| Zia Yusuf | |
|---|---|
 Yusuf in June 2024 | |
| Chairman of Reform UK | |
| Incumbent | |
| 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 (born c. 1986–87) 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.
Early life
Muhammad Ziauddin Yusuf was born in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. His parents migrated from Sri Lanka to the UK in the 1980s, and both worked for the NHS. His father is a doctor and his mother is a nurse.
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. Yusuf earned a BSc in international relations from the London School of Economics in 2009.
Career
Yusuf worked for Goldman Sachs, rising to executive director.
In 2014, Yusuf and Macdonald founded a luxury concierge company, Velocity Black, of which he was the CEO. In 2023, they sold the company to Capital One for £233 million, and Yusuf made an estimated £31 million.
Politics
Yusuf first met Nigel Farage at a cocktail party hosted by the Eurosceptic millionaire Stuart Wheeler. 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. Nigel Farage has suggested that Yusuf might one day lead Reform UK.
In June 2024, Yusuf spoke at the NEC in Birmingham. On 11 July 2024, he succeeded Richard Tice as Chairman of Reform UK. Despite a major donation to Reform UK in June 2024, Yusuf was a paid-up member of the Conservative Party, until August 2024.
Personal life
Yusuf describes himself as a "British Muslim patriot".
References
- ^ "Zia Yusuf: the Muslim mega-donor who just became Reform's new chair". The Evening Standard. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- "Reform UK sets up 120 branches to target Labour-held seats". The Times. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
Zia Yusuf, Reform's new chairman, a multimillionaire entrepreneur ...
- Lynch, David (8 July 2024). "Reform UK received £600,000 in one week's donations, as Labour outstrips Tories". Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ Mulla, Imran (20 June 2024). "UK: Muslim millionaire becomes largest donor to Nigel Farage's party". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ Whannel, Kate. "Entrepreneur Yusuf replaces Tice as Reform chairman". BBC News. No. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- "A Conversation with Velocity Black's Zia Yusuf". Matter of Form. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ Shapland, Mark (2 August 2018). "Zia Yusuf at Velocity Black profile: the workaholic who smoothes the way for the rich and famous". Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- Rayner, Gordon (19 June 2024). "Muslim entrepreneur gives Reform biggest donation of campaign". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- "Zia Yusuf Co-Founder, Velocity Black". Expert Impact. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- "LSE Alumni". Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ Quinn, Ben (11 July 2024). "Nigel Farage stirs tensions in Reform UK as he ousts deputies". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ Rayner, Gordon (19 June 2024). "Muslim entrepreneur gives Reform biggest donation of campaign". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- Heale, James (4 September 2024). "The 'British Muslim patriot' on a mission to get Farage into No. 10". The Spectator. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- Holl-Allen, Genevieve (11 July 2024). "Reform announces donor Zia Yusaf as new party chairman". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- Courea, Eleni (8 August 2024). "Reform UK chair was member of Conservatives until last week". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byRichard Tice | Chairman of Reform UK 11 July 2024 – present |
Incumbent |