Alejandro Agag
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Tarik Agag Longo was born in Madrid
on the 18th September 1970 to an Algerian
Belgian father Youssef Agag, who was a banker, and a Spanish mother.
Agag graduated in Economics and Business studies from the Colegio Universitario de Estudios Financieros (CUNEF) in Madrid
and is fluent in four languages, Spanish, English, French and Italian.
Agag, a Spanish
businessman and former politician
, is currently based in London as the Chairman of Addax Capital LLP. His present interests lie in the fields of finance, advertising and sports.
During that time Agag travelled extensively representing NNGG in organizations such as DEMYC and EYCD, center-right parties from Europe and the world that brought together youth political branches. Agag was elected International Secretary of NNGG at their congress in 1994.
In the same year Agag graduated in economics and was offered the position of Deputy Secretary General of the European People’s Party. An offer that was as a direct result of the election – a few months earlier – of the German Klaus Welle as Secretary General. Welle and Agag met in the youth organizations level, and Welle took Agag with him to the EPP – Agag was 23 at the time. That year, Agag also ran for a seat in the European Parliament, he campaigned in towns and villages in Extremadura; he was not elected at this time.
As deputy secretary general, Agag was in charge of coordinating the different policy working groups within the EPP, and drafting of policy papers to be presented at the congress. As DSG Agag was a member of the EPP Summit, which meets before the European Council meetings and includes all of EPP’s Heads of State and Government.
In 1996 the Center-right won the elections in Spain, and Agag was offered the position to become designated aid of the President of the Government, José María Aznar
. The President had three aides, one diplomat, one military and one political (Agag). He was 25 at the time, and spent three years in that position.
In 1999, at 28 years of age, he was elected MEP
. He entered the Economic and Monetary affairs commission, focusing in antitrust policy. In 2000 he led the Parliaments report on antitrust policy, and was active in redrafting the present antitrust rules.
Earlier that year he had also been elected Secretary General of the European People's Party
, replacing his colleague Klaus Welle. During his mandate as SG the organization expanded to the east of Europe, during that period it incorporated more than 20 new political parties from the region. Later that year, for the first time, the EPP won the European Parliament elections and became the largest political force in Europe.
Agag was also very active in Italy. Making a controversial decision, and against some member parties within the organization, he pushed for the acceptance of Forza Italia, Silvio Berlusconi’s party, into the EPP. This was of help to Berlusconi, who went on to win the elections in Italy in 2001. That year Agag intervened in the closing campaign rally of Forza Italia in Rome.
In 2000 Agag was elected in Mexico Secretary General of the Christian Democratic International, renamed at that meeting Centrist Democratic International. This global political organization has over 90 member parties from all over the world.
In 2001, Agag made a decision to cease his political activities in order to furtherance a career in business and sporting activities. The following year he was succeeded at the EPP
by an old fellow during his times with Aznar: Antonio López-Istúriz
In 2007, the Financial Times
named him as one of the 10 “shakers and movers” of the Spanish economy, and he was described as a “political hopeful, economist, banker and indefatigable dealmaker”.
Agag is frequently mentioned in the media for his extensive range of contacts, both political and business, from all over the world. The Spanish newspaper ‘El Pais’ once described his Nokia SIM Card as “Priceless”.
In 2008, GQ Magazine elected him as the Spanish “Businessman of the Year.”
, acquired very early on the Formula One
T.V. rights for Spain. This was achieved via a U.K. based company and played a key role in the huge expansion of Formula One
in Spain where television audiences have multiplied over the past few years. Agag is also very heavily involved in the ‘sponsorship’ side of the business, he is said to be behind some of the major deals lately achieved in the sport.
Agag owns the Barwa Addax
GP2 Series
Team which won the title in 2008 and was runner-up in 2009. He took over the Team from former F1 driver, Adrián Campos
, in mid 2007. The team’s main sponsor is the Qatari real estate company, Barwa. Three drivers from Addax, Romain Grosjean, Vitaly Petrov and Lucas di Grassi, have made it to the F1. In 2010, Agag started competing in GP3 with the Addax GP3 Team.
Through his connection within sport, Agag has formed friendships with Flavio Briatore
, Bernie Ecclestone
and Lakshmi Mittal
. Together, they bought the English football club Queens Park Rangers
in 2007.
Agag served as Chairman of QPR for a few months during the take-over. Following which he remained in the Club as a shareholder. THE PLAN, as declared by Flavio Briatore, is to get QPR promoted to the English Premier League.
. The wedding, a popular social event, took place at El Escorial
in Madrid and was attended by more than a thousand guests, among them the King
and Queen
of Spain, the Prime Ministers of Italy
and the United Kingdom
, as well as numerous other prominent politicians and celebrities.
Agag has four children, Alejandro, Rodrigo, Pelayo and Alonso and currently lives in london.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
on the 18th September 1970 to an Algerian
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
Belgian father Youssef Agag, who was a banker, and a Spanish mother.
Agag graduated in Economics and Business studies from the Colegio Universitario de Estudios Financieros (CUNEF) in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
and is fluent in four languages, Spanish, English, French and Italian.
Agag, a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
businessman and former politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, is currently based in London as the Chairman of Addax Capital LLP. His present interests lie in the fields of finance, advertising and sports.
Political career
Agag’s political career began when, at the early age of 18, he became a member of Nuevas Generaciones (NNGG) the youth organization of the main center-right Spanish party Partido Popular, which at the time was in the opposition. Having been actively involved in politics while at University, he quickly moved up the ranks of the youth structure of the party, joining, due to his knowledge of languages, the international relations department.During that time Agag travelled extensively representing NNGG in organizations such as DEMYC and EYCD, center-right parties from Europe and the world that brought together youth political branches. Agag was elected International Secretary of NNGG at their congress in 1994.
In the same year Agag graduated in economics and was offered the position of Deputy Secretary General of the European People’s Party. An offer that was as a direct result of the election – a few months earlier – of the German Klaus Welle as Secretary General. Welle and Agag met in the youth organizations level, and Welle took Agag with him to the EPP – Agag was 23 at the time. That year, Agag also ran for a seat in the European Parliament, he campaigned in towns and villages in Extremadura; he was not elected at this time.
As deputy secretary general, Agag was in charge of coordinating the different policy working groups within the EPP, and drafting of policy papers to be presented at the congress. As DSG Agag was a member of the EPP Summit, which meets before the European Council meetings and includes all of EPP’s Heads of State and Government.
In 1996 the Center-right won the elections in Spain, and Agag was offered the position to become designated aid of the President of the Government, José María Aznar
José María Aznar
José María Alfredo Aznar López served as the Prime Minister of Spain from 1996 to 2004. He is on the board of directors of News Corporation.-Early life:...
. The President had three aides, one diplomat, one military and one political (Agag). He was 25 at the time, and spent three years in that position.
In 1999, at 28 years of age, he was elected MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
. He entered the Economic and Monetary affairs commission, focusing in antitrust policy. In 2000 he led the Parliaments report on antitrust policy, and was active in redrafting the present antitrust rules.
Earlier that year he had also been elected Secretary General of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
, replacing his colleague Klaus Welle. During his mandate as SG the organization expanded to the east of Europe, during that period it incorporated more than 20 new political parties from the region. Later that year, for the first time, the EPP won the European Parliament elections and became the largest political force in Europe.
Agag was also very active in Italy. Making a controversial decision, and against some member parties within the organization, he pushed for the acceptance of Forza Italia, Silvio Berlusconi’s party, into the EPP. This was of help to Berlusconi, who went on to win the elections in Italy in 2001. That year Agag intervened in the closing campaign rally of Forza Italia in Rome.
In 2000 Agag was elected in Mexico Secretary General of the Christian Democratic International, renamed at that meeting Centrist Democratic International. This global political organization has over 90 member parties from all over the world.
In 2001, Agag made a decision to cease his political activities in order to furtherance a career in business and sporting activities. The following year he was succeeded at the EPP
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
by an old fellow during his times with Aznar: Antonio López-Istúriz
Antonio López-Istúriz White
Antonio López-Istúriz White is a Spanish politician andMember of the European Parliament with the People's Party, Secretary-General of the European People's Party as well as member of the executive committe of the Spanish People's Party, Executive Secretary of the Christian Democrat International...
Business career
In 2002 Agag moved to London and started his own consultancy firm. He has been very active in multiple fields, including Telecoms, Energy, and especially Media. Agag expanded his activities to financial advisory and fund management, forming a company called Addax Capital LLP, which is regulated by the FSA. Agag is currently Chairman of Addax and was joined in 2009 by Ignacio Muñoz Alonso, former CEO of Rothschild Bank in Spain.In 2007, the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
named him as one of the 10 “shakers and movers” of the Spanish economy, and he was described as a “political hopeful, economist, banker and indefatigable dealmaker”.
Agag is frequently mentioned in the media for his extensive range of contacts, both political and business, from all over the world. The Spanish newspaper ‘El Pais’ once described his Nokia SIM Card as “Priceless”.
In 2008, GQ Magazine elected him as the Spanish “Businessman of the Year.”
Sports : Formula 1, GP2 and Football
Agag business activity within sports, mainly focuses on motorsport and football. According to the Spanish newspaper ‘El Pais’, Agag, together with Flavio BriatoreFlavio Briatore
Flavio Briatore is an Italian businessman. During the 1980s, he was convicted for multiple counts of fraud, receiving two prison sentences, only one of which he served. As a fugitive from Italy, he set up restaurants and then a number of successful Benneton franchises in the Virgin Islands and the...
, acquired very early on the Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
T.V. rights for Spain. This was achieved via a U.K. based company and played a key role in the huge expansion of Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
in Spain where television audiences have multiplied over the past few years. Agag is also very heavily involved in the ‘sponsorship’ side of the business, he is said to be behind some of the major deals lately achieved in the sport.
Agag owns the Barwa Addax
Barwa Addax
Barwa Addax Team is a Spanish motorsport team owned by Alejandro Agag, which competes in the GP2 Series, GP3 Series and formerly in the GP2 Asia Series.-GP2 Series:Barwa Addax was formed as a result of Agag's purchase of the Campos Racing GP2 team...
GP2 Series
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
Team which won the title in 2008 and was runner-up in 2009. He took over the Team from former F1 driver, Adrián Campos
Adrián Campos
Adrián Campos Suñer is a retired Formula One driver from Spain. He participated in 21 Grands Prix, debuting on April 12, 1987, without scoring a championship point. He later moved into team management, with more success...
, in mid 2007. The team’s main sponsor is the Qatari real estate company, Barwa. Three drivers from Addax, Romain Grosjean, Vitaly Petrov and Lucas di Grassi, have made it to the F1. In 2010, Agag started competing in GP3 with the Addax GP3 Team.
Through his connection within sport, Agag has formed friendships with Flavio Briatore
Flavio Briatore
Flavio Briatore is an Italian businessman. During the 1980s, he was convicted for multiple counts of fraud, receiving two prison sentences, only one of which he served. As a fugitive from Italy, he set up restaurants and then a number of successful Benneton franchises in the Virgin Islands and the...
, Bernie Ecclestone
Bernie Ecclestone
Bernard Charles "Bernie" Ecclestone is an English business magnate, as president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration and through his part-ownership of Alpha Prema, the parent company of the Formula One Group of companies. As such, he is generally considered the primary...
and Lakshmi Mittal
Lakshmi Mittal
Lakshmi Narayan Mittal is an Indian steel magnate. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company....
. Together, they bought the English football club Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in 2007.
Agag served as Chairman of QPR for a few months during the take-over. Following which he remained in the Club as a shareholder. THE PLAN, as declared by Flavio Briatore, is to get QPR promoted to the English Premier League.
Personal life
On 5 September 2002 Agag married Ana Aznar Botella, the daughter of José María AznarJosé María Aznar
José María Alfredo Aznar López served as the Prime Minister of Spain from 1996 to 2004. He is on the board of directors of News Corporation.-Early life:...
. The wedding, a popular social event, took place at El Escorial
El Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
in Madrid and was attended by more than a thousand guests, among them the King
Juan Carlos I of Spain
Juan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...
and Queen
Queen Sofía of Spain
Queen Sofía of Spain is the wife of King Juan Carlos I of Spain.-Early life and family:Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark was born in Psychiko, Athens, Greece on 2 November 1938, the eldest child of the King Paul of Greece and his wife, Queen Frederika , a former princess of Hanover...
of Spain, the Prime Ministers of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, as well as numerous other prominent politicians and celebrities.
Agag has four children, Alejandro, Rodrigo, Pelayo and Alonso and currently lives in london.