Business Executive and Philanthropist
Ichikowitz was born in the mining town of Springs, South Africa, where he experienced first-hand the many challenges of the country"s transition. His father, Louis, imported Suzuki motorcycles, setting the foundation on which Ichikowitz would later build his own company.
Ichikowitz studied drama at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
He is an entrepreneur and industrialist, advocating South Africa and the wider continent"s manufacturing capacity and championing a developing engineering sector for the social and economic advancement of Africa. During his time at university he became involved with protest theatre, before travelling throughout Africa and studying African literature. During the past twenty years, Ichikowitz has developed a number of businesses across the African continent.
Spanning defence and aerospace, mining, oil and gas, agriculture and sustainable development, property, retail and tourism.
Ichikowitz founded the Paramount Group in 1994, to operate in the global defence, internal security and peacekeeping industries. The group manufactures a range of armoured vehicles and deals in surplus South African military equipment, including fighter aircraft.
In 2011 the Paramount Group launched the Advanced High Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft, due to take its first flight in 2013. Paramount Group operates in countries in the Middle East, South America and Africa, as well as in India.
In addition to his role at Paramount Group, Ichikowitz is the executive chairman of private equity group TransAfrica Capital, which invests in scientific research and development projects.
Another flight by Zuma to the United States on an aircraft owned by Ichikowitz in 2011 caused considerable controversy when the cost (R63 million) was questioned in parliament. The official presidential aircraft, operated by the South African Air Force, was not available for the flight. Ichikowitz has also been criticised for his involvement in the controversial Oil-for-Food Programme in the aftermath of the Gulf War.
Ichikowitz maintains a philanthropic organisation called the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, established in 2010.
The Foundation is focused on developing Africa through education programmes, promotion of human rights, a better understanding of Africa"s modern history and the conservation of the continent"s biodiversity.
Ichikowitz has been criticised for being a "close ally" of the ruling African National Congress (African National Congress), and for providing President Jacob Zuma with an aircraft to use for an African National Congress fundraising and business trip to Lebanon and Kazakhstan.
