Francis Najafi
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| Francis Najafi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1955 (age 68–69) |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Iranian-American |
| 🎓 Alma mater | |
| 💼 Occupation | Founder and CEO, Pivotal Group |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Dionne (m. 2008) |
Francis Najafi is an Iranian-American businessman and investor.[1] He is the founder of Pivotal Group - a private equity and real estate investment firm based in Phoenix, Arizona and he is a minor shareholder of the NBA's Phoenix Suns.[2][3]
Early life and education[edit]
Najafi was born in Isfahan, Iran in 1955. In 1972, Najafi moved to Arizona where he attended Arizona State University. where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering in 1976.[4] Upon graduation from ASU, he attended the Thunderbird School of Global Management and earned a Master’s Degree in International Management in 1977.[5][6]
Najafi continued his education at the University of Southern California where he worked as a Teacher’s Assistant (1977–79) while completing a Master’s Degree in International Relations and his Ph.D. candidacy in the International Political Economy program.[7]
Career[edit]
Najafi founded Pivotal Group in 1982.[8][9]
Najafi has also been on the boards of directors of; The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft,[10] Greater Phoenix Economic Council,[11] Phoenix Art Museum,[12] and EastWest Institute.[13][14]
Philanthropy and recognition[edit]
Some of the organizations that have benefitted from Najafi's Pivotal Foundation which was established in 2005 include Ballet Arizona (to assist in performance production),[15][16] PARSA Community Foundation.[17] In January 2022, Najafi gifted $25 million to Arizona State University and the Thunderbird International School of Business.[5]
In May 2011, Najafi received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for outstanding citizenship, individual achievement, and encouragement of cultural unity.[18][19][20] He was also awarded the Jonas Mayer Outstanding Alumnus Award from Thunderbird School of Global Management.[21]
Personal life[edit]
He is married to Dionne.[22]
External link[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ "F. Francis Najafi Founder and CEO Pivotal Group" (PDF).
- ↑ "Suns Sale Closes Today:Sarver Becomes Main Owner". Phoenix Suns. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ↑ "Home". Pivotal Group. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ↑ "With $25M gift, ASU's Thunderbird School of Global Management aims to educate 100 million worldwide by 2030". ASU News. 2022-01-20. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Investor report 2004–2005 - Arizona Memory Project".
- ↑ "Francis Najafi & Roy Herberger". azmemory.azlibrary.gov. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ↑ "Board of Directors Nonprofit Leadership - The O'Connor Institute". Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ↑ "Pivotal Group". tracxn.com. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ↑ Rundle, Rhonda L. "Landmark Hotel in Los Angeles Sold to Private Real-Estate Group". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Francis Najafi, Author at Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft". Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
- ↑ "GPEC welcomes new board of directors members 2018-19". GPEC. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
- ↑ "Phoenix Art Museum begins year-long celebration of its 60th anniversary with "The pARTy in the Garden" gala and late-night Museum-gala experience "The afterpARTy," celebrating Museum's rich history of providing access to the arts". Phoenix Art Museum. 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
- ↑ "Current Supporters | EastWest Institute". www.eastwest.ngo. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ↑ "CyBERsECURITy: FORGING SOLUTIONS - EastWest Institute" (PDF).
- ↑ "F. Francis and Dionne Najafi of Pivotal Foundation Award Ballet Arizona $500,000 in Multi-Year Gift - Health & Living® Magazine". healthandliving.com. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ↑ "PIVOTAL FOUNDATION - ArizonaCorporates – Company Profiles of Arizona". Retrieved 2022-06-23.
- ↑ "Philanthropist Francis Najafi Gives $1M to PARSA Community Foundation". www.payvand.com. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
- ↑ "Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan Are Giving $50 Million to U. of Hawaii".
- ↑ "Najafi receives Ellis Island Medal of Honor". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Five Iranian Americans to Receive Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award". PAAIA. 2011-04-27. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ↑ Tomei, Melissa Larsen/Photographed by Cassandra. "The Valley's Most Powerful Men—2012 - Page 11". AZFoothills.com. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ↑ Silvestri, Christina. "Francis and Dionne Najafi Donate $25 Million to ASU's Thunderbird School of Global Management". AZFoothills.com. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
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