Nabi Saleh () is an Iranian Australian businessman and commodities trader, known for his role in purchasing Gloria Jean's Coffees and taking it worldwide. He also currently serves as an elder of the Hillsong Church.
Life and career
Saleh was born in Iran and grew up in various countries including India. His family background is involved in the tea business (from his mother's side). He is married to Angela with daughters Nicole and Danielle, both of whom also work for Gloria Jean's. He holds a master's degree in physics, chemistry and mathematics.
Saleh followed his wife-to-be Angela to Australia in 1973. Lacking local work experience, he went to Papua New Guinea to help establish tea plantations with Australian New Guinea (ANG) Holdings. He oversaw the marketing and manufacturing of tea and coffee in Papua New Guinea and continues to consult with the Australian and PNG governments.
From 1978, Saleh developed Asco, a medium-sized coffee company from revenues of $250,000 to $15 million. Asco was then acquired by Burns Philp. He then started Columbia Coffee and Tea in 1983, Tea and Coffee Traders in 1986, and in 1989 established Maranatha Import Exports, representing ConAgra Foods in Australia. Maranatha supplied supermarket chains Woolworths, Coles, Franklins and David's Holdings.
Saleh also worked for Traveland International, where he was responsible for the procurement of hotel rooms worldwide.
In 1995, he purchased Gloria Jean's Coffees and a year later he formed Jireh International Pty Ltd, which now holds the global rights to Gloria Jean's franchising.
Saleh became a Christian in 1978 at a Kenneth Copeland convention, is a Pentecostal Christian and a board member of Hillsong Church.
Other leadership roles
Director of Southern Cross College of the AOG
Director of Jerry Savelle Ministries International
Director of Kenneth Copeland Ministries' Eagle Mountain International Church
Gourmet Foods Australia
Petra Gourmet Coffee
Brothers Gourmet Coffees
Maranatha Import Export (which sells private-label coffee to supermarkets) Director of Tea & Coffee Traders
References
External links
The coffee kings; Sunday, 24 April 2005
Australian commodities traders
Australian financiers
Australian food industry businesspeople
Australian investors
Australian chemists
Australian mathematicians
Australian physicists
Australian Christian Churches people
Hillsong Church
Fast-food chain founders
Iranian emigrants to Australia
Living people
Businesspeople in coffee
Businesspeople from Sydney
Converts to Protestantism from Shia Islam
Year of birth missing (living people)