Aly Nazerali has developed extensive diplomatic, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills through his dealings with governments, state-owned enterprises, and multinational corporations during a successful international business career spanning four decades.
Nazerali, now based in Vancouver, Canada, is well known for his ability to motivate and lead large multidisciplinary teams in challenging situations. His creative, solutions-driven approach to business is key to his success. Nazerali, who is multilingual, is a superior communicator who embraces innovation and today supports young businesses in their efforts to adapt and scale for global success.
Career Highlights
The 1970s
In 1975, Aly ‘Altaf’ Nazerali was hired by U.S. telecom giant GTE International (now part of Verizon) as a financial analyst based in Boston, Massachusetts. He was subsequently transferred to Algeria as in-country manager of a US$235-million project to build what was then the largest electronics plant in the world.
The project involved training 5,000 local employees, and co-ordinating more than 20 subcontractors in fields ranging from civil engineering to semiconductor manufacturing. During this period, GTE International was awarded another contract to build 14 domestic earth station facilities to provide telecommunications, television, and radio to remote regions in the Sahara, and two additional stations in the nearby countries of Mali and Niger. By 1979, the total value of GTE International’s contracts in the region approached US$1 billion.
In 1979, Nazerali joined CFE S.A., one of Belgium’s largest construction companies, as Regional Director for North Africa and the Middle East. He was also appointed to the board of FCT S.A., a consortium of Belgian engineering and construction companies, to market and develop large infrastructure projects under the Belgian flag in Africa and the Middle East.
Nazerali travelled extensively throughout North Africa and the Gulf during this period and was successful in securing several large contracts for CFE S.A. in the region.
The 1980s
From 1982 to 1984, Nazerali was employed by the Gulf Group based in Geneva, Switzerland, and was posted to Luxembourg. He was responsible for developing the commercial activities of two Rotterdam-based trading companies that had a significant presence in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Nazerali gained considerable experience in barter and counter trade with the Gulf Group, and travelled frequently to the Gulf and South Asia.
In 1984, Aly Nazerali left the Gulf Group to found AIM S.A., a brokerage firm specializing in commodities, futures trading, and portfolio management. AIM was a member of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and rapidly became the largest non-bank financial services company in the country.
In 1988, Nazerali returned to North America and became a principal of a Vancouver, Canada-based commodities futures trading firm. It was here that he helped launched Canada’s first mutual fund specializing in commodities and financial instruments. By 1991 it was rated as one of the best performing funds in Canada.
The 1990s
In 1995, Aly founded the Canadian company Canbras Communications Corp, breaking into the Brazilian subscription television market. Three years later, in 1998, Bell Canada International acquired a controlling interest in Canbras, further expanding that interest in 2000.
Since 1991, Nazerali has been a principal of merchant banking firm Valor Invest Ltd., which has financed numerous companies focused primarily on natural resources, software, telecommunications, and emerging technologies internationally.
The 2000s
During the 2000s Valor Invest successfully exited several projects through trade sales to major corporations including Bell Canada, Fleetcor, Avery Denison, Coeur d’Alene, and Millicom International.
Today, Aly Nazerali remains active in the venture capital business, financing and promoting natural resource, telecommunications, software development, and emerging technologies.