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Ivor Ichikowitz

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Ivor Ichikowitz
Ivor Ichikowitz
Born
Springs, Gauteng, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Alma materUniversity of the Witwatersrand
Occupation(s)Business Executive and Philanthropist
Known forFounder and former executive chairman of Paramount Group, Ichikowitz Family Foundation
Websitehttp://www.ivorichikowitz.com/profile

Ivor Ichikowitz (born September 1966) is a South African businessman, founder and former executive chairman of Paramount Group.[1][2][3][4] He is also an executive chairman of TransAfrica Capital[5] and the Ichikowitz Family Foundation.[6]

Early life and education

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Ichikowitz was born in the mining town of Springs, South Africa, where he experienced first-hand the country's transition.[7] His father, Louis, imported Suzuki motorcycles, setting the foundation on which Ichikowitz would later build his own company.[7][8]

Ichikowitz studied drama at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.[9] During his time at university he became involved with protest theatre, before travelling throughout Africa and studying African literature.[9]

Career

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During the past twenty years, Ichikowitz has developed a number of businesses including defence and aerospace,[10] mining, oil and gas, agriculture and sustainable development, property, retail and tourism.[7]

Ichikowitz founded the Paramount Group in 1994, to operate in the global defence, internal security and peacekeeping industries.[7][11][12] The group operates in countries in the Middle East, South America and Africa, as well as in India.[13] It manufactures a range of armoured vehicles[14][15] and deals in surplus South African military equipment,[16] including fighter aircraft.[17]

In 2011 the Paramount Group launched the Advanced High Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft, due to take its first flight in 2013.[18][19][needs update]

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.[7]

Controversy

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Ichikowitz has been criticised for being a "close ally" of the ruling African National Congress (ANC),[20] and for providing President Jacob Zuma with an aircraft to use for an ANC fundraising and business trip to Lebanon and Kazakhstan.[21][22] Another flight by Zuma to the United States on an aircraft owned by Ichikowitz in 2011 caused considerable controversy when the cost (R6.3 million) was questioned in parliament.[23] The official presidential aircraft, operated by the South African Air Force, was not available for the flight.[24][25][26]

Ichikowitz has also been criticised for his involvement in the controversial Oil-for-Food Programme in the aftermath of the Gulf War.[27]

During September 2020 Ichikowitz and his company Paramount were listed in the FinCEN Files for various SAR (Suspicious Activety Reports) by the US Dept of Treasury for suspicious and corrupt transactions including possible money laundering exceeding $250m. [28]

Philanthropic interests

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Ichikowitz is the founder of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, established in 2010. The Foundation is actively involved in wildlife conservation of endangered species, especially the protection of Africa's rhinos and elephant population.[29][30][31][32]

Political views

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Regarding the South Africa v. Israel (Genocide Convention), Ichikowitz criticized the South African government for hypocrisy and double standards, recalling that South Africa failed to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during his visit to South Africa, despite Bashir being accused of genocide and wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), and did not condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, reluctant to comply with the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.[33]

Personal life

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Ichikowitz is married with two children.

References

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  1. ^ Minto, Rob (17 August 2012). "Corporate watch: Paramount Group takes off with new aircraft". Financial Times. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Paramount Chairman, Ivor Ichikowitz, calls for leadership in innovation". Defence Web. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  3. ^ "African Aerospace – Paramount Group inspires next generation of African engineers". Africanaerospace.aero. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  4. ^ The African Business Journal p.30-40. March 2013. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ "transafricacapital.com".
  6. ^ "SouthAfrica.info".
  7. ^ a b c d e Tilley, Les (September 2012). "The Can-Do Man of Action". Forbes. p. 54.
  8. ^ Duval Smith, Alex. "Arms and the Man". Monocle.
  9. ^ a b Kidd, Kenneth (4 December 2011). "South Africa's unlikely ally". Toronto Star. p. 9.
  10. ^ "Ivor Ichikowitz, the worldwide connections of the South African arms magnate". intelligenceonline.com. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  11. ^ Diana Magnay, CNN. "South Africa's booming defense industry". CNN. Retrieved 26 April 2013. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ "SA's defence industry ties growing apace". FM. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  13. ^ "Paramount Group enters into joint venture with International Golden Group". Strategic Defence Intelligence. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  14. ^ "The Marauder, part 1 (Series 17, Episode 1) – BBC Top Gear". Topgear.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  15. ^ "AAD 2012: Paramount launches new vehicle variant – News – Shephard". Shephardmedia.com. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  16. ^ "South Africa has sold R4.8 billion worth of weaponry this year". DefenceWeb. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  17. ^ "Paramount confirms Mirage F1AZs delivered to Congo-Brazzaville, eyes future customers". DefenceWeb. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  18. ^ "Corporate watch: Paramount Group takes off with new aircraft | beyondbrics". Blogs.ft.com. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  19. ^ Mantshantsha, Sikonathi (17 September 2012). "Paramount to Fly Africa's Latest Military Plane Next Year". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  20. ^ Stephan Hofstatter, Rob Rose And Mzilikazi Wa Afrika. "Arms and the man who would be king". Times LIVE. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  21. ^ "Ivor the invincible". City Press. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  22. ^ "Crony capitalists on JZ's coat-tails | News | National | Mail & Guardian". Mg.co.za. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  23. ^ "DA wants answers on Zuma's US trip – The Star". IOL.co.za. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  24. ^ "Eyewitness News: Zuma's R6.3m US flight". Ewn.co.za. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  25. ^ "Eyewitness News: More questions raised over Zuma's hired jet". Ewn.co.za. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  26. ^ "Zuma flies "Air Ichikowitz"". DefenceWeb. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  27. ^ "The arms dealer who flies Zuma". sareporter.com. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  28. ^ "FinCEN Files Ivor Ichikowitz". icig.org. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  29. ^ "ichikowitzfoundation.com".
  30. ^ "SA using aircraft to fight poaching". News24. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  31. ^ "New measures to combat rhino poaching – Crime & Courts | IOL News". IOL.co.za. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  32. ^ "Paramount donates aircraft to combat rhino poaching". DefenceWeb. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  33. ^ "Ivor Ichikowitz: South Africa's genocide case against Israel is rank hypocrisy". Chicago Tribune. 16 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
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