Nasib Piriyev

Nasib was born on 2 June 1981, grew up in Baku, Azerbaijan until 1992 when the family moved to Moscow in Russia. In 1998, Nasib attended his undergraduate studies at American International University in London, England where he obtained a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2001. Later in 2006, Nasib enrolled at Moscow State Institute for International Relations in Russia to pursue a post-graduate degree, he graduated with Master of Economics in Oil and Gas Industry and Energy Security in 2008. Since 2011, Nasib holds a Candidate of Sciences in Economics from Higher School of Economics in Russia.{{Cite news |date=2021-10-09 |title=Nasib Piriyev on Derby County interest and West Ham bid |url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-takeover-piriyev-west-ham-6037205 |access-date=2024-08-16 |work=Derbyshire Live |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}

In 2001, Nasib joined his family's business, which specialized in manufacturing parts for crude oil refineries and gas condensate processing units. As the head of business development, he led the company through a period of significant growth, overseeing the completion of several key projects across Central Asia.{{Cite web |last=Lucas |first=Damien Charles |date=2021-08-04 |title=Meet Nasib Piriyev the West Ham supporter behind PAI Capital's takeover bid |url=https://www.hammers.news/news/meet-nasib-piriyev-the-west-ham-supporter-behind-pai-capitals-takeover-bid/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Hammers News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2010-04-29 |title=AzMeCo refines its strategy |url=https://www.intellinews.com/azmeco-refines-its-strategy-500012976/?archive=bne |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=www.intellinews.com |language=en}} One of his early achievements was the construction and commissioning of a 500-ton-per-day gas condensate processing unit in Kungrad, Uzbekistan, in 2003. Two years later, in 2005, the company completed a 1000-ton-per-day oil refinery in Hairatan, Afghanistan. Continuing this expansion, Nasib led the establishment of a 500-ton-per-day oil refinery unit in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan, in 2006.{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Moscow |date=2013-07-03 |title=WHSmith to Open in Russia's Railway Stations |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/archive/whsmith-to-open-in-russias-railway-stations |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}

In 2007, the Piriyev family embarked on a project to develop a petrochemical complex in Garadag, Azerbaijan, as a methanol plant.{{Cite news |date=2013-06-10 |title=AzMeCo to implement new projects in Libya |url=https://azertag.az/en/xeber/azmeco_to_implement_new_projects_in_libya-81567 |access-date=2024-08-28}} Azerbaijan Methanol Company (AzMeCo) was established under the leadership of his father Nizami Piriyev. Nasib Piriyev took the role of CEO.{{Cite web |date=2013-06-10 |title=Azerbaijani methanol plant to supply products to market soon |url=https://www.azernews.az/business/55147.html |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Azernews.Az |language=en}} As CEO, Nasib was involved in developing AzMeCo's corporate structure and governance, collaborating closely with the International Finance Corporation (IFC).{{Cite news |date=2009-10-26 |title=EBRD APPROVES $120 MILLION LOAN FOR AZERBAIJAN'S METHANOL COMPANY |url=https://azertag.az/en/xeber/ebrd_approves_120_million_loan_for_azerbaijans_methanol_company-586098 |access-date=2024-08-19}} The Piriyevs led in sustainable practice by incorporating green technologies at the company, including a CO2 capturing unit that boosted production and reduced emissions, establishing the company as a regional eco-leader.https://www.ebrd.com/work-with-us/projects/psd/azmeco.html

Nasib led AzMeCo in securing a $120 million non-recourse loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The loan agreement signing ceremony at the AzMeCo site in Garadag was attended by Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair.{{Cite web |date=2009-12-05 |title=Tony Blair funded by obscure oligarch |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/azerbaijan/6728429/Tony-Blair-funded-by-obscure-oligarch.html |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}} In addition to EBRD, Nasib conducted negotiations with other major European banks.{{Cite web |date=2010-03-12 |title=AzMeCo determines methanol sell markets |url=https://en.trend.az/business/economy/1652335.html |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Trend.Az |language=en}} He also closed financing deals with Russian banks, VTB and Sberbank.{{Cite web |date=2011-04-27 |title=Russia's VTB funds construction of Azeri methanol plant |url=https://www.azernews.az/business/32132.html |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Azernews.Az |language=en}} In 2012, Nasib secured a take-or-pay methanol off-take contract with BP.{{Cite web |last=Shrestha |first=Priyanka |date=2012-11-27 |title=BP's new deal with Azerbaijani methanol firm |url=https://www.energylivenews.com/2012/11/27/bps-new-deal-with-azerbaijani-methanol-firm-2/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Energy Live News |language=en-US}} The methanol plant was completed in 2014, with its first product exported to international markets via BP.{{Cite web |date=2015-05-13 |title=Azerbaijan Methanol Company finalises refinancing agreements |url=https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/13052015/azerbaijan-methanol-company-announces-us1-billion-bond-issue-764/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Hydrocarbon Engineering |language=en}}

In 2010, Nasib and the team diversified the family business into the food, consumer, and lifestyle sectors, where they acquired franchise and distribution rights for brands. Nasib founded AFK Ltd, which opened KFC in Azerbaijan in 2011. He later sold the company and established UFC Ltd, launching KFC restaurants in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2012.{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan's PNN Group opened the first KFC restaurant in Ukraine-Global FoodMate |url=http://news.foodmate.com/201212/news_11729.html |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=news.foodmate.com}}

In 2013, PNN Group secured the rights to open WH Smith bookstore in Baku, and began expanding the brand in the region.{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Moscow |date=2013-07-03 |title=WHSmith to Open in Russia's Railway Stations |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/archive/whsmith-to-open-in-russias-railway-stations |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}} In 2013, Nasib opened a De Beers Jewelry boutique in Baku, marking the start of his fashion group's expansion. The group later acquired several luxury stores on Baku's Neftchilyar Avenue, including Alfred Dunhill, Brunello Cucinelli, Santoni, Nina Ricci, and Sergio Rossi.{{Cite web |date=2012-12-19 |title=De Beers to open store in Baku |url=https://www.azernews.az/business/47614.html |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Azernews.Az |language=en}}

After UNESCO recognized chovgan as part of Azerbaijan's Intangible Cultural Heritage, Nasib founded the Baku Guardians, the first Azeri professional polo club in London. In May 2014, he organized an exhibition match and charity event with HRH Prince William captaining the team.{{Cite web |date=2014-05-14 |title=Princes William and Harry play polo |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2014051418741/prince-william-harry-charity-polo/ |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=HELLO! |language=en}} In September 2014, he organized the Chovgan Twilight Polo event in Richmond, Surrey, with Princess Tamara Czartoryski and Natalia Vodianova. The event featured an exhibition match with Baku Guardians and included a Gala night with a charity auction raising funds for the War Child and the Naked Heart Foundation.{{Cite web |last=Tatler |date=2014-09-11 |title=Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala |url=https://www.tatler.com/gallery/chovgan-twilight-polo-gala |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Tatler |language=en-GB}}

In 2015, Nasib, his wife Olena, and perfumer Maria Candida Gentile launched Lankaran Forest perfume, inspired by Azerbaijan's Lankaran forest. The fragrance, housed in a Lalique crystal flacon, debuted at an after-party for the 2nd Buta Festival at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.{{Cite web |last=Socarras |first=Ines |date=2015-03-24 |title=A VIP party in a fragrant forest... and you'll never guess where it was! |url=https://perfumesociety.org/vip-party-fragrant-forest-youll-never-guess/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=The Perfume Society |language=en-GB}}

After relocating to London in 2015, Nasib focused on restructuring PNN Group and started investing in publicly traded businesses, including on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in China, since 2019.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-07 |title=PAI Capital invests $212m in Chinese video display business |url=https://www.avcj.com/avcj/news/3020579/pai-capital-invests-usd212m-in-chinese-video-display-business |access-date=2024-08-28 |website= |language=en}}

In 2020, Nasib joined a consortium that made a £400 million bid to acquire a controlling stake in West Ham United FC and redevelop the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Tom |date=2021-08-12 |title=Every word Nasib Piriyev said on West Ham, David Sullivan and proposed takeover |url=https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/news/every-word-nasib-piriyev-said-21294916 |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Football London |language=en}} The bid, which required owner David Sullivan to relinquish control, was rejected as Sullivan chose to sell a 27% stake to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky for £200 million while retaining control of the club.{{Cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Jacob |date=2022-02-18 |title=Special report: with a new billionaire on board, what next for West Ham? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/feb/18/west-ham-what-next-with-new-billionaire-daniel-kretinsky |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

In 2023, Nasib's PNN Capital Ltd. established Woodford Finance in partnership with Lord Woolley, Baron of Woodford. The projects for Woodford Finance include investing in the Lottery.com (NASDAQ: LYTRY) and its subsidiary Sports.com.{{Cite news |date=2024-03-24 |title=From SPAC Dreams to Riviera Mirage: How Lottery.com Imploded (1) |url=https://news.bloombergtax.com/financial-accounting/from-spac-dreams-to-a-riviera-mirage-how-lottery-com-imploded |access-date=2024-08-28}} In 2023, Woodford Finance launched Lyned, a fintech product that began its rollout by onboarding its first banks in Europe and South Asia.{{Cite web |last=Presswire |first=E. I. N. |date=2024-08-01 |title=Lyned Technology Begins Rollout with Banks On-Boarded in Europe and South Asia |url=https://globalfintechseries.com/banking/lyned-technology-begins-rollout-with-banks-on-boarded-in-europe-and-south-asia/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=GlobalFinTechSeries |language=en-US}} In 2024, Woodford Finance launched 360Sports, a new sports and entertainment venture. 360Sports sponsors the 2024-25 Maltese Premier League and is developing a mobile fan engagement platform.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-28 |title=360Sports unveiled as new Malta Premier sponsor - maltafootball.com |url=https://www.maltafootball.com/2024/06/28/360sports-unveiled-as-new-malta-premier-sponsor/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |language=en-GB}} In the same year, Woodford Finance opened hospitality arm, Buta Kitchen, in the UK.{{Cite web |title=PNN Group announces the launch of Buta Kitchen in UK |url=https://woodford-finance.com/news-article-23-12-01 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=woodford-finance.com |language=en}}

In 2015, following the commissioning of the AzMeCo, PNN Group and the Piriyev family became the targets of state expropriation of their assets. Azerbaijan authorities arrested his father Nizami in May 2015 and issued an Interpol arrest notice for Nasib Piriyev that same year. Azerbaijan government said the PNN Group did not repay a loan it obtained from the state-owned Azerbaijan International Bank.{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan police arrest businessman linked to Tony Blair {{!}} The Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin |url=https://thebulletin.news/newsdesk/azerbaijan-police-arrest-businessman-linked-tony-blair/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |language=en-GB}} The Piriyevs claimed that these actions were politically motivated and deny all wrongdoing.{{Cite web |last=Piriev |first=Office of Nasib |title=Statement Issued on Behalf of Nasib Piriev, CEO of the PNN Group, in Relation to Developments in Azerbaijan |url=https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/statement-issued-on-behalf-of-nasib-piriev-ceo-of-the-pnn-group-in-relation-to-developments-in-azerbaijan-524053201.html |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=www.prnewswire.co.uk |language=en}}

Nasib is the founder of Buta Arts Centre, a non-profit organization that aims to develop Azerbaijani arts and culture, founded in 2004. His non-profit Buta Arts Centre grew and created several branches like Buta Creative Lab (design and artwork), Buta Films (film and media production) and Buta Festival of Arts in London.{{Cite web |date=2015-01-28 |title=Azerbaijani modern art on display in London |url=https://www.azernews.az/culture/76727.html |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Azernews.Az |language=en}} Buta Arts Centre organized over 120 cultural events in Baku, Moscow, London, and producing numerous books, CDs, documentary films, and articles on Azerbaijani history, art, and culture.{{Cite web |title=Belgian Embassy in Azerbaijan and Buta Arts Center to stage a charity concert in Baku |url=https://today.az/news/entertainment/90750.html |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=www.today.az}}

From 2004 to 2016, the Buta Art Centre was supporting Shahin Novrasli's musical career, produced several albums, including Live in Moscow in 2005 and Eternal Way in 2006.{{Cite web |title=Shahin Novrasli to conquer Paris |url=http://www.today.az/news/entertainment/103947.html |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=www.today.az}} Shahin emerged as a figure in Azerbaijani jazz, earning praise from Ahmad Jamal, who produced his two albums.{{Cite news |date=2019-07-05 |title=PIANO JAZZ SESSION : Shahin Novrasli |url=https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/en/events/piano-jazz-session-shahin-novrasli |access-date=2024-09-16}} In 2020, Nasib and Shahin joined forces to release a lockdown inspired animated short film single, "Quarantine." The animated film was written and produced by Nasib and animated by Slovenian artist Tomi VGN.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-25 |title=Peggy Lee, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea & More: The Week in Jazz - JAZZIZ Magazine |url=https://jazziz.com/peggy-lee-herbie-hancock-chick-corea-more-the-week-in-jazz/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |language=en-US}}

Buta Arts Centre projects included organizing Andrea Bocelli's concert in Baku in 2009, Placido Domingo's concert in 2010, and producing Ennio Morricone's concert, where he conducted the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra and Choir.{{Cite news |date=2009-11-04 |title=Butterflies for Andrea Bocelli in Azerbaijan |url=https://www.etnow.com/news/2009/11/butterflies-for-andrea-bocelli-in-azerbaijan |access-date=2024-08-28}} Other projects by Buta Arts Centre included Nino Katamadze at the Green Theatre, Andron Konchalovsky at Mugham Centre, and Keiko Matsui at Heydar Aliyev Palace.{{Cite web |title=Today.Az - Nino Katamadze to perform in Baku |url=https://www.today.az/print/news/entertainment/108623.html |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=www.today.az}}

In 2012, Nasib founded Buta Films, a film and TV content development company focused on producing documentaries that highlight Azerbaijan history and culture. Two years later, in 2014, Nasib co-produced Sonuncu (The Last One), the film was selected for the Cannes Film Festival.{{Cite web |title=SONUNCU (THE LAST ONE) |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/f/sonuncu/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Festival de Cannes |language=en-US}} The film also got nominated in several awards and received recognitions. At the London City Film Festival, it won the Audience Prize, and at the Izmir International Film Festival, it was honored with the Best Film award.{{Cite web |title=YARAT FILM CLUB presents Sergey Pikalov's film The Last One: - YARAT |url=https://www.yarat.az/index.php?lang=en&page=12&yrtMaincatID=13&yrtSubcatID=26&yrtEventID=1645&yrtCalYear=2021&yrtCalMonth=3 |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=www.yarat.az}}

In 2009, Nasib Piriyev launched the Buta Festival of Azerbaijani Art, a 100-day celebration in London to mark the fifth anniversary of the Buta Arts Centre. Running from November 25, 2009, to March 7, 2010, the festival was hosted at various venues.{{Cite news |date=2009-11-27 |title=Azeri Artists Take on the World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/28/arts/28iht-rcartbuta.html}} The 1st Buta Festival featured 24 diverse projects across visual arts, photography, jazz, ethnic and symphonic music, dance, decorative arts, literature, and film.{{Cite web |date=2012-04-10 |title=A rare evening of classical music from Azerbaijan performed by the |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/esrewards/musicandarts/a-rare-evening-of-classical-music-from-azerbaijan-performed-by-the-royal-philharmonic-orchestra-special-ps5-ticket-offer-normal-ticket-price-ps10ps34-6783147.html |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2010-02-07 |title=theartsdesk in Baku: Festival puts 'Azerbai-where?' on the map |url=https://www.theartsdesk.com/classical-music/theartsdesk-baku-festival-puts-azerbai-where-map |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=theartsdesk.com |language=en}}

The second edition of Buta festival that took place five years later in London. Nasib Piriyev explained the decision behind choosing a quintennial format by saying that five years gap between festival editions allowed enough time to prepare new program and work with the artists and musicians as well as enough time to reflect the changes in Azeri modern culture.{{Cite web |title=Buta Festival of Azerbaijan arts started in London |url=https://en.azvision.az/news/3271/news.html |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=en.azvision.az}} Running from 7 November 2014 to 21 March 2015, the 2nd Buta Festival program was hosted at venues like the Barbican Centre, The Royal Albert Hall, Sotheby's, Saatchi Gallery, Southwark Cathedral, Westminster Hall, Guildhall, Cadogan Hall, Asia House, Mosaic Rooms, Ronny Scott's, the Royal Academy of Arts and many more.{{Cite web |title=BUTA Festival in London presents Aida Mahmudova and Faig Ahmed in EXPLORING INWARD - YARAT |url=http://www.yarat.az/index.php?lang=en&page=39&yrtEventID=956&yrtLocationID=2 |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=www.yarat.az}}{{Cite web |title='Exploring Inward' at the 2nd Buta Festival of Azerbaijani Arts - Exhibition at Louise T Blouin Institute in London |url=https://www.artrabbit.com/events/39exploring-inward39-at-the-2nd-buta-festival-of-azerbaijani-arts |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=ArtRabbit |language=en}}

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Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:Azerbaijani businesspeople

Category:Azerbaijani philanthropists

Category:Moscow State Institute of International Relations alumni

Category:Higher School of Economics alumni