Adrian Alexander of New York

Adrian Alexander of New York, originally from Bucharest, Romania, moved to the U.S. in 1964 after completing his high school education. Born in 1946 and holding U.S. and Italian citizenship, he embarked on this significant life change with his family. Tragically, just six months after their arrival, his father passed away, leaving him to support both himself and his mother. Determined to succeed despite these challenges, he enrolled in NYU Engineering School, where he earned a Master’s in Electrical Engineering in 1970. He didn't stop there; he went on to attend Harvard Business School, obtaining a Master's in Business Administration in 1972. His academic achievements during this challenging period underscored his resilience and ability to thrive under pressure. His professional journey began at Morgan Stanley & Co., where he was recruited directly from Harvard and worked in investment banking for three years. He then moved to Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb, serving as Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions until 1978. That same year, he ventured to Italy, working for the executive search firm Egon Zehnder in Milan, helping to recruit executives across various countries for multinational clients. He returned to the United States in 1983 with a renewed focus on diverse entrepreneurial endeavors. His first major venture was acquiring and revitalizing Minneapolis Sport, a franchise of ailing sporting goods stores, which he successfully restructured and sold to over 50 franchisees. From 1987 to 1990, he was pivotal at Polly Peck International, Plc, as Vice President of Acquisitions. He significantly enhanced the company’s U.S. operations by leading the acquisition of Del Monte Fresh Fruit Company for $875 million. He also spearheaded the company’s strategy in Eastern Europe during this time.