A Profile on Vincent Tchenguiz
Vincent Tchenguiz Biography
Born in Tehran in October of 1956, Vincent Tchenguiz is now a businessman based in the London.
He was born to a Jewish family of Iraqi descent, previously named Khadouri. The family had moved from Iraq to Iran in 1948, changing their name from Khadouri to Tchenguiz. They remained in Iran until the fall of the Shah in 1979.
Vincent attended school in Tehran until 1973. He was then accepted to the Business Administration program at Boston University. In 1978, Vincent completed his studies, graduating from McGill University in Montreal with a BSc with Honors in Economics, as well as a BSc in Commerce. By 1980, Vincent had completed his graduate studies at New York University, obtaining a Master’s in Business Administration.
After completing university, Vincent took a position as Senior Vice President with Prudential Bache in London, trading financial instruments in the fund management division. Vincent moved to Shearson Lehman Brothers, also in London, in 1986, again as Senior Vice President in a similar trading capacity. By 1988, in partnership with his brother, Robert Tchenguiz, Vincent establish Rotch Property Group, serving as Joint Chairman and Joint Managing Director of the commercial property firm.
Vincent created Consensus Business Group in 2002, serving as its Chairman. As principle adviser to the Tchenguiz Family Trust , Consensus offers investment advice for a portfolio encompassing commercial and residential properties, as well as green technology, homeland security, health care and other investment funds. The entire portfolio carries an estimated value of £4.5 billion in real estate and £200 million in other investments.
With the collapse of Kaupthing in October, 2008, Vincent, in collaboration with the Tchenguiz Family Trust, filed suit against the Icelandic bank. Civil damages claims, filed in England and Iceland, exceeded £1.5 billion. The UK’s Serious Fraud Office arrested Vincent in March 2011, in connection with investigations into the Kaupthing collapse. No charges, however, were filed and Vincent was released that same day. Vincent and the trust reached an out-of-court settlement of all claims against Kaupthing, the terms of which are confidential.
Vincent Tchenguiz now lives in Mayfair, London, with additional homes in Cape Town and St. Tropez, as well as a 130 ft. yacht, named the Veni Vidi Vici, moored on the French Riviera. He is unmarried.