F. Francis Najafi

F. Francis Najafi is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pivotal Group, a private investment firm he established over 30 years ago.12 Pivotal Group focuses on private equity and real estate investments, operating without the constraints of a traditional fund-based business model.2

Background and Education

Najafi immigrated to the United States from Iran in 1972 to pursue his education.3 He holds:

• A Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Arizona State University
• Two Master's degrees from Thunderbird School of Global Management and the University of Southern California (USC)
• He began his entrepreneurial activities while pursuing a Ph.D. in International Political Economy at USC1

Career Highlights

• Founded Pivotal Group, which has managed billions of dollars in assets over its lifetime3
• Entered the private equity market in 2002 and acquired Network Solutions, the world's largest domain-name registry, in 20031
• Pivotal Group's portfolio includes investments in telecommunications, technology, media, aerospace, consumer, and business services2
• In real estate, the firm has invested in major hotel properties, commercial office spaces, and community development projects1

Investment Philosophy

Najafi's approach focuses on:

• Identifying companies and projects that lead in their market segments
• Seeking growth potential and attractive margins
• Partnering with outstanding management teams rather than acquiring companies from them2

Philanthropy and Board Memberships

Najafi is actively involved in various philanthropic and professional organizations:

• Board member of EastWest Institute
• Member of Urban Land Institute and governor of the ULI Foundation
• Active in the World President's Organization and Chief Executive's Organization
• Trustee of Thunderbird School of Global Management
• Foundation board member of the Translational Genomics Research Institute1

In 2022, Najafi and his wife Dionne donated $25 million to Thunderbird School of Global Management to launch the Francis and Dionne Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative, aiming to educate 100 million people by 2030 in entrepreneurship and related areas.3