Azizollahoff says he is looking forward to the challenge of running a hybrid property company. Redefine has both listed and direct property portfolios.

He started his 16 years in the property industry in Canada, where he worked for global construction firm Olympia & York, famous for building the World Financial Center in New York and Canary Wharf in London.

In the late 1980s, the collapse of the office market pushed Olympia & York into bankruptcy and, in 1990, Azizollahoff returned to South Africa. He joined the property division of Anglo American and became a director.

When Anglo decided to dispose of its non-core assets, including its property interests, Azizollahoff was part of the team that formed ApexHi Properties, buying both properties and the property management business from Anglo.

ApexHi listed in 2001 with Azizollahoff as managing director.

Business Times