Alex Navab
Alex Navab | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 November 1965 Isfahan, Iran |
| Died | 7 July 2019 (aged 53) |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, private equity executive |
| Known for | Oversight of Americas Private Equity division at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) |
Alex Navab (November 24, 1965 – July 7, 2019) was a prominent American financier who oversaw the Americas Private Equity division at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and was considered a potential future leader of the firm.
Early life
Born in Isfahan, Iran, Navab was the son of an Iranian father and a Greek mother. Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, his family escaped to Greece before eventually settling in the United States. He completed his undergraduate studies at Columbia College in 1987 and later obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1991.
Career
Navab launched his professional journey with roles at Goldman Sachs and James D. Wolfensohn, Inc. before joining KKR in 1993. During his tenure at KKR, he led significant acquisitions such as the Nielsen Company, Yellow Pages, and Borden. He was appointed co-president of KKR’s American private equity operations in 2008 and ascended to sole president by 2014. Notably, Navab was instrumental in securing $13.9 billion for one of KKR’s largest private equity funds and held the distinction of being the firm's youngest partner.
As part of KKR’s management committee, Navab was widely viewed as a probable successor to founders Henry Kravis and George R. Roberts. Nevertheless, health issues impeded his advancement to this role. After Scott C. Nuttall and Joseph Bae were elevated to co-presidents, Navab departed from KKR in 2017 to found his own buyout firm, Navab Capital Partners, with backing from Goldman Sachs.
Philanthropy
Navab contributed philanthropically by serving as a trustee of Columbia University and participating on the boards of the Robin Hood Foundation and NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital. He maintained active involvement within the Greek American community and was recognized as "Executive of the Year" in 2017 by the Hellenic American Association for Professionals in Finance.
In recognition of his professional accomplishments and public service, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2016. Additionally, he was awarded a John Jay Award from Columbia College in 2011 alongside distinguished individuals including Ghanaian economist Ken Ofori-Atta and Israeli ambassador Michael Oren.
Political activities
Navab participated on the advisory council of the Hamilton Project, an economic policy initiative affiliated with the Brookings Institution, where business leaders propose ideas for U.S. economic reform. He formerly co-chaired the national council of the American Enterprise Institute and endorsed former governor Jeb Bush during the 2016 Republican presidential primary.
Personal life
On July 7, 2019, Navab passed away while vacationing with family in Greece. His memorial service held in Central Park drew approximately 1,800 attendees, including notable personalities such as Mitt Romney, Henry Kissinger, Wilbur Ross, and George Stephanopoulos.