Who is Abbas Bayat?

Iranian people globally have been wondering who is Abbas Bayat, the mysterious chairman of Belgian football club, Charleroi (They now have 4 Iranian players : Mahdavi, Emamifar, Yazdani and now Minavand). PFDC has translated a description of him taken from his nomination for Businessman of the year in 2001 in Belgium.

Abbas Bayat (Chaudfontaine)

Son of a former minister of the Shah of Iran, Abbas Bayat escaped from his country of origin during the Islamic Revolution and settled in the United States in 1979. In New Jersey he created ABA Holding and started importing Belgian products including Materne, Continental Food and Looza. In 1987 he buys out Looza together with George Soros. Under his impetus, Looza's turnover increases from 500 millions to 3 billion francs in 7 years, thanks mostly to the launch of new products. He allows itself to be bought out in 1993.

In 1997, he sets his heart on Chaudfontaine-Monopole and boosts the make with such a top form that is rarely seen. One after the other he buys out Ben Shaws and the fruits juices Sunland. Closer to us he buys out The Sporting of Charleroi with Enzo Scifo. He explains that Chaudfontaine-Monopole sells more in Charleroi than in Liege.

The year 2000 is that of consolidation and rationalisation of structures. The management of the group is now exercised from Tirlemont. Half way between Chaudfontaine and Turnhout (Sunland). In hardly 4 years, the turn over consolidated has gone up from 2 to 5 billion. It is not going to stop there either. " The great distribution is consolidating itself today far quicker than its suppliers. It needs suppliers which can work just like itself at the scale of the continent" He says. The 54 years old Abbas Bayat has learnt his lesson: He will place the Chaudfontaine group in the main courtyard!

PFDC by Amir Nooriala