Makram Azar founded Full Circle Capital, a private investment and advisory group partnered with some of the world’s most prominent UHNW families, institutional and sovereign investors. The firm sources direct principal investments that offer attractive absolute returns on a risk-adjusted basis across the full spectrum of private equity - including venture and buy-outs - in the UK, continental Europe, North America and the Middle East, with an emphasis on cross-sector tech, media, telecom, consumer and impact & sustainability.
Makram was CEO of Golden Falcon Acquisition Corp, a SPAC listed on the NYSE focusing on the TMT and Fintech sectors in Europe, Israel, the Middle East or North America, until August 2023.
Makram was Chairman of Banking EMEA and Chairman of Barclays Bank PLC, MENA until January 2019 and a Senior Advisor to Barclays from January 2019 until January 2021.
Makram joined Barclays in September 2010 from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) where he was Managing Director and Head of MENA. Prior to joining KKR, Makram spent 18 years at Lehman Brothers, latterly as...Makram Azar founded Full Circle Capital, a private investment and advisory group partnered with some of the world’s most prominent UHNW families, institutional and sovereign investors. The firm sources direct principal investments that offer attractive absolute returns on a risk-adjusted basis across the full spectrum of private equity - including venture and buy-outs - in the UK, continental Europe, North America and the Middle East, with an emphasis on cross-sector tech, media, telecom, consumer and impact & sustainability.
Makram was CEO of Golden Falcon Acquisition Corp, a SPAC listed on the NYSE focusing on the TMT and Fintech sectors in Europe, Israel, the Middle East or North America, until August 2023.
Makram was Chairman of Banking EMEA and Chairman of Barclays Bank PLC, MENA until January 2019 and a Senior Advisor to Barclays from January 2019 until January 2021.
Makram joined Barclays in September 2010 from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) where he was Managing Director and Head of MENA. Prior to joining KKR, Makram spent 18 years at Lehman Brothers, latterly as Global Head of Sovereign Wealth Funds and Chairman of Media Investment Banking EMEA. Previously he led the Media, Consumer & Retail Investment Banking businesses of Lehman Brothers in EMEA.
During his 34-year career in the banking and investment industries, Makram has worked on over 225 deals across a broad geographic and sector spectrum, including numerous multi-billion dollar deals in telecoms, media, consumer, retail, hospitality, real estate and natural resources, for a broad range of clients across multinational corporates, sovereign wealth funds and governments.
Makram holds a Master’s degree in Management and Finance from École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) in Paris and a BA in Applied Economics from the University Paris-IX Dauphine. Makram supports numerous philanthropic initiatives across several causes and geographies in developed and developing countries.READ MOREVIEW LESS
Full Circle Capital provides financial and strategic advice to key partners and select clients within its network, leveraging its global reach and experience across a broad range of sectors and geographies. The FCC team is comprised of highly skilled investment professionals with cumulative experience of over 55 years across more than 250 transactions exceeding $450 billion in value.
Golden Falcon Acquisition Corporation
Chief Executive Officer
Dec 2020
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Sep 2023
London, UK
Golden Falcon Acquisition Corp. (GFX.U) was a Special Purpose Acquisition Company founded by Makram Azar and Scott Freidheim to pursue a business combination with companies in the TMT and FinTech sectors headquartered in Europe, Israel, the Middle East, or North America.
Barclays PLC is a global investment bank and financial services company, headquartered in London. Apart from investment banking, Barclays is organised into four core businesses: personal banking, corporate banking, wealth management, and investment management.
Chairman of Banking, EMEA & Chairman of Barclays PLC MENA
Sep 2010
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Dec 2018
Barclays PLC is a British multinational investment bank and financial services company, headquartered in London. Apart from investment banking, Barclays is organised into four core businesses: personal banking, corporate banking, wealth management, and investment management.
KKR & Co. Inc. is an American global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit and, through its strategic partners, hedge funds.
Lehman Brothers
Managing Director, Head of Sovereign Wealth Funds & Chairman of Media Investment Banking
Aug 1999
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Sep 2008
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was a global financial services firm. Lehman was the fourth-largest investment bank in the United States
Established in 1881, HEC Paris is a selective international business school that offers programmes such as MSc, MBA and EMBA, as well as a Master in Management programme, PhD and executive education programmes.
HEC House UK officially opened its doors in March 2023. In addition to being home to the HEC UK Office team, this is also a hub for the entire HEC community to connect, exchange ideas, and collaborate on new projects.
Founded in 2009, Lebanese International Finance Executives (LIFE) is a sharing network platform that motivates and inspires Lebanese professionals all around the world to look after one another and be the driving force for positive change.
Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) provides seriously ill children from across the UK with life-saving treatments. The charity helps fund research, medical equipment, support projects and accommodation.
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice is a community-based hospice service providing support for children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families in North and Central London and Hertsmere.
Founded in 1989, London's Air Ambulance Charity supports and manages the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. The non-profit organisation is devoted to responding to major injury emergencies in and around London.
The Serpentine offers innovative ways for all ages to engage with modern and contemporary art, architecture, design and education. Serpentine Education and Projects aims to redefine the role of the arts during periods of transition and social change. Connecting communities and artists to generate responses to pressing social issues.
Quartz's field guide to IPOs contains everything you need to know about special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), investors, direct listings, retailers and more.
This French article sheds light on European SPACs, including Golden Falcon Acquisition Corporation which raised $345 million in its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.
In an interview with Matei Rosca, Finance Reporter for Politico, Makram comments on the UK’s efforts in developing its market for Special Purpose Acquisition Companies.
In this interview with CNBC, Makram discusses his hopes for European stock exchanges to attract more SPACs in order to avoid missing out on high-growth tech listings.
Makram's latest venture, special purpose acquisition company Golden Falcon Acquisition Corp, which launched in 2020, increases its value to $300 million.
Svante Inc. announce the closing of a $75-million Series D equity transaction, the world's biggest private investment in point source carbon capture yet.
