Asif Aziz

Born in Malawi in 1967, Aziz moved to London at the age of six.{{Cite web|title=About Asif Aziz|url=https://www.asifaziz.com|last=|first=|date=|website=About Asif Aziz|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001190406/http://asifaziz.co.uk/|archive-date=2016-10-01|access-date=2018-02-20}} He acquired his first London property in the 1980s, whilst still at school. He graduated from the British American College London with a business baccalaureate.

In an interview with City AM, Aziz said that, "When I was still in school, I was intrigued by the London property market. My first ‘real’ job was at Morgan Grenfell Laurie where I learnt from the best in the commercial property industry. My first actual job was at McDonald's flipping burgers." Aziz added, "I fell in love with property when I was just 16 and made my first acquisition."{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=City A. M. |date=2023-10-05 |title=The Square Mile and Me: Asif Aziz on turning London's neglected spaces into eclectic landmarks |url=https://www.cityam.com/square-mile-and-me-asif-aziz-neglected-spaces-eclectic-landmarks/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=CityAM |language=en-GB}}

In 2005, the Evening Standard reported that he bought his first property aged 16 at an auction he visited with a relative, after saying he was 18. He bid £1.9m for the building opposite South Kensington tube station.{{cite web|url=http://evening-standard.vlex.co.uk/vid/riches-trocadero-attractions-asif-aziz-61948610|title=Mr West End|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714135729/http://evening-standard.vlex.co.uk/vid/riches-trocadero-attractions-asif-aziz-61948610|archive-date=14 July 2014|access-date=2 July 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jamiiforums.com/international-forum/961-asif-aziz-property-tycoon-uk-and-ra-related.html|title=Asif Aziz property tycoon UK and RA – Related? |publisher=Jamiiforums.com |access-date=28 November 2015}}

Aziz worked for property investment company Morgan Grenfell Laurie before moving back to Angola, Africa in 1993 where he made his fortune through the setting up of two food manufacturing businesses, including Golfrate Angola, which he sold in 2005.

According to Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh, who addressed the UK Parliament in 2011, Aziz's fortune is thought to have been made in Angola. This venture, however, faced legal challenges when it was sold in 2005 to members of the Lebanese Tajideen family. The deal reportedly soured, and in 2010, the new owners filed a lawsuit against Aziz in the High Court, accusing him of exaggerating the value of the company and falsifying expense claims. During this time, an email surfaced where Aziz allegedly instructed his chief accountant: 'Will they check each figure – can we not bullshit the numbers another way? Food for thought.' This led to further scrutiny and public criticism of Aziz's business practices.{{Cite web |last=Doyle |first=David |date=2007-12-21 |title=Asif Aziz sued for 'overvaluing' firms |url=https://www.propertyweek.com/news/asif-aziz-sued-for-overvaluing-firms |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Property Week |language=en}} That same year he returned to the UK and established Criterion Capital, which acquired the London Trocadero leisure complex, the London Pavilion (1 Piccadilly Circus) and The Criterion Building (1 Jermyn Street). Today, Criterion Capital is the biggest landowner in the Leicester Square - Piccadilly Circus corridor.{{cite web|url=https://www.criterioncapital.co.uk|title=Citerion Capital|publisher=Criterion Capital United Kingdoms|access-date=8 October 2020}}

As CEO of Criterion Capital, he owns and manages a £3.6bn property portfolio across London and the South East of England, including 15 commercial buildings in the West End of London, the Docklands{{cite web|url=http://www.property-magazine.eu/criterion-capital-in-docklands-prs-play-27540.html |title=Criterion Capital in Docklands prs play |publisher=Property-magazine.eu |access-date=28 November 2015}} and Croydon.{{cite web|author=Lloyd Davies |url=https://www.geraldeve.com/news/criterion-capital-continues-to-target-private-rented-sector/ |title=Criterion Capital Continues To Target Private Rented Sector |publisher=Gerald Eve |date=20 June 2014 |access-date=28 November 2015}}

File:Trocadero Centre, London W1 - geograph.org.uk - 1098198.jpg

Through Criterion, the Trocadero entertainment complex was closed down in 2011 and re-opened in 2020 as the Zedwell Piccadilly - a hotel with 728 windowless rooms and a rooftop bar.{{Cite web|title=Zedwell Piccadilly|url=https://www.expedia.com/London-Hotels-Zedwell-Piccadilly-Trocadero.h42297074.Hotel-Information|access-date=15 July 2020|website=Expedia}}{{Cite web|last=Sheppard|first=Owen|date=2018-03-05|title=Rooftop bar to be built on the Trocadero in expanded hotel plan|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/bars/rooftop-bar-to-be-built-on-the-trocadero-in-expanded-hotel-plan-a3781486.html|access-date=2020-07-15|website=Evening Standard|language=en}}

Aziz is reputed to be Britain's seventh richest Muslim in the UK.{{cite web|author=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110124/debtext/110124-0004.htm |title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 24 Jan 2011 (pt 0004) |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom |date=24 January 2011 |access-date=28 November 2015}} The Daily Telegraph ranked Asif Aziz as number 12 out of 40 in its list of successful entrepreneurs.{{cite news|author=Finance |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2952352/Made-it-by-40.html |title=Made it by 40 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=13 December 2006 |access-date=5 April 2014}} In 2022, Aziz was awarded an honorary fellowship from Goldsmiths University.{{Cite web |title=Asif Aziz |url=https://www.gold.ac.uk/honorands/asif-aziz/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Goldsmiths, University of London |language=en}}

Aziz has been criticised by the political magazine Private Eye for using companies registered in the Isle of Man to buy properties in London, especially pubs, and then close them down to replace them with more lucrative housing developments.{{Cite news |date=27 November 2015 |title=Manx for Nothing |url=https://www.private-eye.co.uk/pictures/special_reports/tax-havens.pdf |access-date=2 August 2022 |work=Private Eye |pages=14}}

In 2017, Aziz argued at the High Court that his wife of 14 years was not entitled to a share of his fortune, then estimated at £1.1bn, because they had "not legally married". The couple, who have four children, agreed a settlement.{{Cite news |last=Meddings |first=Sabah |date=2023-10-03 |title=Has coronavirus made Asif Aziz the meanest landlord in Britain? |newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/theatre-dance/article/has-coronavirus-made-asif-aziz-the-meanest-landlord-in-britain-tb92dbdm9 |access-date=2023-10-03 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}

In 2020, The Times asked if Aziz was "the meanest landlord in Britain", due to the way he had treated tenants during the pandemic.{{Cite news |date=2022-10-29 |title='It was more than a pub' – the story of five boozers forced to call last orders |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/oct/29/pub-the-story-of-five-boozers-forced-to-call-last-orders-for-good |access-date=2023-10-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

In 2022 he was criticised by Novara Media for continuing to buy community spaces like bars and nurseries and redeveloping them into luxury apartments.{{Cite web |title=Meet the Property Tycoon Closing Down London's Pubs |url=https://novaramedia.com/2022/09/02/meet-the-property-tycoon-closing-down-londons-pubs/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=Novara Media |language=en}} This prompted a legal threat from Aziz's lawyers over a year later. Aziz's lawyers demanded the removal of the article, claiming defamation unless it was taken down.{{Cite web |title=The Billionaire Landlord Battling a Beloved London Cinema |url=https://novaramedia.com/2025/02/05/the-billionaire-landlord-battling-beloved-london-cinema/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Novara Media |language=en}}

In late 2024, Aziz's property company, Criterion Capital, became associated with the planned closure of the world's first YMCA, located on London's Great Russell Street.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-04 |title=World's first YMCA in central London to close in February |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0mv0vn821eo |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} The decision to close the historic facility, which had served as a vital community hub since 1844, sparked significant public outcry and a grassroots "[https://www.savetheymcaclub.org/ Save YMCA Club]" campaign.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-09 |title=Central London flash mob tries to save YMCA from closure |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrwrv0p8y5o |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Campaigners criticized Criterion Capital for prioritizing redevelopment over preserving the site's community purpose and urged collaboration to explore sustainable alternatives.{{Cite web |title=Central YMCA face protest of flash mob |url=https://www.westminsterextra.co.uk/article/central-ymca-face-protest-of-flash-mob |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Camden New Journal |language=en-gb}}

The company again came under discussion in early 2025 after the Prince Charles Cinema

stated that their landlord Zedwell LSQ Ltd (owned by Criterion Capital) were demanding both a significant raise in rent and a 6-month break clause in the new lease.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-28 |title=Cult London film venue Prince Charles cinema under threat of closure |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jan/28/prince-charles-cinema-threat-of-closure-london-cult-venue |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=The Guardian |language=en-GB}} A petition entitled "Save The Prince Charles Cinema" was set up by the cinema in response. The petition gathered 115,000 signatures in its first two days.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-29 |title=London's beloved Prince Charles Cinema is under threat — here's how you can help save it |url=https://www.shortlist.com/news/londons-beloved-prince-charles-cinema-is-under-threat-heres-how-you-can-help-save-it-405206 |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Shortlist |language=en}}

In 2025, reports emerged highlighting widespread maintenance issues and vermin infestations in properties managed under Asif Aziz's "Dstrkt" housing brand, despite rapidly rising rents.{{Cite web |last=Waterson |first=Jim |title=The Prince Charles Cinema landlord and his cockroach-infested "worst place to live in Croydon" |url=https://www.londoncentric.media/p/asif-aziz-delta-point-croydon-prince-charles-cinema |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=www.londoncentric.media |language=en}} Aziz also reportedly paid £150,000 to settle allegations that he had illegally operated an unlicensed Forrest Gump-themed shrimp restaurant at Piccadilly Circus. After its closure, the site was repurposed and later drew further scrutiny when it reopened in December as a reportedly tax-avoiding, unofficial Harry Potter-themed shop.{{Cite web |last=Waterson |first=Jim |title=Kitchen foil and Algerian markets: What happens when your phone is stolen in London? |url=https://www.londoncentric.media/p/kitchen-foil-and-algerian-markets |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=www.londoncentric.media |language=en}}

In 2015, Aziz established the charitable incorporated organisation Aziz Foundation, which offers postgraduate scholarships, internships and grants to British Muslims.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-22 |title=About - Aziz Foundation |url=https://www.azizfoundation.org.uk/about/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |language=en-US}} The Foundation also sponsors London's Ramadan Lights.{{Cite news |last=Amini |first=Mariam |date=2025-03-01 |title=Ramadan display lights up Piccadilly Circus in London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/01/ramadan-display-lights-up-piccadilly-circus-in-london |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Aziz was awarded the Tun Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad Leadership Award at the 2022 Islam Channel Business Awards.{{Cite web |title=Highlights: Celebrating the best in British Muslim business – Islam Channel |url=https://new.islamchannel.tv/islam-channel-awards-celebrate-excellence-in-british-muslim-business/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |language=en-US}}

Criterion Capital has donated to both Labour and the Conservatives, and the Aziz Foundation has donated to several MPs to fund Aziz Foundation internships in their offices.

• Criterion Capital

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• [https://asifaziz.com/ Personal website]

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Category:Living people

Category:1967 births

Category:English people of Indian descent

Category:Malawian chief executives

Category:Malawian emigrants to the United Kingdom

Category:Businesspeople from London