Francis Najafi is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pivotal Group, a forty-year-old private entrepreneurial investment firm focused on owning, managing, developing, and operating real estate opportunities with potential for growth and attractive margins. Pivotal Group empirically evaluates market forces, asset classes, and cycles in the real estate market, targeting properties that include full-service hotels and resorts, office, multifamily, mixed-use, and master-planned residential communities. Additionally, Pivotal Group seeks underperforming and distressed properties where value can be added through renovation, repositioning, redeployment, expansion, or capital restructuring.  Pivotal Group is also an active private equity investor, with investments across a diverse range of industries, including media, business services, technology, and telecommunications.

Mr. Najafi holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering, a Master’s Degree in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management (Thunderbird), and a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC).  At USC, he began his entrepreneurial activities while a PhD candidate in International Political Economy.

Over the past 40 years while heading Pivotal Group, Mr. Najafi devoted significant time and resources to causes benefiting the social good.  Serving as a Board member of the Quincy Institute, and as a regular participant in the Aspen Institute, Mr. Najafi is active in the global dialogue for social good and a better world.  In addition, Francis is also active in the World Presidents’ Organization and Chief Executives Organization.

Locally, Mr. Najafi shares his collaborative skills by currently serving as a member of the Board of Trustees at Arizona State University, on the National Advisory Board of Sandra Day O’Connor Institute, as a Board Member Emeritus of Arizona Science Center, as a Board Member of Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and previously served as a Board Member of the Heard Museum and the Phoenix Art Museum. In addition, Francis is a member of ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business Dean’s Council.

Mr. Najafi has received several honors including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the NCCJ Humanitarian Award, Thunderbird Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement as an Entrepreneur, and Mr. Najafi was honored as a Thunderbird Global Leader with the unveiling of the Najafi Global Mindset Institute at Thunderbird School of Global Management.

In 2005, Mr. Najafi established the Pivotal Foundation, as a charitable vehicle to give back to the community and provide patronage for numerous charitable, cultural, and civic organizations.