George Iacobescu

Background

Born in Bucharest, Romania, Iacobescu"s grandfather was a lawyer and newspaper publisher and his father a haematologist.

Education

Iacobescu studied Civil and Industrial engineering at Bucharest University.

Career

He is one of the most successful Romanian-born businessmen. After graduating, he worked as a structural engineer in Romania, his first job designing pump stations for a state-run business. He was forced to leave his fiancée, Gabriela, behind, and so lobbied for her to be allowed to join him, which she did in 1977.

On arrival in Canada he started in the property industry, and from 1975 to 1978, was construction director of Homeco Investments, a German-Canadian joint venture in Montreal and Toronto working on landmark buildings throughout North America.

After moving to Toronto, Iacobescu worked for the Olympia & York company as an engineer Following this, he worked as construction manager and then vice-president of Olympia & York from 1978 to 1987 working on many large construction projects, including the construction of the World Financial Centre, 4m sq ft headquarters of Merrill Lynch, the Olympia Centre in Chicago, and the construction of Granicor, in Quebec.

In 1988, Iacobescu moved to London as senior vice-president of Olympia & York, to oversee the construction budget and delivery of the Canary Wharf project He stayed with the project when Olympia & York went into administration in 1991 working as Construction Director and then becoming Deputy Chief executive of the Canary Wharf Group when it was formed in 1995 and Chief Executive in March 1997.

During his time at Canary Wharf, Iacobescu has participated in the development and construction of more than 30 buildings.

In June 2011, 10 Downing Street announced that the Prime Minister would be re-appointing him to this post for a period of four years from 1 July 2011. In addition to this role he is Vice Patron of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, a Patron of Jewish Care and the Community Safety Trust, and was founding Company-Chairman of Teach First. He is also a Director of London First, and on the Advisory Board of the financial services organisation TheCityUK. In June 2011, Iacobescu was also appointed chairman of the Canary Wharf Group replacing Sir Martin Jacomb who retired.

He holds both chairman and Chief Executive Officer positions.

Achievements

• On 31 December 2011, he was knighted for services to charity, community and the financial services industry. He is the third Romanian-born person to be knighted. Other Romanian-born persons who received the knighthood were Sir Elie Wiesel and Sir Mihail Cârciog.

Membership

He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2003 Birthday for services to regeneration and inward investment Iacobescu is a member of the Board of Trustees of the British Museum.

Personality

He was determined to leave the country, then under the control of Nicolae Ceauşescu"s Communist Party and so, in 1975, Iacobescu used contacts in the West to escape to Montreal, Canada.