Farhad Moshiri

Ardavan Farhad Moshiri holds a career path defined by professional financial services, steel industry leadership, and significant investment stakes in English Premier League football clubs. Born in 1955 in the Imperial State of Iran, he eventually established himself as a prominent international business figure, moving from audit management into the executive oversight of large-scale corporate holdings.

Professional Foundations

Moshiri moved from Iran shortly before the 1979 revolution. His academic preparation took place at University College London, where he studied economics and statistics. He further refined his qualifications by becoming a chartered certified accountant. His early career involved tenures at various professional services firms, specifically Ernst & Young from 1979 to 1985, followed by Pannell Kerr Forster between 1985 and 1987. He concluded this period of his career at Deloitte & Touche, serving in their audit division as a senior manager until 1992.

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Corporate Leadership

The business trajectory of Moshiri transitioned toward industrial operations and investment management. Between 1993 and 2006, he served as the executive director of GNE Group plc. From 2000 to 2008, he held the position of chief executive officer at Europe Steel Limited. In 2006, he assumed the role of chairman at Metalloinvest. This role preceded his appointment as the chairman of USM Holdings, a position he held until his resignation on 2 March 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Football Club Investments

Moshiri’s entry into professional sports ownership began with a partnership with Alisher Usmanov through Red & White Holdings. In August 2007, the entity acquired a 14.65% stake in Arsenal, increasing that figure to at least 29.72% by June 2012. In February 2016, Moshiri divested his Arsenal interest to focus on Everton. He officially purchased a 49.9% stake in Everton on 27 February 2016, a transaction ratified by the Premier League two weeks later. By January 2022, his shareholding in Everton reached 94%. He agreed to sell his shares to Dan Friedkin, CEO of The Friedkin Group, in September 2024, with the deal finalizing on 19 December 2024.