Adrian Alexander of New York

Adrian Alexander of New York, originally from Bucharest, Romania, was born in 1946 and possesses both U.S. and Italian citizenship. His journey to the United States began in 1964 after he completed his high school education in Romania. Sadly, just six months after they arrived in the U.S., his father passed away, leaving him to support both his mother and himself. Undeterred, he enrolled at NYU Engineering School, where he completed his Master’s in Electrical Engineering in 1970. His academic pursuits continued at Harvard Business School, where he obtained his MBA in 1972.

During these challenging times, he excelled at NYU and Harvard while caring for his mother, who was adjusting to life as a widow in a new country. His resilience and determination during these years helped him academically and shaped his future career successes.

Career

His professional journey in investment banking began in 1972 when he was recruited by Morgan Stanley & Co. straight from Harvard. He spent three fruitful years there before transitioning to Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb as the Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions, a position he held until 1978.

Off to Italy

In 1978, he moved to Milan, Italy, to work with the executive search firm Egon Zehnder, where he recruited executives for multinational clients. This role expanded his professional landscape and deepened his connections within Italy and other countries. Over the past 50 years, he has spent approximately one-third of his time in Italy.

Back in the U.S.

He returned to the U.S. in 1978 with renewed entrepreneurial vigor. In 1980, he acquired Minneapolis Sport, a franchise of struggling sporting goods stores, which he successfully restructured and sold to its franchisees, earning positive recognition for his efforts.

1987-1990 Polly Peck Acquisition of Del Monte Fresh Fruit Company

In 1987, he became Vice President of Acquisitions at Polly Peck International, Plc. Under his leadership, the company significantly expanded its U.S. operations, including the landmark acquisition of Del Monte Fresh Fruit Company for $875 million. He also led developing and implementing the company’s expansion strategy into Eastern Europe.

From 1991 to 1994, he served as an advisor to the founder of a regional corporate stationery company, overseeing its growth into a $2 billion multinational office products distributor.

1995-1996 EC/American

Following this, he became the principal of a boutique investment bank specializing in emerging healthcare companies, helping secure venture capital for entities such as Trinity Biotech and CTSO.

1996-1999 Phoenix Real Estate Fund

In 1996, he established the Phoenix Real Estate Fund, acquiring and managing over 200 rent-controlled and rent-stabilized apartments in New York City. The fund, worth approximately $20 million, was sold in 1999.

Technology Seed Capital

In 2000, Alexander founded Technology Seed Capital, an early-stage venture capital fund that invested significantly in technology startups over three years.

2004-2006 Limores-Online Platform for Ground Transportation

He was a partner in Limores.net, a pioneering online platform for ground transportation that operated globally before Uber and Lyft emerged. The platform was sold in 2006 due to financial difficulties.

2006-2014 AMI, Llc

He took charge of a failing imaging center in Astoria, New York, in 2006, successfully revitalizing and selling it in 2014.

2010-2021 Health Settlement, LLC

He established Health Settlement, LLC, a lender for personal injury cases, and in 2014, partnered with U.S. Claims, a leading company in the field owned by Blackstone.

On the Personal Side

Adrian Alexander of New York is excited to celebrate his 29th wedding anniversary with his wife, Susi, in July 2025. His son recently turned 25, and his daughter celebrated her 21st birthday. Apart from his professional endeavors, he enjoys chess and poker. These games demand concentration, patience, strategic thinking, and the ability to anticipate and adapt to opponents' moves—traits he has honed throughout his career and life.