James Caan (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 current 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 ended up working 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
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 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 in 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 by that time had a turnover of around £130m. 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 the 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 own 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 fifth series of the show. Hilary Devey replaced James Caan on Dragons Den in 2012.
In 2012, he was approached by CNBC 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 faced by UK SMEs. Each 30-minute episode featured an innovative business which was seeking guidance to help it grow in the marketplace. The popularity of the series saw it recommissioned for a second series in October 2013.