Mahmud Kamani
Mahmud Abdullah Kamani | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Need valid birth date: year, month, day United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Co-founder and executive chairman of Boohoo Group |
| Notable work | Boohoo Group |
Mahmud Abdullah Kamani (born August 1964) is a British entrepreneur who co-established and currently serves as the executive chairman of the Boohoo Group.
Early life
Originating from Gujarat, India, his father Abdullah Kamani relocated to Kenya before settling in northwest England during the 1960s amid political instability. Abdullah initially operated a handbag stall at a market and subsequently launched a family-run textile enterprise that supplied major retailers such as New Look and Primark.
Career
Kamani was honoured with the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award at the English Asian Business Awards in 2013 and received recognition at the Legends of Industry Awards in 2015.
By April 2017, Boohoo experienced a near doubling of profits to £31 million, with sales increasing by 51% to nearly £300 million. The company, which went public in 2014 with an initial valuation of £560 million, had grown to an estimated worth of approximately £3.54 billion by July 2021. In June 2017, Kamani and his siblings divested 36.6 million shares, generating over £80 million, alongside raising an additional £50 million through new share issuances aimed at financing a “supersite” warehouse project.
In April 2018, Boohoo's stock price rose sharply following a doubling in sales for PrettyLittleThing, a brand in which Boohoo holds a controlling 66% interest.
In February 2021, Boohoo expanded its portfolio by acquiring Arcadia’s brands Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, and Burton for £25.2 million, securing their online platforms and intellectual property rights.
As of September 2024, Kamani’s personal fortune is estimated to be around £67 million.
Personal life
Mahmud Kamani lives in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, with his wife Aisha and their three sons. Two of his children, Umar Kamani and Adam Kamani, are co-founders of PrettyLittleThing and play active roles within the family enterprise.
His brother Jalal Kamani, who co-founded Boohoo alongside Mahmud, formerly held the position of trading director within the company. Mahmud also maintains philanthropic connections to Kenya through support for Kibera Kids, a charitable organisation based in Nairobi.
In July 2020, concerns were raised about I Saw It First—a fashion label—and Morefray Ltd, a Boohoo supply company owned by Jalal Kamani, regarding allegations of worker underpayment and insufficient COVID-19 safety measures during the pandemic.