Adrian Alexander

About Adrian Alexander

Adrian Alexander of New York, born in Bucharest, Romania, in 1946, migrated to the United States in 1964 after completing his high school education. Holding U.S. and Italian citizenship, he embarked on this new chapter alongside his family. Shortly after their arrival, however, he faced the loss of his father, thrusting him into the role of primary provider for himself and his mother.

Despite these challenges, he pursued higher education with remarkable determination. He graduated from NYU Engineering School in 1970 with a Master’s in Electrical Engineering and continued his studies at Harvard Business School, earning an MBA in 1972. His resilience during these years helped him excel academically and prepared him to handle the adversities and responsibilities shaping his professional journey.

After completing his education, he joined Morgan Stanley & Co., where he worked in investment banking for three years before transitioning to Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb as a Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions. His career then took an international turn in 1978 when he moved to Milan, Italy, to work with Egon Zehnder, a global executive search firm, until 1983. This period began a lifelong connection with Italy, where he spent much of his time over the following decades.

Returning to the U.S. in 1983, he channeled his entrepreneurial spirit into various ventures. 1980, he took over Minneapolis Sport, a struggling sporting goods store franchise. He restructured the business and sold it to its franchisees, earning recognition for his strategic leadership. His knack for transformative leadership continued at Polly Peck International from 1987 to 1990, where, as Vice President of Acquisitions, he spearheaded the acquisition of Del Monte Fresh Fruit Company in a deal worth $875 million.

He continued to influence diverse sectors throughout the 1990s and into the new millennium. From 1991 to 1994, he advised a regional corporate stationer that grew into a $2 billion multinational office products distributor. He then led a boutique investment bank from 1995 to 1996, securing venture capital for emerging healthcare companies. In 1996, he founded the Phoenix Real Estate Fund in New York, acquiring over 200 properties and successfully exiting in 1999.

His ventures into the technology and health sectors included forming Technology Seed Capital in 2000 and Health Settlement, LLC in 2010, which focused on lending for personal injury cases. His operational skills and ability to raise funds have consistently resulted in successful outcomes across various industries.

On a personal note, Adrian Alexander is celebrating his 29th wedding anniversary with his wife, Susi, in July 2025. They have two children: a son who recently turned 25 and a daughter who is 21. Beyond finance, he enjoys chess and poker, where his strategic thinking and patience reflect the same skills that have propelled his professional success.