Farad Azima () was an industrialist, technology entrepreneur and philanthropist. He had numerous international patents in diverse areas of engineering.

Early life and business

Azima undertook postgraduate studies at Leeds University until 1972, where was an active alumnus. In 1976 he founded the British audio manufacturer, Mission Electronics in Cambridge. This was followed by other well-known startups, notably Cyrus Electronics and later, NXT plc together with Sir Gordon Brunton.  The Company licensed patented technologies to multinationals in consumer electronics.  Cyrus Electronics manufactures specialist equipment with a serious following among the audiophile community.

In 1997, together with Daily Mail newspapers, Verity Group Plc., of which Farad was the CEO, founded Eastern Counties Radio.  During this period he also co-produced a series of Baroque Music CDs with the Gramophone Magazine.  Azima has also served on the Industrial Advisory Board of Churchill College, Cambridge University from 2001 to 2005.

Later in life, Farad devoted time to philanthropy and, together with his two children; Artemis and Cyrus has founded a UK registered charity, The Azima Foundation of which Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill is the President. The Foundation supports good causes in medicine and culture. The Foundation is also a supporter of Robert F Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights.

Other interests
Azima's wide cultural interests included the Menuhin International Violin Competition, of which he was a director.  Azima also was a member of the 2010 Art & Illustration Fundraising Committee of the Natural History Museum.  In 2010 he was appointed an honorary member of Asia House in London.  He was a Fellow of The Royal Institution of Great Britain.

Azima's later interests included the bio-medical and the clean energy sectors. In 2004 he was invited to restructure Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. of Stamford, Connecticut.

Azima founded the NetScientific Group where he was Chief executive until January 2015, with Sir Richard Sykes as the chairman.  The Group supports industry-driven research projects at leading universities in Britain and the United States.

Farad Azima parted company with NetScientific in January 2015, and established FrontierBio in March 2015. FrontierBio pursues closely targeted, strategic investments in the life sciences sector. It is engaged in a number of advanced scientific research programmes in diagnostics and genomics with major European research institutions. Additionally, its recently formed sister company, CetroMed Limited, is investing in drug development joint ventures in Europe.

Personal life

In 1984, Azima married Jennifer Margaret, daughter of Royal Artillery Lieutenant-Colonel Denys Hope Molesworth, MC, of Rory Cottage, Forest Row, Sussex, descended from the politician and writer Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth. They had a son, Cyrus (born 1985) and daughter Artemis (born 1986).  He also had a son, Edward ("Teddy"). Azima died on August 29, 2020.

Further reading
 Mondo Visione 16 September 2013: London Stock Exchange Welcomes Netscientific, 20th Technology Admission Of 2013
 Global University Venturing 10 September 2013: NetScientific targets £30m IPO
 Daily Express 9 September 2013: Medical specialist NetScientific looks to raise £30million
 Sunday Times 8 September 2013: Former Glaxo boss back with healthcare investor
 StockMarketWire.com 2 July 2014: NSCI (NetScientific) secures DNA sequencing research programme

References

External links
Bloomberg Profile
Farad Azima Patents
The trust of Menuhin Competition
Press Release Regarding Cetromed and FrontierBio
NetScientific Group Website
Menuhin International Violin Competition
British Museum Director on the Cyrus Cylinder
The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
Burke's Peerage entry for the family
The Cyrus Cylinder

1943 births
2020 deaths
Businesspeople from Tehran
British businesspeople
Iranian businesspeople
British philanthropists
Iranian philanthropists
Alumni of the University of Leeds
British people of Iranian descent