Biography of Adrian Alexander of New York

Adrian Alexander of New York, born in 1946 in Bucharest, Romania, holds dual citizenship in the U S and Italy In 1964, after completing high school, he moved from Romania to the United States with his family Sadly, just six months after their arrival, his father passed away, leaving him to support both his mother and himself. Despite these challenges, he enrolled at NYU Engineering School, graduating in 1970 with a Master’s in Electrical Engineering He then pursued further education at Harvard Business School, earning an MBA in 1972

Despite facing personal adversities, his determination saw him excel academically at NYU and Harvard Business School while supporting his widowed mother in their new country This resilience propelled him through his education and paved the way for his future successes.

Career

From 1972 to 1978, Alexander embarked on his professional journey in investment banking He started at Morgan Stanley & Co , recruited directly from Harvard, where he worked for three years before joining Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb as Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions

Off to Italy

His career took an international turn when he moved to Milan, Italy, in 1978, working with the executive search firm Egon Zehnder His role involved recruiting executives within Italy and globally for multinational clients, a testament to his robust network and understanding of global markets. Over the years, he has spent a significant portion of his time in Italy, averaging about one-third over the last 50 years

Back in the U.S.

In 1980, Alexander took on a new challenge by acquiring Minneapolis Sport, a chain of struggling sporting goods stores. He successfully restructured the company and sold it to over 50 franchisees, gaining modest positive publicity for his efforts

1987-1990 Polly Peck Acquisition of Del Monte Fresh Fruit Company

In 1987, Alexander’s career saw him join Polly Peck International, Plc, as Vice President of Acquisitions There, he was instrumental in establishing the U S presence of the $3 billion UK-based company by leading multiple acquisitions in the fresh fruits and vegetables sector, culminating in the significant $875 million purchase of Del Monte Fresh Fruit Company.

He also spearheaded the company’s expansion into Eastern Europe during this time.

1995-1996 EC/American

In the mid-90s, Alexander was a principal at a boutique investment bank specializing in financing emerging healthcare companies He was pivotal in securing venture capital investments for several firms, including Trinity Biotech and CTSO.

1996-1999 Phoenix Real Estate Fund

In 1996, he founded the Phoenix Real Estate Fund in New York, acquiring over 200 rent-controlled and rent-stabilized apartments worth approximately $20 million in net assets. He successfully sold the fund at the end of 1999

Technology Seed Capital

In 2000, Alexander established Technology Seed Capital, an early-stage venture capital fund. Over the next three years, he raised significant funding to support startups and early-stage businesses, helping them evolve from business concepts into operational entities

2004-2006 Limores-Online Platform for Ground Transportation

Alexander was a partner at Limores.net, a pioneering online platform for ground transportation worldwide, which preceded the launch of Uber and Lyft The platform ran until 2006 when it was sold after financial difficulties.

2006-2014 AMI, Llc

2006, he took over an ailing imaging center in Astoria, New York After revitalizing the business, he successfully sold it in 2014

2010-2021 Health Settlement, LLC

Alexander founded Health Settlement, LLC, a lender for personal injury cases. Initially collaborating with local lawyers and doctors, he expanded the business in 2014 to become a co-lender with U.S. Claims, Blackstone's leading personal injury company.

On the Personal Side

Adrian Alexander of New York is set to celebrate his 29th wedding anniversary with his wife, Susi, in July 2025 His son recently turned 25, and his daughter just turned 21 Beyond his professional life, he enjoys chess and poker, games requiring skill, strategic planning, and adaptability qualities he has exemplified throughout his career and personal life