 Profile
Paul Ekon's business interests have ranged from photography to restaurants, from consumer products to banking software, through to his current position as manager of his own venture capital company. His success in this broad range of activities attests to his skill and diversity as a businessman.
Resident today in London, Ekon originally hails from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was born in 1959. He completed his high school studies at St. Stithians College, an elite school in Johannesburg, and then enlisted in the army for two years, where he was seconded to the air force. Following his discharge from the military, Ekon worked for Paratus, the Defense Forces magazine, as a photographer. With a career in photography in mind, Paul relocated to California in 1978 where he set up a freelance photography business in Los Angeles, with its ready market of budding film stars and models.
1978 saw Paul Ekon back in his homeland, South Africa, where he established himself in the food industry and opened several restaurants in Johannesburg. With the success of these restaurants,
Ekon's next business forays were into the cosmetics and fashion industries where he marketed brands such as Barbara Barnard, Jordache and Yvonne Chaka Chaka -- well known brands in South Africa. Simultaneously with these activities, Ekon diversified further into the door knobs and handles market, which was profitable in South Africa until the mid-1990s when low cost Chinese products flooded the market. Ekon sold this business in 1995 and invested the funds its in MTI (Management Technologies Inc.).
Through the venture capital company that he now owns and manages, Ekon played a part in closing the $3 billion coal deal between the British Vallar Plc and two coal producing companies from Indonesia.
Paul Ekon does not forget his humanitarian interests and is committed to helping the orphans of South Africa. Through his involvement with Faithways Church and other organizations, Ekon is actively involved in providing food for some 400 children daily.
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