 2009, Lebanese International Finance Executives (LIFE) is a sharing network platform that motivates and inspires Lebanese professionals all around the world to look after one another and be the driving force for positive change.

Make a Wish Foundation UK

Donor

London, UK

Make-A-Wish Foundation UK was founded in 1986 to make the wishes of children and young people with life-threatening conditions become a reality.

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Donor

London, UK

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) provides seriously ill children from across the UK with life-saving treatments. The charity helps fund research, medical equipment, support projects and accommodation.

Noah's Ark Children's Hospice

Donor

London, UK

Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice is a community-based hospice service providing support for children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families in North and Central London and Hertsmere.

London Air Ambulance

Donor

London, UK

Founded in 1989, London's Air Ambulance Charity supports and manages the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. The non-profit organisation is devoted to responding to major injury emergencies in and around London.

Serpentine Galleries

Patron

2018 - 2019

London, UK

The Serpentine offers innovative ways for all ages to engage with modern and contemporary art, architecture, design and education. Serpentine Education and Projects aims to redefine the role of the arts during periods of transition and social change. Connecting communities and artists to generate responses to pressing social issues.

View all Hide

Media

A complete guide to the future of the IPO

Quoted

May 2021

Quartz's field guide to IPOs contains everything you need to know about special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), investors, direct listings, retailers and more.

SPACs: links between European gems and Wall Street capital

Mentioned

Mar 2021

This French article sheds light on European SPACs, including Golden Falcon Acquisition Corporation which raised $345 million in its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.

View all Hide

Interviews

London's SPAC market 'will take time' to grow, top banker says

Interviewed

Nov 2021

In an interview with Matei Rosca, Finance Reporter for Politico, Makram comments on the UK’s efforts in developing its market for Special Purpose Acquisition Companies.

Massive Opportunities For SPACs in Europe, Says Azar

Interviewed

May 2021

Makram talks to Francine Lacqua on Bloomberg Surveillance Early Edition about opportunities for Special Purpose Acquisition Companies in Europe.

View all Hide

Features

Ex-Barclays chair Makram Azar increases Spac to $300m amid surging demand

Dec 2020

Makram's latest venture, special purpose acquisition company Golden Falcon Acquisition Corp, which launched in 2020, increases its value to $300 million.

Former Barclays Europe chair Makram Azar unveils $250m Spac

Dec 2020

Financial News announces Makram's new SPAC venture, Golden Falcon Acquisition Corp.

Press Releases

Suncor Energy invests in carbon capture technology company Svante

Mar 2021

Vancouver, CA

Svante Inc. and Suncor announce an agreement providing carbon capture company Svante with an extra $25 million in growth capital.

Svante Raises $75 Million to Decarbonize Cement and Hydrogen Production

Feb 2021

Vancouver, CA

Svante Inc. announce the closing of a $75-million Series D equity transaction, the world's biggest private investment in point source carbon capture yet.