The Lord Verjee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal | |
| Assumed office 17 September 2013 Life Peerage | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1957 (age 66–67) Kampala, Uganda |
| Education | Haileybury College |
| Occupation | Businessman and philanthropist |
| Known for | Founded Domino's Pizza in the UK |
Rumi Verjee, Baron Verjee CBE (born 1957) is a British businessman, philanthropist and Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords.[1] Born in Uganda, Rumi moved to the UK as a child before studying at Downing College, Cambridge.
Rumi Verjee was born in Uganda and spent his early childhood in Kenya before coming to Britain. Many of the Verjee family assets were seized under Idi Amin's regime in the expulsion of Indians in Uganda in 1972.[2]
He attended Haileybury College, Hertford, and Downing College, Cambridge, where he gained a BA in law, before being called to the Bar from Middle Temple.[3]
Aged 27, Verjee approached Tom Monaghan at a conference in the US, and persuaded him to sell the franchising rights to Domino's Pizza in the UK.[2] Verjee launched the chain in Britain and it now employs over 20,000 people in the UK[4][5] Verjee sold his stake in the firm in 1989, and went on to oversee the development of the Brompton Hospital site. From 1993 until 1997, Verjee, alongside the singer Elton John, co-owned Watford F.C.[3] In 1995, he bought Thomas Goode, which holds two royal warrants and has over 160 years experience in iconic glassworks.[6][7] He sold Thomas Goode in 2018.
Verjee established a UK Charity called The Rumi Foundation in 2006.[8] The Foundation supports humanitarian work through education, innovation and knowledge building. Its work is principally focussed in the UK but has also supported projects in India, East Africa and South America.
In keeping with its aims, the Foundation has supported a number of initiatives including:
In 2009, Verjee was awarded a CBE for his charitable work.[18][19] In addition, the British Olympic Association appointed Verjee to its advisory board ahead of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.[6]
In 2015, it was announced that Verjee had become an adviser to MassChallenge, the world's biggest startup accelerator programme.[20]
In 2017, it was estimated that Verjee had given away a total of £33.9 million, which equated to 20.54% of his wealth.[21]
An active Liberal Democrat for several years, Verjee was appointed to the House of Lords in August 2013. His political activity includes support for the party's Leadership programme to improve representation from under-represented groups.[22][23]
On 17 September 2013 he was created a life peer taking the title Baron Verjee, of Portobello in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.[24][25]
