Nadhmi Auchi
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Nadhmi Shakir Auchi born 11 June 1937, in Baghdad, (Arabic: نظمي أوجي) is a British Iraqi billionaire businessman. He is the founder and chairman of General Mediterranean Holding (GMH), a conglomerate of 120 companies worldwide. In the Sunday Times Rich List 2008 ranking of the wealthiest people in the UK he was placed 27th with an estimated fortune of £2,150 million.[1] In 2009 he ranked 32nd with a worth of 1,200 million pounds, a fall of 950 million.[1]
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[edit] Biography
Nadhmi Auchi graduated in Economics and Political Science from Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, in 1967. In 1979 he founded General Mediterranean Holding SA of Luxembourg.[citation needed] From 1996 to 2000 he served on an advisory committee to the Institute for Social and Economic Policy in the Middle East at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.[citation needed] He has been president of the Anglo-Arab Organisation since its founding in 2002.[citation needed]
In 2003, Auchi was convicted of fraud, and given a 15 month suspended sentence for taking illegal payments from French oil company Elf Aquitaine.[2]. Following the verdict, Elf (by now merged with TotalFina and re-named Total) decided to take legal action against Auchi in France; Auchi responded by suing Total for £200m in turn, this time in the UK.[3] Auchi categorically denies any wrongdoing in relation to matters that led to his conviction in France and is seeking to challenge the decision through the judicial process.
[edit] Honours and other notable events
- 2003 — The College of Arms granted him his Coat of Arms.[4]
- 2004 — knighted by the late Pope, His Holiness John Paul II with the Pontifical Order of Pope Saint Sylvester in 2004.[5]
- 2007 — awarded the Presidential Prize by the President of the American University in Cairo (AUC), for his efforts in supporting higher education in the Arab World, in particular, funding a fellowship for young Arabs studying institution management and leadership.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Search the Sunday Times Rich List 2009". Times Online. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/specials/rich_list/rich_list_search/?l=27&list_name=Rich+List+2009&advsearch=1&t=1&n=Nadhmi+Auchi&k=&x=21&y=0&a=&r=&g=&i=&new=#searchtop. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
- ^ "Corruption scandal hits senior politicians", The Guardian 23 Nov, 2003.
- ^ "Unwelcome publicity for oil giant in legal battle with billionaire", The Independent 4 May, 2008.
- ^ "The College of Arms Newsletter". The College of Arms. 2004. http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Newsletter/001.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ^ "The Grand Magistral Delegation for Inter Religious Relations". The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George. 2008. http://www.constantinian.com/news-2004.html. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ^ "Auchi launches fellowship for young Arab leaders". Middle East Online. 2007. http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=22900. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
[edit] External links
- Nadhmi Auchi profile at the Sunday Times Rich List
- General Mediterranean Holding website
- Anglo Arab Organisation [1]
