Chief Executive Officer

Akbar is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and principal within the Sheikh Holdings Group. He has over seven years of experience working in the Real Estate division, leading a team of professionals responsible for the strategic development and asset management of a diversified property portfolio. Akbar has been instrumental in delivering over £120m worth of investment and development projects across multiple sectors including Residential, Commercial and Industrial-logistics. He was recognised by Ernst and Young as the Next Generation Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014 at their global awards in Monaco.

Prior to joining the Sheikh family office, Akbar worked for KPMG within their advisory business, specifically for the Corporate Finance and Transactions Services teams. Akbar gained his undergraduate degree at the University of Warwick, studying Engineering Business Management, and then completed further studies in Entrepreneurship at the Wharton Business School and the China Europe International Business School. Given his passion for real estate investment, Akbar recently completed a Master’s degree in Real Estate at Downing College, University of Cambridge.

Akbar takes a keen interest in philanthropic activities and works with many charities to deliver high-impact projects that have long-lasting social and economic benefits for communities, both in the UK and abroad. Akbar holds various positions within a number of charitable organisations. Most notably, he is a Trustee of the Cosaraf Charitable Foundation and CareTech Foundation.

Non-executive Chairman

Farouq Sheikh is a leading business entrepreneur, philanthropist and investor within the UK. Farouq, with his brother Haroon are best known as co-founders of CareTech Holdings PLC, a respected national provider of specialist services to adults and children with learning or physical disabilities or mental health problems, which now supports over 1800 service users and employs more than 3500 staff. After initiating the successful equity investments they oversaw the subsequent exits of 3i Group PLC (in 1996 and 2002) and Barclays Private Equity (in 2002 and 2005) culminating in a successful listing on the AIM market at the London Stock Exchange in 2005. Under their stewardship, their intimate knowledge of the marketplace, commercial and negotiating expertise, CareTech’s earnings per share grew significantly from 4.1p in 2005 to 25.35p in 2011. Farouq remains as the Executive Chairman.

His most recent business enterprise is as Director of a burgeoning property and equity investment group, Sheikh Holdings Group, which incorporates a property development division (Locksbridge Developments) that has

several substantial on-going property developments that have a GDV in excess of £125m.

In 2007 Farouq became Entrepreneur of the Year in the prestigious Laing and Buisson business awards and has presented widely at healthcare conferences, raising awareness of the learning disability sector. In 2008, both Farouq and Haroon were winners of the highly valued Coutts Family Business Prize and widely applauded for the quality and social integrity of the company they created.

As Patron and Enterprise Fellow of the prestigious Prince’s Trust, Farouq supports young people by passing on his experience and expertise to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. In 2012 Farouq was honoured to be invited to become Mosaic’s Gold Patron, a mentoring charity established by HRH The Prince of Wales to inspire young people from deprived communities in order to realise their talents and potential.

Non-executive Chairman

Haroon Sheikh is one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs, philanthropists and community figureheads. His business interests encompass healthcare, private equity, property investment and development.

Haroon, with his brother Farouq are best known as a co-founders of CareTech Holdings PLC, a respected national provider of specialist services to adults and children with learning or physical disabilities or mental health problems, which now supports over 1800 service users and employs more than 3500 staff. Haroon brings commercial acumen, industry experience and property knowledge, which have been essential in the growth of the business. He is actively involved in the day-to-day running of the business and over time has been instrumental in nurturing and supporting the senior management team, which comprises disciplines in care, commerce and property. He has a deep commitment and passion to delivering high-quality care and support to people with learning disabilities. Haroon remains the Chief Executive Officer.

In 2008, both Farouq and Haroon were winners of the highly valued Coutts Family Business Prize and widely applauded for the quality and social integrity of the company they created.

His most recent social enterprise was establishing the COSARAF Charitable Foundation to benefit communities and individuals in the UK and abroad. As trustee for International Development, Haroon established the COSARAF Kenya Feeding Project which supports the feeding of over 700 women and children daily as well as supporting the drilling of boreholes in various rural villages.

Haroon was awarded a limited edition Gold medal made from The Queen’s medal makers by HRH Prince of Wales Special Representative in recognition of his great support for HRH’s call to action in Pakistan.

Director

Ali graduated from The London School of Economics with an honours in Business Management. With his passion for real estate, he then went on to study at the UK’s top real estate institution, Henley Business School, in Reading. Here he graduated with a master’s degree in Real Estate Development.

Ali started his career working with Sheikh Holdings and went on to co-found the 360 Investment Group, a property development business with a vision of building an Anglo-African bridge for clients that wish to invest in the UK.

Ali also takes an active role in Cosaraf – the Sheikh Family charity that is centred around promoting strong and cohesive communities, enabling young people to realise their potential and empowering women and girls. Cosaraf’s most recent affiliate has been the Enterprise for Change initiative whereby Ali was instrumental in securing the relationship.

Ali has a real passion for investing in luxury timepieces and over the years has built a successful portfolio of watch investments that he manages. Due to his success and expertise in this investment class, he is now actively building a multi-million pound luxury watch fund which will look to invest in limited edition watches as well as having its own trading arm for luxury timepieces.