Alex Ojjeh is an investor, entrepreneur and founder of world wide hedge fund company AO asset management. The firm has $1.1 billion in assets under management https://smartadvisormatch.com/advisor-firm-network/new-york/ao-asset-management-lp-170249
Alex didn’t have the luxury of graduating with degrees, At 11, he started his first unofficial job helping out at a corner store. At 15, he dropped out of high school and devoted himself to his ambitions. At 18 he invested in number vending machines. After the vending company picked up on Ojjeh’s success they offered him a job. He moved by himself to India for a brief period to become immersed in the country’s operations. He eventually returned to Tennessee and became chief technology officer of American Orient Partners. Alex returned to the US with contracts and a list of executives’ ears to bend.
Ojjeh moved to New York, keeping up meetings, he raised some capital to invest in his own company – dubbed AO assessment management in 2014– and recruited venture capitalist Nick Romano to help.
There’s no word to exactly why the company requested his departure, but Romano and the AO board of directors pushed Ojjeh, 33, out in June. The push out was reported as a painful departure, but he is relaxed about it, he is used to doing his own thing.
However, Ojjeh didn’t leave empty-handed. Earlier this year, Alex bought $60 million worth of stock from Ao assessment employees.
So needless to say he has not been plagued by being bought out– Now that he has so much free time Ojjeh helps entrepreneurs seeking help to keep their businesses running. Ojjeh selected three startups as part of its first batch: industrial management startup, wholesale distribution marketplace, and upcoming clothing brand. He also acquired an online goods company headquartered in Bolton England.
He is cozy in his new position as a private investor, he likes plain sailing and dressing down. Instead of attending board meetings every Monday in a suit and tie. You can spot Ojjeh wearing the latest sneakers, jogging pants and baseball caps to meetings, the shaggy-beard Ojjeh has all the attributes of a wunderkind.
He doesn’t schedule things or keep calendars. “I’m very antiplanning,” Alex says he prefers the “I’ll see you when I see you.” approach. He likes to move spontaneously. He tries not to check his emails too often or become too immersed in his cell phone and prefers to have no schedule at all. Instead of a demo day, Ojjeh receives an email that highlights each of the companies’ progress and status. One thing he can’t be is pinned down. He does admit to using social media regularly. He doesn’t follow a ton of people, but he posts things that he really cares about. He admits to getting most of my news from his Twitter feed and most of his interior design ideas for his home from his Instagram feed.
Ojjeh’s decision to move on doesn’t appear to be a negative one. He is stepping to the beat of his own drum. Entrepreneurs have to always be building so it looks like Ojjeh is heading in the right direction.
