Adrian Alexander of New York, born in Bucharest, Romania, in 1946, emigrated to the United States in 1964 after completing high school. Holding dual U.S. and Italian citizenships, his early days in America were marked by adversity; his father passed away just six months after their arrival. He rose to the challenge, supporting his mother while pursuing his education. He earned a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from NYU Engineering School in 1970 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1972.

His academic excellence during these challenging times set the stage for his successful career. He began in investment banking, recruited by Morgan Stanley & Co. from Harvard, where he worked for three years before moving to Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb as VP of Mergers and Acquisitions.

In 1978, his career took him to Milan, Italy, where he worked for the executive search firm Egon Zehnder, recruiting executives for multinational clients until 1983. He spent most of the subsequent decades working in Italy, reflecting his deep ties and commitment to his European origins.

Upon returning to the U.S., he demonstrated his entrepreneurial spirit by acquiring and revitalizing Minneapolis Sport, a struggling sporting goods store franchise, which he successfully sold to its franchisees. His knack for transformation was further evidenced from 1987 to 1990 when he joined Polly Peck International, Plc as Vice President of Acquisitions, notably acquiring Del Monte Fresh Fruit Company and developing the company’s strategy in Eastern Europe.

He continued to leverage his extensive experience by advising a regional corporate stationer from 1991 to 1994, guiding it to become a $2 billion multinational office products distributor. Subsequently, he served as the principal of a boutique investment bank, specializing in emerging healthcare companies and securing crucial venture capital investments.

In 1996, he founded the Phoenix Real Estate Fund in New York, acquiring and managing over 200 properties before selling the fund at the end of 1999. He then established Technology Seed Capital in 2000, an early-stage venture capital fund that supported technology startups for three years.

His innovative approach to business continued with his partnership with Limores.net, a pioneering online platform for ground transportation, from 2004 to 2006. He also managed an imaging center in Astoria, New York, from 2006 to 2014, which he successfully turned around and sold.

In 2010, he founded Health Settlement, LLC, a lender for personal injury cases, eventually partnering with U.S. Claims, a Blackstone company, in 2014.

On a personal note, Adrian Alexander is a dedicated family man. He celebrates significant anniversaries and milestones with his wife and children. He also enjoys the strategic complexities of chess and poker, where he applies his analytical skills and strategic thinking.

Adrian Alexander of New York’s journey from a Romanian immigrant to a successful American entrepreneur showcases his resilience, strategic acumen, and ability to navigate and thrive in diverse industries and challenges.