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British businessman and politician (born 1986) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Muhammad Ziauddin Yusuf (born c. 1986–87)[1] is a multi-millionaire British businessman and political campaigner who has been the Chairman of Reform UK, a right-wing populist political party, since 11 July 2024.[2]
Zia Yusuf | |
|---|---|
 Yusuf in June 2024 | |
| Chairman of Reform UK | |
| Assumed office 11 July 2024 | |
| Leader | Nigel Farage |
| Preceded by | Richard Tice |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Muhammad Ziauddin Yusuf 1986 or 1987 (age 37–38) Bellshill, Scotland |
| Political party | Reform UK |
| Other political affiliations | Conservative (until August 2024) |
| Alma mater | London School of Economics |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Muhammad Ziauddin Yusuf[3] was born in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland.[4][1] His parents migrated from Sri Lanka to the UK in the 1980s, and both worked for the NHS.[5] His father is a doctor and his mother is a nurse.[6]
Yusuf was educated at the fee-charging Hampton School in west London, where he won a 50% scholarship and met his future business partner, Alex Macdonald.[7][8] Yusuf earned a BSc in international relations from the London School of Economics in 2009.[9][10]
Yusuf worked for Goldman Sachs, rising to executive director.[7]
In 2014, Yusuf and Macdonald founded a luxury concierge company, Velocity Black, of which he was the CEO.[11][7] In 2023, they sold the company to Capital One for £233 million, and Yusuf made an estimated £31 million.[12][5][4]
Yusuf first met Nigel Farage at a cocktail party hosted by the Eurosceptic millionaire Stuart Wheeler.[13] After selling his business in 2023, he subsequently turned to politics and became the largest donor to Reform UK in the run-up to the 2024 general election.[11][14] Nigel Farage has suggested that Yusuf might one day lead Reform UK.[5] In June 2024, Yusuf spoke at the NEC in Birmingham.
On 11 July 2024, he succeeded Richard Tice as Chairman of Reform UK.[11]
Yusuf, despite a major donation to Reform UK in June 2024, was a paid-up member of the Conservative Party, until August 2024.[15]
Yusuf describes himself as a "British Muslim patriot".[12][4]
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