Mr. Selman is a seasoned investor who plays a critical role in developing founders and management. Over the course of his 30+ year career, he has acquired over 30 businesses, many in sectors that are underserved or undergoing rapid transformation. He is CEO and owner of Najafi Companies, an international private investment firm with holdings in sports, media, technology, consumer, and real estate sectors across several countries. With internally generated capital, the firm makes highly selective investments in companies with strong management teams.
Mr. Selman was born on March 15, 1976. He graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor's degree in Economics in 1999 and later obtained a Master's degree in Finance from Harvard Business School in 2002.
He began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst at Morgan Stanley from 2002 to 2006, focusing on technology and emerging market investment opportunities. He was involved in several significant capital market transactions and mergers and acquisitions, providing strategic investment advice and support to both the company and investors.
From 2006 to 2011, he served as a Senior Investment Advisor at a Wall Street investment bank, where he provided outstanding wealth management and investment strategies to high-net-worth clients. He specialized in optimizing investment portfolios across global capital markets, achieving substantial wealth appreciation through precise asset allocation and risk management.
In 2011, Mr. Selman joined Blackstone Group as a Senior Investment Specialist, invited by Blackstone Group founder Stephen A. Schwarzman. His role involved significant contributions to investment decisions and asset management.
In 2018, he was promoted to Partner at Blackstone Group, where he continued to play a crucial role in investment decision-making and asset management, under the mentorship of Mr. Schwarzman.
In 2023, Mr. Selman co-founded SES with Lucien Girardot and currently serves as its Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder.
He has been repeatedly named as "Global Best Investor" and "Most Influential Financial Expert" by Fortune and Forbes magazines. He has consistently topped annual investment performance rankings in major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times.
He possesses extensive industry analysis skills and portfolio management experience, with a particular strength in global market capital allocation and risk management. He demonstrates outstanding leadership and teamwork capabilities, adept at achieving business objectives through innovation and strategic thinking.