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			{{short description\|British-Pakistani entrepreneur and television personality (born 1960)}}
	{{BLP sources\|date=June 2013}}
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2021}}
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\|name = James Caan		\| name = James Caan
			\| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals\|country=GBR\|CBE}}
	\|image = James Caan (entrepreneur).jpg
			\| image = James Caan (entrepreneur).jpg
	\|image_size =
	\|~~caption~~ =		\| image_size =
			\| caption = James Caan in 2008
	\|birth_name = Nazim Khan<ref name="dailymail.co.uk">James Caan, ''Daily Mail'', 20 September 2008, </ref><ref>Although some sources erroneously give "Nazim Khant" - e.g. '']'', 30 August 2009, </ref><br>]: جيمس خان
			\| birth_name = Nazim Khan<ref name="guardianjun2013">{{cite web\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/jun/06/james-caan-dragons-den-business\|title=James Caan: 'No parent is not going to help their children'\|first=Rupert\|last=Neate\|work=]\|date=6 June 2013\|access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref><br>]: ناظم خان
	\|birth_date = {{birth date and age\|1960\|12\|28\|df=y}}
			\| birth_date = {{Birth date and age\|1960\|12\|28\|df=y}}
	\|birth_place = ], ], Pakistan
	\|~~residence~~ = ], ~~United Kingdom~~		\| birth_place = ], Pakistan
	\|nationality = Pakistani-British		\| nationality = Pakistani-British
			\| other_names =
	\|ethnicity = ]
			\| known_for = '']''
	\|other_names =
			\| occupation = Entrepreneur
	\|known_for = ], ], '']''
			\| spouse(s) =
	\|occupation = Entrepreneur
			\| children = 5
	\|networth = £70 million<ref>'']'', 19 November 2008, </ref>
	\|~~spouse~~ = ~~Aisha~~ ~~Caan~~		\| parents =
	\|~~children~~ = 2		\| relations =
	\|~~parents~~ =		\| signature =
			\| website = {{Official URL}}
	\|relations =
	\|signature =
	\|website =
	}}		}}

	'''James Caan''' (born '''Nazim Khan''', 28 December 1960) is a ] ] and television personality.		'''James Caan''' {{postnominals\|country=GBR\|size=100%\|CBE}} (born '''Nazim Khan'''; 28 December 1960) is a ] entrepreneur and television personality.

			He was an investor on the BBC television programme '']'', in which he was one of the Dragons from 2007 to 2010.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/about/history.shtml\|title=History of the Den\|work=]}}</ref> More recently, he has hosted ''The Business Class'' on ], a series which sees him joined by experts from a cross-section of industries to analyse and advise innovative UK ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.cnbc.com/id/49037243\|title=The Business Class\|publisher=]}}</ref> He is also Chairman of the UK Government's ].
	He is best known as a former investor on the BBC television program '']'', in which he was one of the Dragons from 2007 to 2010.

	Caan ~~initially achieved success in the recruitment industry. He~~ founded the recruitment company Alexander Mann ~~Group~~ in 1985, which he sold in 2002. In 1993 ~~Caan~~ co-founded the executive head-hunting firm Humana International, ~~selling~~ his stake in 1999. He is also the founder and ~~currently~~ CEO of the UK-based private equity firm ].		Caan founded the recruitment company Alexander Mann in 1985, which he sold in 2002. In 1993, he co-founded the executive head-hunting firm Humana International, and sold his stake in 1999. He is also the founder and CEO of the UK-based private equity firm ].

	Caan has been involved in a number of charitable activities and founded the James Caan Foundation in 2006. Caan did not attend university as an undergraduate, but graduated from the ] at ] in 2003.

	==Early life and education==		==Early life and education==
			Born in ], ], Caan's family emigrated to the United Kingdom when he was two years old. Caan's father had intended for his son to join the family business but Caan left home at 16, which led to Caan's estrangement from his father for many years.<ref name=mirror13216>{{cite news\|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/dragons-den-entrepreneur-james-caan-7367074\|title=Dragons' Den entrepreneur James Caan splits with wife after 32-year marriage\|work=]\|date=13 February 2016\|author1=Matthew Drake\|author2=Janine Yaqoob\|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref> He had no university education and in 2003, attended the Advanced Management Program at ].<ref name="harvard">{{cite news\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/3161421/How-money-stopped-mattering-for-Dragons-Den-mogul-James-Caan.html\|title=How money stopped mattering for Dragons' Den mogul James Caan\|author=Celia Walden\|date=8 October 2008}}</ref> He had various jobs and worked for several recruitment companies; Caan started his own recruitment company in the early 1980s. His first office, which was tiny, was in ],<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.startups.co.uk/james-caan.html\|title=James Caan The Dragons' Den panellist on gap years, what makes the ideal investment and his unwavering obsession with windows\|publisher=]\|date=17 April 2008\|access-date=1 December 2012}}</ref> but he chose the prestigious address to add credibility to his business.<ref name="telegraphjun13">{{cite web\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/fameandfortune/10106803/James-Caan-To-succeed-you-have-to-be-ready-to-lose.html\|title=James Caan: 'To succeed, you have to be ready to lose' \|work=] \|first=Ewing \|last=Sarah\|date=9 June 2013\|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref>
	Born in ], ], Pakistan, Caan's family emigrated to the United Kingdom when he was two years old. His father subsequently established a clothing company in ], East London. Caan's father had intended him to join the family business once his formal education was completed, but Caan decided he wanted to find his own way in the world. At 16, before he had begun his ], he left home and moved to a flat in ]. This led to Caan's being estranged from his father for many years.

	Other than a Saturday job at Mr Buyright, Caan had no formal experience of work and so went to a recruitment agency to find some. His first job was door to door sales, which he found tiring. At this point, he knew he wanted to work in an office. He went back to the recruitment agency and asked for something that was indoors and saw a job working for ]. He worked for several recruitment companies and started a fashion boutique with his wife before deciding he wanted to start his own company.<ref>{{cite book \| title=The real deal: my story from Brick Lane to Dragons' Den \| publisher=] \| author=Caan, James \| year=2008 \| isbn=9781905264452 \| url=http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=DaQnAQAAMAAJ&q=isbn:9781905264452&dq=isbn:9781905264452&hl=en&sa=X&ei=m1a5UKOPFcHImQWnkYCwAQ&redir_esc=y}}</ref>

	Caan started his own recruitment company in the early 1980s. His first office was in ] but was so small that the door could not be fully opened as it was blocked by his desk.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.startups.co.uk/james-caan.html \| title=James Caan The Dragons’ Den panellist on gap years, what makes the ideal investment and his unwavering obsession with windows \| publisher=] \| date=17 April 2008 \| accessdate=1 December 2012}}</ref> He purposely chose the prestigious address to convey an image that the company was bigger than it actually was to attract clients. As he had no meeting rooms, client meetings would often take place in coffee shops, and he would tell them that they were so busy that all the rooms were full. At this time he also changed his name from Nazim Khan to James Caan after seeing a film by the ] and an alternative way to spell “Khan”; this also helped him in his recruitment company, as the name was more easily recognisable.

	Caan did not excel at school and did not attend university as an undergraduate, but graduated from the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School in 2003, as prestigious a degree as his office in Pall Mall in the 80's.

	==Career==		==Career==

	===Business===		===Business===
			Caan founded the recruitment company Alexander Mann in 1987. In 1993, he co-founded the executive headhunting firm Humana International with Doug Bugie, eventually growing the business to over 147 offices in 30 countries. In the same year, Caan launched the trade magazine ''Recruitment International'', which he sold in 2000. In 1996, Caan co-founded the ] company AMS with Rosaleen Blair. Caan subsequently sold his interests in AMS in 2002. In 1999, Caan sold Humana International to CDI International, a New York listed company. Later that year, Caan sold a minority stake in Alexander Mann Group to private equity firm ].{{citation needed\|date=June 2021}}

			In 2002, Caan sold his interests in Alexander Mann, which had a turnover of around £130 million by that time. In 2004, Caan established the London-based private equity firm ], an investment group that specialises in Seed Capital and Growth Capital for recruitment businesses.<ref name=bip>{{cite web\|url=http://www.thebiponline.co.uk/bip/james-caan-awarded-chairman-of-the-year-at-the-2013/\|title=James Caan awarded Chairman of the Year at the 2013…\|date=19 September 2013}}</ref> Founded in 2013,<ref>{{Cite magazine \|url=https://www.bmmagazine.co.uk/in-business/james-caan-cbes-investment-group-recruitment-entrepreneur-celebrates-fifth-birthday/\|title=James Caan CBE's investment group, Recruitment Entrepreneur celebrates fifth birthday \|date=21 November 2018 \|magazine=Business Matters \|access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref> Recruitment Entrepreneur is the Seed Capital arm of Hamilton Bradshaw, which provides seed funding and support for ambitious, experienced recruitment professionals to start or scale their own recruitment ventures.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.businesscloud.co.uk/news/james-caan-i-thought-linkedin-would-ruin-my-business\|title=James Caan: I thought LinkedIn would ruin my business\|website=BusinessCloud.co.uk\|date=22 June 2018\|access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref>
	He founded the recruitment company Alexander Mann in 1987. In 1993 Caan co-founded the executive headhunting firm Humana International with Doug Bugie, eventually growing the business to over 147 offices in 30 countries. In the same year Caan launched the trade magazine ''Recruitment International'', which he later sold in 2000. In 1996 Caan co-founded the business process outsourcing company AMS with Rosaleen Blair. Caan subsequently sold his interests in AMS in 2002. Caan sold Humana International to CDI International, a New York listed company, in 1999. Later in that year Caan sold a minority stake in Alexander Mann Group to private equity firm ].

			In 2009, Caan launched HBRIDA, with his then business partner Helen Reynolds (ex ACEO of the REC). HBRIDA worked with SME recruitment agencies to help them achieve growth and led them to an exit. Reynolds performed a management buyout of the business in March 2012.
	In 2002 Caan sold his interests in Alexander Mann, which by that time had a turnover of around £130m. In 2004 Caan established the London-based private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw. In the same year he invested in the managed office provider Avanta, which he sold three years later to the private equity company Kenmore. In 2007 Hamilton Bradshaw acquired the recruitment specialist Eden Brown and Caan sold his remaining interest in Alexander Mann Group to ] in a management buy-out lead by Rosaleen Blair.
			In 2010, Caan launched The Entrepreneurs Business Academy and became a non–Executive Director of ]. In 2011, Caan founded Hamilton Bradshaw Venture Partners. In 2012/13, Caan launched Hamilton Bradshaw Real Estate (HBRE) to invest in "disruptive property start-ups".<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.primeresi.com/looking-for-the-next-rightmove-primeresi-meets-faisal-butt/14342/\|title=Looking for the next Rightmove: PrimeResi meets Faisal Butt, property's venture capitalist with the Caan-do attitude\|publisher=PrimeResi\|date=15 April 2013\|author=Matt Crofton}}</ref> In June 2013, Caan gave an interview in which he criticised parents who aid their children with finding jobs and don't let them 'stand on their own two feet', he was accused of hypocrisy when it emerged that he had employed his daughter in one of his companies.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/jun/04/james-caan-daughters-nepotism\|title=James Caan: social mobility tsar denies nepotism but employs his daughter\|newspaper=]\|date=5 June 2013\|author=Peter Walker\|access-date=6 June 2013}}</ref> Caan responded that his daughter's recruitment process had been "rigorous".<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22716241\|title=TV experts turned tsars: How did they do?\|work=]\|date=6 June 2013\|author=Brian Wheeler}}</ref> However, in an interview with '']'' Caan admitted, "I would find it very difficult not to help my child".<ref>{{cite news\| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/was-social-mobility-tsar-and-former-dragons-den-star-james-caan-right-to-give-his-kids-a-helping-8650320.html\|title=Was social mobility tsar and former Dragons' Den star James Caan right to give his kids a helping hand?\|newspaper=]\|date=7 June 2013\|author=Chloe Hamilton}}</ref>

			Caan was recognised in the 2015 New Year Honours List,<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/11318429/New-Year-Honours-Brent-Hoberman-and-James-Caan-awarded-CBEs.html\|title=New Year Honours: Brent Hoberman and James Caan awarded CBEs\|last=Quinn\|first=James\|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph\|date=30 December 2014\|access-date=13 February 2019\|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to entrepreneurship and charitable services through the James Caan Foundation.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/dec/30/-sp-new-years-honours-2015-full-list\|title=New year honours 2015: the full list\|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->\|date=30 December 2014\|work=The Guardian\|access-date=13 February 2019\|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
	In 2010 Caan launched The Entrepreneurs Business Academy and became a non–Executive Director of McCaan London. In 2011 Caan founded Hamilton Bradshaw Venture Partners.

	===Television===		===Television===
			In 2007, Caan joined the panel of ''Dragons' Den'' judges for the show's fifth series. ] replaced James Caan on Dragons Den in 2012.

			In 2012, CNBC approached him to host The Business Class, a series which sees him joined by experts from a cross-section of industries, looking at the challenges and opportunities UK SMEs face. Each 30-minute episode featured an innovative business seeking guidance to help it grow in the marketplace. The series' popularity saw it recommissioned for a second series in October 2013.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2013/10/03/james-caan-to-host-business-series-on-cnbc-to-help-smes.html\|title=James Caan To Host Business Series on CNBC To Help SMEs\|publisher=CNBC\|date=3 October 2013}}</ref>
	In 2007 Caan joined the panel of ] judges for the fifth series of the show. ] replaced James Caan on Dragons Den in 2012.

			===Social media===
	Through his role on Dragons’ Den, Caan worked with ] for many years. In 2008, Children in Need filmed a ‘Youth Dragons Den’. ‘Look for Loneliness’ was his initiative to help reduce bullying and get children to understand what it is like to feel isolated. Caan went on to work with Children in Need in 2009, helping to renovate a Community Centre for young people to visit before and after school.
			In 2011, James Caan launched his mobile app 'James Caan Business Secrets'. Within weeks of launching the app rose to Number 1 in the iTunes chart and later became the fastest downloaded Business app of the year. It has regularly been ranked as a top business app by various publications, it has received over 250,000 downloads and has more than 1.5 million sessions.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.recruitment-international.co.uk/news/james-caan-mentors-1m-on-linkedin-23076.htm\|title=James Caan mentors 1m on LinkedIn\|publisher=]\|date=10 June 2014\|access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref>

			===Author===
	In 2008, in aid of ], Caan teamed up with the other presenters of Dragons Den for a special edition of the programme titled ‘Victorians Dragons’ Den’. In December 2009 Caan joined the ] team on a four-day trip to Kenya.
			Caan has written several books on business and his life. The first book covered his life story: ''The Real Deal – My Story from Brick Lane to Dragons' Den'' (2008). Following publications focused on business and entrepreneurship: ''Get the Job You Really Want'', ''Start Your Business in 7 Days'', and ''Get the Life You Really Want''.{{citation needed\|date=June 2021}}

	===Public sector===		==Public sector==
			Caan has been involved with the British Government and their agencies on a number of initiatives related to UK business for many years. These include The Government Entrepreneur's Forum<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/11/15/uk-government-creates-entrepreneurs-forum-advisory-board-which-ones-are-just-celebrities/\|title=UK government creates Entrepreneurs' Forum advisory board. Which ones are just celebrities?\|work=]\|date=15 November 2010\|author=Mike Butcher\|access-date=17 June 2013}}</ref> and The ] where he worked on the relief effort after the ].

			===The Start Up Loans Company===
	Caan has been involved with the British Government and their agencies on a number of initiatives related to UK business for many years. These include The Government Entrepreneur’s Forum <ref>{{cite web \| url=http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/15/uk-government-creates-entrepreneurs-forum-advisory-board-which-ones-are-just-celebrities/ \| title=UK government creates Entrepreneurs' Forum advisory board. \| publisher=Tech Crunch \| accessdate=17 June 2013}}</ref>and The ] where he worked on the relief effort after the ].
			In May 2012, Caan was approached by the government to become Chairman of the '']'' initiative. The aim is to support young people with funding and mentoring to start up new businesses in the UK. Over £112 million of loans were to be offered to 18- to 30-year-olds over 3 years. James and his board of entrepreneur ambassadors head up the government scheme, providing loans of around £2,500 to the 18- to 30-year-olds to start their businesses.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20892658\|title=Start-up loans scheme expanded\|work=BBC News\|date=3 January 2013\|access-date=15 February 2013}}</ref>

	In May 2012, Caan was approached by the government to become Chairman of the Start-Up Loans initiative. The aim is to support young people with funding and mentoring to start up new businesses in the UK. Over £112 million of loans will be offered to 18-30 year olds over a 3 year period. James and his board of entrepreneur ambassadors head up the government scheme, providing loans of around £2,500 to the 18 - 30 year olds to start their own businesses. <ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20892658 \| title=Start-up loans scheme expanded \| publisher=] \| date=3 January 2013 \| accessdate=15 February 2013}}</ref>

	In the first six months, over 1000 new businesses were started, leading Caan to comment: "I am thrilled to see the momentum we have gained and that hundreds of young people every week look to start their own business." <ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.startups.co.uk/start-up-loans-issues-1-000th-loan-to-24-year-old-entrepreneur.html \| title=Start-Up Loans issues 1,000th loan to 24-year-old entrepreneur \| publisher=] \| date=12 February 2013 \| accessdate=15 February 2013}}</ref>

	==Charitable activities==		==Charitable activities==

	===The James Caan Foundation===		===The James Caan Foundation===
	Caan founded the James Caan Foundation (JCF) in 2006 after he took a ~~‘gap~~ ~~year’~~ to visit his homeland of Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/business/10094374.print/ \| title=James Caan: 'If anyone wasn’t going to make it then I should have topped that list!' \| publisher=Asian Image \| accessdate=17 June 2013}}</ref> The JCF supports charities in the UK and seeks to promote greater awareness of issues facing the developing world, ~~with~~ ~~a primary focus~~ on children's access to education and healthcare.		Caan founded the James Caan Foundation (JCF) in 2006 after he took a 'gap year' to visit his homeland of Pakistan. The JCF supports charities in the UK and seeks to promote greater awareness of issues facing the developing world, primarily focusing on children's access to education and healthcare.

	The JCF has funded the construction of a new school at his birthplace ], located in the eastern province of ]. Since first purchasing a barren plot of land and opening the 16-classroom school in 2005, the TCF School, named after ~~Caan’s~~ father, educates over 420 children aged between ~~5-11~~.		The JCF has funded the construction of a new school at his birthplace ], located in the eastern province of ]. Since first purchasing a barren plot of land and opening the 16-classroom school in 2005, the TCF School, named after Caan's father, educates over 420 children aged between 5–11.<ref name='asian image'>{{cite web\|url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/10094374.James_Caan___If_anyone_wasn___t_going_to_make_it_then_I_should_have_topped_that_list__/\|title=James Caan: 'If anyone wasn't going to make it then I should have topped that list!'\|publisher=Asian Image\|date=7 December 2012\|access-date=17 June 2013}}</ref>

	===2010 Pakistan floods===		===2010 Pakistan floods===
			In July 2010, Caan flew to Pakistan immediately after the ] and personally purchased, prepared and delivered emergency food parcels to families in a village of ] city, in the northern ] province.

	In ~~July~~ ~~2010~~, Caan ~~flew~~ to ~~Pakistan~~ ~~immediately~~ ~~after~~ ~~the~~ ] and ~~personally~~ ~~purchased~~, ~~prepared~~ and ~~delivered~~ ~~emergency~~ ~~food~~ ~~parcels~~ to ~~families~~ in ~~the~~ ~~Northern~~ ~~village~~ of ]~~.{{Disambiguation~~ ~~needed~~\|~~date=December~~ ~~2012}}~~<ref>{{cite news\| url=~~http~~://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/7968856/James-Caan-the-Dragon-humbled-by-Pakistan-floods-disaster.html \| ~~location=London \| work=] \|~~ title=James Caan: the Dragon humbled by Pakistan floods disaster \| date=27 August 2010}}</ref>		Upon his return to the UK, Caan partnered with ] to provide urgent food, medical supplies and water and hygiene kits to 1,000 families in the affected area. Caan also undertook an extensive media outreach campaign and his trip was widely covered in national newspapers. After just two weeks, Caan had raised £100,000 for UNICEF. Caan and the James Caan Foundation subsequently undertook a project to rebuild a village in Pakistan, including schools, hospitals, homes and all infrastructure and water supplies. Aid agencies including UNICEF, ], ], ] and ] were also involved in the project.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/7968856/James-Caan-the-Dragon-humbled-by-Pakistan-floods-disaster.html\|title=James Caan: the Dragon humbled by Pakistan floods disaster\|newspaper=]\|date=27 August 2010}}</ref>

			====Controversy====
	Upon his return to the UK Caan partnered with ] to provide urgent food, medical supplies and water and hygiene kits to 1,000 families in the affected area. Caan also undertook an extensive media outreach campaign and his trip was widely covered in national newspapers. After just two weeks, Caan had raised £100,000 for UNICEF. Caan and the James Caan Foundation subsequently undertook a project to rebuild a village in Pakistan, including schools, hospitals, homes and all infrastructure and water supplies.<ref name="hellomagazine.com">http://www.hellomagazine.com/magazine/</ref> Aid agencies including UNICEF, ], ], ] and ] were also involved in the project.
			Caan drew criticism when he was caught on camera offering to buy a baby for his brother for £725 from a family that was a victim of the ] despite having a multi-million pound net-worth at the time. He later stated that he regretted the incident and described his behaviour as "clearly wrong".<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11605927\|title=Dragons' Den James Caan 'regrets offer to buy baby'\|work=BBC Online\|date=22 October 2010\|access-date=22 October 2010}}</ref> Caan was later filmed saying: "If there's an opportunity to give a life a chance of survival, it's more an emotional response than a rational decision... What I have to remember is that I am here to build a village".<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/dragons-den-tycoon-james-caan-1073489\|title=Dragons' Den tycoon James Caan apologises after trying to buy baby on TV\|work=]\|date=23 October 2010\|access-date=6 November 2012}}</ref> The father of the baby responded to those comments, stating "I am not a trader of my children I can beg for my children but I cannot even think to sell them" and "I cannot believe such disrespect to a mother and father to believe you can take one of their children from them for the payment of money I cannot believe what a man who is a father has tried to do".<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://nation.com.pk/23-Oct-2010/i-can-beg-for-my-children-but-i-cannot-even-think-to-sell-them-noor-daraz-khan\|title= I can beg for my children but I cannot even think to sell them: Noor Daraz Khan\|work=]\|date=23 October 2010\|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref>

	===Other===		===Other===
			Caan is involved with and supports other charities including ], ], ], ] the ] and ]. In 2009 Caan was appointed chairman of ].<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/enter-the-dragon-carrying-the-big-issue-for-pakistan-1839160.html\|title=Enter the Dragon, carrying 'The Big Issue' for Pakistan\|date=13 December 2009\|author=Matthew Bell}}</ref>

			Caan was appointed ] (CBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to entrepreneurship and charitable services.<ref>{{London Gazette\|issue=61092\|supp=y\|page=N8\|date=31 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/391413/New_Year_Honours_List_2015.pdf\|title=2015 New Year Honours List\|date=2 January 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102104907/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/391413/New_Year_Honours_List_2015.pdf\|archive-date=2 January 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref>
	Caan is involved with and supports other charities including the ], ], ], ] and the ]. In 2009 Caan was appointed chairman of ].<ref>{{cite news\| url=http://www.growingbusiness.co.uk/james-caan-appointed-chairman-of-the-big-issue.html \| work=Growing Business \| title=James Caan appointed chairman of The Big Issue \| accessdate=17 June 2013}}</ref>

	==~~Controversies~~==		==Publications==
			*2008 – ''The Real Deal' (autobiography)
			*2011 – ''Get the Job You Really Want''
			*2012 – ''Get the Life you Really Want''
			*2012 – ''Start Your Business in 7 Days''

			==Honours==
	===Attempted purchase of a baby===
			*Honorary doctorate in Business Administration from ] (2009)
	Caan drew criticism when he was caught on camera offering to buy a baby from a family that was a victim of the ]. Caan insisted the offer had been made with good intentions, but stated that he regretted the incident and described his behaviour as "clearly wrong".<ref name="urlBBC News - Dragon James Caan regrets offer to buy baby">{{cite news \|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11605927 \|title=BBC News - Dragon James Caan 'regrets offer to buy baby' \|format= \|work=] \|accessdate=22 October 2010 \|date=22 October 2010}}</ref> Caan was later filmed saying: "If there's an opportunity to give a life a chance of survival, it's more an emotional response than a rational decision. What I have to remember is that I am here to build a village. That child belongs to that family".<ref name="urlDaily Record - Dragons' Den tycoon James Caan apologises after trying to buy baby on TV">{{cite news \|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/dragons-den-tycoon-james-caan-1073489 \|title=Dragons' Den tycoon James Caan apologises after trying to buy baby on TV \|format= \|work= ]\|accessdate=6 November 2012 \|date=23 October 2010}}</ref>
			*Honorary degree from the ]{{Citation needed\|date=May 2019}}
			*Honorary doctorate in Business Administration from ] (2010)<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/about/honorary-graduates/honorary-graduates-2010/\|title=Honorary Graduates 2010}}</ref>
			*Honorary doctorate from ] (2012)<ref name='asian image'/>

			==Awards and nominations==
	===Tax avoidance===
			In January 2013, Caan was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the ].<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/10197507.Winners_honoured_at_British_Muslim_Awards/\|title=Winners honoured at British Muslim Awards\|publisher=Asian Image\|date=31 January 2013\|access-date=1 November 2015}}</ref> Also in 2013, he was named Chairman of the Year at the International Business Awards.<ref name=bip/> In January 2014, he was a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/united_kingdom/10978079.British_Muslim_Awards_2014_winners/\|title=British Muslim Awards 2014 winners\|publisher=Asian Image\|date=31 January 2014\|access-date=1 November 2015}}</ref> In January 2015, he was nominated for the Businessman of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/business/11745550.British_Muslim_Awards_2015_finalists_unveiled/\|title=British Muslim Awards 2015 finalists unveiled\|publisher=Asian Image\|date=23 January 2015\|access-date=1 November 2015}}</ref> On 29 October 2015, Caan was listed by UK-based company ] at number 16 in the list of 100 Most Influential British Entrepreneurs.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/teenage-apprentice-aged-17-ranked-6730716\|title=Teenage apprentice aged 17 ranked with Lord Sugar and Sir Richard Branson as top entrepreneur\|newspaper=]\|date=29 October 2015\|author=Martin Bagot\|access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref>
	Hamilton Bradshaw was at one point owned by a ] company, which allowed him to circumvent ] as a non-domiciled resident. Fellow Dragons' Den entrepreneur ] argued that UK-born entrepreneurs are at a disadvantage to non-domiciled residents who have made their fortune in Britain but can fund their lifestyles from monies held overseas that do not attract UK tax.

			==See also==
	However, as of 2011, Hamilton Bradshaw are no longer a Cayman Island company and are registered as a UK firm.<ref name="Hamilton Bradshaw Limited">{{cite news \|url=https://www.duedil.com/company/04646531/hamilton-bradshaw-limited \| title= Hamilton Bradshaw Limited
			*]
	\|work= ]\|accessdate=6 November 2012 \|date=10 October 2011 \|location=London \|first=DueDil \|last=Ltd}}</ref>

	===Employment of his daughter===
	In June 2013, Caan was announced as the UK government's new '] tsar'. After giving an interview in which he criticised parents who aid their children with finding jobs and don't let them 'stand on their own two feet', he was accused of hypocrisy when it emerged that he had employed his own daughter in one of his companies.<ref>{{cite news\|last=Walker\|first=Peter\|title=James Caan: social mobility tsar denies nepotism but employs his daughter\|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jun/04/james-caan-daughters-nepotism\|accessdate=6 June 2013\|newspaper=The Guardian\|date=5 June 2013}}</ref>

	Caan responded that his daughter's recruitment process had been "rigorous", and stated that the outburst around this revelation would not deduct from his six month effort to campaign for a breakdown of employment barriers.<ref></ref>

	==Bibliography==
	*2008 - ''The Real Deal'' (autobiography)
	*2011 - ''Get the Job You Really Want''
	*2012 - ''Get the Life you Really Want''
	*2012 - ''Start Your Business in 7 Days''

	==Honours==
	*Honorary doctorate in Business Administration from ] (2009)
	*Honorary degree from the ] <ref>{{cite news\|title=James Caan awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of East London\|url=http://www.therichest.org/video/james-caan-awarded-an-honorary-doctorate-by-the-university-of-east-london/\|accessdate=17 June 2013\|work=The Richest\|}}</ref>
	*Honorary doctorate in Business Administration from ] (2010)<ref>http://w3.yorksj.ac.uk/news/news/news-archive-2010/dragons-den-investor-amongst.aspx</ref>
	*Honorary doctorate from ] (2012)

	==References==		==References==
	{{~~reflist~~\|30em}}		{{Reflist\|30em}}

	==External links==		==External links==
			*{{Official website}}
	*

			{{Authority control}}
	{{DragonsDenUK}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2011}}

	{{Authority control\|VIAF=101441631}}

	{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. -->
	\| NAME = Caan, James
	\| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
	\| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Entrepreneur
	\| DATE OF BIRTH = 28 December 1960
	\| PLACE OF BIRTH = ], ], ]
	\| DATE OF DEATH =
	\| PLACE OF DEATH =
	}}
	{{DEFAULTSORT:Caan, James}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Caan, James}}
	]		]
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Latest revision as of 07:14, 23 December 2024

British-Pakistani entrepreneur and television personality (born 1960)

James CaanCBE
James Caan in 2008
Born	Nazim Khan Urdu: ناظم خان (1960-12-28) 28 December 1960 (age 64) Lahore, Pakistan
Nationality	Pakistani-British
Occupation	Entrepreneur
Known for	Dragons' Den
Children	5
Website	www.james-caan.com

James Caan CBE (born Nazim Khan; 28 December 1960) is a British-Pakistani entrepreneur and television personality.

He was an investor on the BBC television programme Dragons' Den, in which he was one of the Dragons from 2007 to 2010. More recently, he has hosted The Business Class on CNBC, a series which sees him joined by experts from a cross-section of industries to analyse and advise innovative UK small and medium enterprises. He is also Chairman of the UK Government's Start Up Loans Scheme.

Caan founded the recruitment company Alexander Mann in 1985, which he sold in 2002. In 1993, he co-founded the executive head-hunting firm Humana International, and sold his stake in 1999. He is also the founder and CEO of the UK-based private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw.

Early life and education

Born in Lahore, Pakistan, Caan's family emigrated to the United Kingdom when he was two years old. Caan's father had intended for his son to join the family business but Caan left home at 16, which led to Caan's estrangement from his father for many years. He had no university education and in 2003, attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He had various jobs and worked for several recruitment companies; Caan started his own recruitment company in the early 1980s. His first office, which was tiny, was in Pall Mall, but he chose the prestigious address to add credibility to his business.

Career

Business

Caan founded the recruitment company Alexander Mann in 1987. In 1993, he co-founded the executive headhunting firm Humana International with Doug Bugie, eventually growing the business to over 147 offices in 30 countries. In the same year, Caan launched the trade magazine Recruitment International, which he sold in 2000. In 1996, Caan co-founded the business process outsourcing company AMS with Rosaleen Blair. Caan subsequently sold his interests in AMS in 2002. In 1999, Caan sold Humana International to CDI International, a New York listed company. Later that year, Caan sold a minority stake in Alexander Mann Group to private equity firm Advent International.

In 2002, Caan sold his interests in Alexander Mann, which had a turnover of around £130 million by that time. In 2004, Caan established the London-based private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw, an investment group that specialises in Seed Capital and Growth Capital for recruitment businesses. Founded in 2013, Recruitment Entrepreneur is the Seed Capital arm of Hamilton Bradshaw, which provides seed funding and support for ambitious, experienced recruitment professionals to start or scale their own recruitment ventures.

In 2009, Caan launched HBRIDA, with his then business partner Helen Reynolds (ex ACEO of the REC). HBRIDA worked with SME recruitment agencies to help them achieve growth and led them to an exit. Reynolds performed a management buyout of the business in March 2012. In 2010, Caan launched The Entrepreneurs Business Academy and became a non–Executive Director of McCann London. In 2011, Caan founded Hamilton Bradshaw Venture Partners. In 2012/13, Caan launched Hamilton Bradshaw Real Estate (HBRE) to invest in "disruptive property start-ups". In June 2013, Caan gave an interview in which he criticised parents who aid their children with finding jobs and don't let them 'stand on their own two feet', he was accused of hypocrisy when it emerged that he had employed his daughter in one of his companies. Caan responded that his daughter's recruitment process had been "rigorous". However, in an interview with The Independent Caan admitted, "I would find it very difficult not to help my child".

Caan was recognised in the 2015 New Year Honours List, with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to entrepreneurship and charitable services through the James Caan Foundation.

Television

In 2007, Caan joined the panel of Dragons' Den judges for the show's fifth series. Hilary Devey replaced James Caan on Dragons Den in 2012.

In 2012, CNBC approached him to host The Business Class, a series which sees him joined by experts from a cross-section of industries, looking at the challenges and opportunities UK SMEs face. Each 30-minute episode featured an innovative business seeking guidance to help it grow in the marketplace. The series' popularity saw it recommissioned for a second series in October 2013.

Social media

In 2011, James Caan launched his mobile app 'James Caan Business Secrets'. Within weeks of launching the app rose to Number 1 in the iTunes chart and later became the fastest downloaded Business app of the year. It has regularly been ranked as a top business app by various publications, it has received over 250,000 downloads and has more than 1.5 million sessions.

Author

Caan has written several books on business and his life. The first book covered his life story: The Real Deal – My Story from Brick Lane to Dragons' Den (2008). Following publications focused on business and entrepreneurship: Get the Job You Really Want, Start Your Business in 7 Days, and Get the Life You Really Want.

Public sector

Caan has been involved with the British Government and their agencies on a number of initiatives related to UK business for many years. These include The Government Entrepreneur's Forum and The Department for International Development (DFID) where he worked on the relief effort after the 2010 Pakistan flood.

The Start Up Loans Company

In May 2012, Caan was approached by the government to become Chairman of the Start Up Loans initiative. The aim is to support young people with funding and mentoring to start up new businesses in the UK. Over £112 million of loans were to be offered to 18- to 30-year-olds over 3 years. James and his board of entrepreneur ambassadors head up the government scheme, providing loans of around £2,500 to the 18- to 30-year-olds to start their businesses.

Charitable activities

The James Caan Foundation

Caan founded the James Caan Foundation (JCF) in 2006 after he took a 'gap year' to visit his homeland of Pakistan. The JCF supports charities in the UK and seeks to promote greater awareness of issues facing the developing world, primarily focusing on children's access to education and healthcare.

The JCF has funded the construction of a new school at his birthplace Lahore, located in the eastern province of Punjab. Since first purchasing a barren plot of land and opening the 16-classroom school in 2005, the TCF School, named after Caan's father, educates over 420 children aged between 5–11.

2010 Pakistan floods

In July 2010, Caan flew to Pakistan immediately after the worst flooding in the country's history and personally purchased, prepared and delivered emergency food parcels to families in a village of Nowshera city, in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Upon his return to the UK, Caan partnered with UNICEF to provide urgent food, medical supplies and water and hygiene kits to 1,000 families in the affected area. Caan also undertook an extensive media outreach campaign and his trip was widely covered in national newspapers. After just two weeks, Caan had raised £100,000 for UNICEF. Caan and the James Caan Foundation subsequently undertook a project to rebuild a village in Pakistan, including schools, hospitals, homes and all infrastructure and water supplies. Aid agencies including UNICEF, Oxfam, Islamic Relief, Muslim Hands and Mosaic were also involved in the project.

Controversy

Caan drew criticism when he was caught on camera offering to buy a baby for his brother for £725 from a family that was a victim of the 2010 Pakistan floods despite having a multi-million pound net-worth at the time. He later stated that he regretted the incident and described his behaviour as "clearly wrong". Caan was later filmed saying: "If there's an opportunity to give a life a chance of survival, it's more an emotional response than a rational decision... What I have to remember is that I am here to build a village". The father of the baby responded to those comments, stating "I am not a trader of my children I can beg for my children but I cannot even think to sell them" and "I cannot believe such disrespect to a mother and father to believe you can take one of their children from them for the payment of money I cannot believe what a man who is a father has tried to do".

Other

Caan is involved with and supports other charities including The Prince's Trust, Marie Curie, Mosaic, Care Foundation the NSPCC and PENNY APPEAL. In 2009 Caan was appointed chairman of The Big Issue Company.

Caan was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to entrepreneurship and charitable services.

Publications

2008 – The Real Deal' (autobiography)
2011 – Get the Job You Really Want
2012 – Get the Life you Really Want
2012 – Start Your Business in 7 Days

Honours

Honorary doctorate in Business Administration from Leeds Met University (2009)
Honorary degree from the University of East London
Honorary doctorate in Business Administration from York St John University (2010)
Honorary doctorate from University of Bradford (2012)

Awards and nominations

In January 2013, Caan was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards. Also in 2013, he was named Chairman of the Year at the International Business Awards. In January 2014, he was a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards. In January 2015, he was nominated for the Businessman of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards. On 29 October 2015, Caan was listed by UK-based company Richtopia at number 16 in the list of 100 Most Influential British Entrepreneurs.

References

Neate, Rupert (6 June 2013). "James Caan: 'No parent is not going to help their children'". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
"History of the Den". BBC Online.
"The Business Class". CNBC.
Matthew Drake; Janine Yaqoob (13 February 2016). "Dragons' Den entrepreneur James Caan splits with wife after 32-year marriage". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
Celia Walden (8 October 2008). "How money stopped mattering for Dragons' Den mogul James Caan".
"James Caan The Dragons' Den panellist on gap years, what makes the ideal investment and his unwavering obsession with windows". UK Startup Awards. 17 April 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
Sarah, Ewing (9 June 2013). "James Caan: 'To succeed, you have to be ready to lose'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
^ "James Caan awarded Chairman of the Year at the 2013…". 19 September 2013.
"James Caan CBE's investment group, Recruitment Entrepreneur celebrates fifth birthday". Business Matters. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
"James Caan: I thought LinkedIn would ruin my business". BusinessCloud.co.uk. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
Matt Crofton (15 April 2013). "Looking for the next Rightmove: PrimeResi meets Faisal Butt, property's venture capitalist with the Caan-do attitude". PrimeResi.
Peter Walker (5 June 2013). "James Caan: social mobility tsar denies nepotism but employs his daughter". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
Brian Wheeler (6 June 2013). "TV experts turned tsars: How did they do?". BBC News.
Chloe Hamilton (7 June 2013). "Was social mobility tsar and former Dragons' Den star James Caan right to give his kids a helping hand?". The Independent.
Quinn, James (30 December 2014). "New Year Honours: Brent Hoberman and James Caan awarded CBEs". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
"New year honours 2015: the full list". The Guardian. 30 December 2014. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
"James Caan To Host Business Series on CNBC To Help SMEs". CNBC. 3 October 2013.
"James Caan mentors 1m on LinkedIn". Recruitment International. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
Mike Butcher (15 November 2010). "UK government creates Entrepreneurs' Forum advisory board. Which ones are just celebrities?". TechCrunch. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
"Start-up loans scheme expanded". BBC News. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
^ "James Caan: 'If anyone wasn't going to make it then I should have topped that list!'". Asian Image. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
"James Caan: the Dragon humbled by Pakistan floods disaster". The Daily Telegraph. 27 August 2010.
"Dragons' Den James Caan 'regrets offer to buy baby'". BBC Online. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
"Dragons' Den tycoon James Caan apologises after trying to buy baby on TV". Daily Record. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
"I can beg for my children but I cannot even think to sell them: Noor Daraz Khan". The Nation. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
Matthew Bell (13 December 2009). "Enter the Dragon, carrying 'The Big Issue' for Pakistan".
"No. 61092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2014. p. N8.
"2015 New Year Honours List" (PDF). 2 January 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 January 2015.
"Honorary Graduates 2010".
"Winners honoured at British Muslim Awards". Asian Image. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
"British Muslim Awards 2014 winners". Asian Image. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
"British Muslim Awards 2015 finalists unveiled". Asian Image. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
Martin Bagot (29 October 2015). "Teenage apprentice aged 17 ranked with Lord Sugar and Sir Richard Branson as top entrepreneur". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 29 January 2016.

External links

Official website

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