ANDREW NIKOU

Founder and Chief Executive

OpenGate Capital

Andrew Nikou, chief executive of OpenGate Capital, founded the private investment firm in 2005 after working with Beverly Hills-based private equity firm Platinum Equity. He is responsible for deal origination, M&A, operations and overall management of the firm. OpenGate’s investment strategy is focused on acquiring underperforming or non-core businesses. This corporate carve-out strategy has resulted in more than 30 acquisitions. One of the company’s best-known deals was the 2008 acquisition of TVGuide Magazine for $1 and the assumption of $50 million in liabilities. Nikou guided the turnaround of the publication, eventually selling the magazine to NTVB Media in 2015. OpenGate raised its first institutional fund in 2016 with more than $300 million. Nikou is a member of the XPrize Foundation Innovation Board and holds a seat on the board of overseers at the Hammer Museum at UCLA. He is also a media council member at the Paley Center for Media.

What was your proudest moment?

Without question, the proudest moment of my life has been the birth of my two beautiful children. Nothing else makes you more selfless than welcoming children into the world.

What is your alma mater?

USC. Go Trojans!

What is your next project?

Create a crowdsource and digitalization platform for OpenGate’s operational strategy.

Who is your hero?

My hero is definitely my father. He sacrificed his own career by retiring early and moving back to Iran so that my brother and me had the opportunity and financial support to attend USC and succeed.

What do you like best about Los Angeles?

What I like best about this city is the L.A. Lakers!