Ken Costa
Ken Costa | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 31, 1949 South Africa |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, Christian philanthropist |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Known for | Chairman of Lazard (2007–2011), Chairman Europe, Middle East and Africa at UBS Investment Bank |
Kenneth Johann Costa, commonly referred to as Ken Costa, (born 31 October 1949) is a South African-born banker and Christian philanthropist based in London. He held the position of Chairman at Lazard between 2007 and 2011.
Early life
Born into a Lebanese farming family in South Africa on 31 October 1949, Ken Costa attended a boarding school located in Pretoria. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, graduating in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in Law and Philosophy. While at university, Costa served as the President of the student council and embraced Marxist ideology, actively opposing apartheid alongside figures such as Ahmed Timol and Steve Biko.
He pursued further education at Queens' College, Cambridge in England, where he obtained a Master of Laws degree as well as a Certificate in Theology.
Career
Costa initiated his career in banking during the 1980s at S. G. Warburg & Co. in London, under the mentorship of Sir Siegmund Warburg. Following the merger with S. G. Warburg & Co., he joined UBS and ultimately became Chairman for Europe, Middle East and Africa at UBS Investment Bank, retiring from this role in September 2007.
From 2007 until 2011, he was Chairman of Lazard International. During this period, he advised Mohamed Al-Fayed on the £1.5 billion transaction involving the sale of Harrods to the royal family of Qatar.
In 2011, Costa co-established DMC Partners, a private equity fund aimed at raising $2 billion to invest in emerging markets; however, it ceased operations in 2014 due to insufficient capital acquisition.
He joined the Board of Directors of Songbird Estates, which owns 70% of Canary Wharf, in December 2014, succeeding Khalifa Al-Kuwari.
By 2018, Costa had taken on the role of Partner and Co-Chairman at Alvarium Investments, a private wealth management firm specializing in corporate finance services for ultra-high-net-worth families.
Costa described concerns surrounding Saudi Arabia’s acquisition of Newcastle United Football Club in 2021 as mere “noise,” a viewpoint that drew criticism from Amnesty International and political leaders citing Saudi Arabia’s human rights issues.
He has also held the position of Professor of Commerce at Gresham College and serves as dean of Leadership College London.
Christian philanthropy
As Chairman of Alpha International, Costa supports the promotion of the Alpha course. He has delivered talks at Holy Trinity Brompton, where he once served as a church warden, as well as at events organized by New Wine. His publications include God At Work (2007), which examines Christianity’s influence within professional environments, and Know Your Why (2016), which focuses on discovering and pursuing one’s purpose.
Political activity
Costa contributed £50,000 to the Conservative Party in 2010, donated £10,000 to Jeremy Hunt during the 2019 Conservative leadership contest, and gave £25,000 to the Conservative Party ahead of the 2019 general election. In 2017, UK Prime Minister Theresa May appointed him as a special envoy for the UK government to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic reform program.
Personal life
Costa has been married for three decades and is an avid supporter of Chelsea football club.