User:Richardpell79/sandbox

Rafael Serrano Quevedo (born 9th August 1966) is a successful international Financier and Entrepreneur. He is currently the Chief Executive of PRIME Investors Capital, the company behind the world-renowned BVLGARI Hotel and Residences in Knightsbridge, London, and also the successful purchase of Admiralty Arch, one of the most iconic landmarks in Great Britain.

In November 2012, Rafael was named in the top thirty most influential property investors in London, alongside the Duke of Westminster and Emir of Qatar, ranking within the top 1000 people across the UK capital.

Originally from Madrid, Spain he now resides with his family in London, England.

Admiralty Arch
Rafael led a formal bidding process on behalf of a UK based conglomerate, to purchase the 125 year lease of Admiralty Arch, the Grade I listed entrance to the Mall, from the UK Government in October 2012.

Rafael's vehicle, London based Prime Investors Capital was selected following a competitive bid process which lasted over a year. Investors included sovereign wealth funds from Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

Admiralty Arch is the first major building to be sold by the Government, part of austerity measures to rationalise their property portfolio and raise funds for the Exchequer.

Originally designed by Sir Aston Webb and built by John Mowlen & Co in 1912 in memory of Queen Victoria, the building has been the recent home of the Cabinet Office, whilst also being the address of the First Sea Lord and high ranking naval officers. In its former life, many regal occasions have been marked through the passing of the magnificent arches that adjoin Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.

Rafael and his team will restore the iconic building into a world-class hotel, preserving its world class status and celebrating Sir Aston Webb's vision. In recognition of its grandeur, Rafael is leading a team of experts to transform the majestic gatehouse into a luxury five star hotel. They include architect Michael Blair who undertook the renovation of Claridge's, The Connaught and The Ritz; Heritage expert, Dr Christopher Miele, whose portfolio includes Westminster Abbey, The V&A, The British Museum and The Ritz, and construction partner Sir Robert McAlpine, who have over 150 years' experience working with listed buildings in Central London.

Career
JP Morgan

Starting his career in 1991 at J.P Morgan (http://www.jpmorgan.com) as an Investment Banker in Capital Markets and International Fund Management, Rafael spent three years in London before moving to the headquarters on Wall Street, New York.

Focus Investment Group

On his return to the UK in 2002, he became the Managing Director of Focus Investment Group, Europe, an investment management company. For the last 18 years the company has forged relationships with top performing single strategy funds, including amongst others the highly acclaimed John Paulson (Paulson and Co) and Landsdowne Partners Ltd (http://www.lansdownepartners.com). Today the company is responsible for a diverse international portfolio of assets worth hundreds of millions US dollars.

Prime Investors Capital (PIC)

In 2009, Rafael became the Founder and CEO of Prime Investors Capital (PIC) Limited (http://www.primeinvestors.com), an investment management company dedicated to producing superior returns by investing, advising and financing investments in Finance, Energy and Property. The group works only for a diversified client base that includes some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated investors (both private and public).

Working alongside many respected names in business, his successes have been widely reported in the international media. Namely, the investment in London’s first and only six star hotel – the new BVLGARI Hotel and Residences (http://www.bvlgarihotels.com) in Knightsbridge. Prime Investors Capital Limited has worked exclusively on its origination, funding and development. According to a recent article featured on the Overseas Property Professional website, investing in rental properties in London was a very insightful strategic decision.

A further business accolade for Rafael was the world record sale of an apartment within the BVLGARI development. In 2008 personally Rafael sold a penthouse for over $150 million, the most expensive single residential real estate transaction in the world at the time ahead of the One Hyde Park apartments opposite the hotel (http://www.onehydepark.com). The sale subsequently paid for most of the construction of the hotel and the remaining residences. Under Rafael’s supervision, property in the adjacent building, the Knightsbridge apartments (http://www.theknightsbridge.com), was also purchased with the objective of linking and servicing the two luxury developments.

In October 2012, Prime Investors Capital, led by Rafael on behalf of a UK based team of 20 British companies, secured a high profile bid to purchase a 125 year lease of the world renowned, Admiralty Arch, from the UK Government. Having successfully fended off competition from the Middle East and other capital investors from across the world, Rafael's vision is to generate long-term value through a £200 million renovation of the Grade I listed building to create one of London's finest hotels. Rafael has publically committed to preserving its iconic status and historic design to sustain its value for future generations.

In 2012, Rafael was named in the top 1000 most influential Londoners by the Evening Standard newspaper, and of those ranked within the top 30 property developers alongside the Duke of Westminster and Emir of Qatar.

In the last four years, Rafael has exploited the opportunities presented through Prime Investors Capital by diversifying the company into other market sectors: private equity and sports/lifestyle investments. Rafael was also the main founder and investment advisor for Prime Retail Ltd (with premium retail space in Knightsbridge, London), and Prime Hotels Ltd (which has a management agreement with BVLGARI Hotels and Residences/Ritz Carlton (http://www.ritzcarlton.com).

Within Private Equity, Rafael is also involved with international sports management through direct investment in Dara Sports International (http://www.darasports.com), and in the hotel sector by investing in hotel online company, By Hours (http://www.byhours.com).

Awards
In 2010 Prime Development, under Rafael's supervision, was recognised at the International Property Awards; winning the five awards that the 'Prime Knightsbridge' was nominated for, including Best Hotel and Best Development, and being highly commended for Best Apartment and Best Interior Design Residential and Commercial.

Registrations
Financial Services Authority (FSA), Registered Securities and Futures Representative, UK in 1993 and 2003. Member of the Advisory Committee at AIMA (Alternative Investment Management Association) in London 2005/6.

Education, Training and Development
Rafael has a Postgraduate Certificate in Finance and Investment Portfolio from London Business School of Economics (http://www.lse.ac.uk), a Diploma in Business and Management from Oxford University and a Master of Arts with Honours from University of Madrid’s Faculty of Law.

Rafael promotes opportunities to students, scholars and apprentices through arrangements with universities like the London School of Economics in London, Bocconi University School of Economics in Milan (http://www.unibocconi.eu) and IESE in Barcelona (www.IESE.edu). He also supports with the LAUREUS Sport for Good Foundation (http://www.laureus.com/foundation).

Rafael has spoken at several international conferences from finance hedge fund work in London, New York and Madrid through to property.

Philanthropy
Rafael is closely involved in several philanthropic causes, both professionally and privately. He supports a number of local and international charities. He was the Vice-Chairman of the British Red Cross Ball Committee from 2005 to 2008 and currently supports Save the Children (http://www.savethechildren.org), Laureus Sports for good foundation (http://www.laureus.com/foundation) British Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org.uk), Women for Women (http://www.womenforwomen.org), The Royal Park Foundation (http://www.supporttheroyalparks.org) and Thames Reach, a London charity helping homeless and vulnerable people (http://www.thamesreach.org.uk).

Other Activities
Rafael is highly committed to promoting the Arts. He supports and allocates funds to help new artists. He is also a key supporter of the Tate Gallery (http://www.tate.org.uk) in London.

Rafael collaborates with the following organisations: The Club of Madrid (http://www.clubmadrid.org) and the Group of 100 (http://www.g100.com), he is also a fan and supports the Oxford Martin School in association with Oxford University (http://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/).