Uri Harkham

Uri P. Harkham
Born
Uri Peter Harkham[1]

Iraq
Occupation(s)Business executive, film producer, philanthropist
ChildrenSammy Harkham
RelativesBenjamin Harkham (brother) Efrem Harkham (brother)

Uri P. Harkham is an American businessman, film producer and philanthropist from Los Angeles, California. He is the founder and former chief executive officer of Harkham Industries, a women's apparel company, and the chairman of Harkham Properties, a commercial real estate company.

Early life

Uri P. Harkham was born in Iraq.[2] His maternal ancestors are keepers of Ezra's Tomb in Iraq.[3] In 1965, Uri emigrated to Australia to join his brother, David Harkham, who was involved in women's fashion in Sydney. Uri is one of eight siblings—he has five brothers and three sisters[clarification needed]. In 1974, he visited Los Angeles with his now ex-wife Sally and eldest son Jonathan, and decided to move there.

Business career

In 1975, he founded Jonathan Martin company with Bill Richling, specializing in women's shirts and blouses. In 1976, Harkham started investing in real estate in Los Angeles, and bought part of the Desmond building on 11th and Hope Street. The company is now called Harkham Industries.[4][5] It sold women's clothing under the labels Harkham, Hype, Jonathan Martin and Johnny Martin.[4][5][6] He has also acted as chairman of Harkham Properties, under the umbrella brand of Harkham Family Enterprises, since 1978.[7] Harkham Family Enterprises is a redevelopment company of commercial real estate, specializing in retail facilities.[4] In 1982, the company purchased Bel Air Sands Hotel, which is now part of the Luxe group currently run by his younger brother, Efrem Harkham.

Harkham was the associate producer of Gorky Park in 1983.[8] Two years later, he was an executive producer of Ghost Warrior.[8] He was then executive producer of Delta Heat in 1992.[8] In 2014, he was executive producer of Shoot the Cactus.[8]

He has served on the board of trustees of Public Storage since 1993.[4][6][7]

Philanthropy

In 1991, along with his brother Efrem, he donated $1 million to the Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy, an Orthodox Jewish school in Beverly Hills, California.[9] In 2009, he served on the board of directors of the American Jewish University in Bel Air.[10] He has also donated to the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at the University of South Australia.[11]

Harkham has supported the United Jerusalem political party in Israel and the Republican Party in the US. In 1993, he donated $25,000 to United Jerusalem for Ehud Olmert's campaign for Mayor.[12] In 2008, he attended a delegation to Israel with Olmert and former Republican President, George W. Bush.[13] He donated $25,000 to John McCain in 2008.[14]

References

  1. ^ Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. "State Civil Lawsuit: Johanna Judah et al v. Uri Peter Harkham et al". No. BC475331. Think Computer Corporation. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  2. ^ Uri Harkham Is A Happy Man, Van Nuys, California: Valley News, December 13, 1977, p. 20
  3. ^ Laura Coleman, Luxe Celebrates 30-Year Anniversary; A Real Estate Venture That Went Global, The Beverly Hills Courier
  4. ^ a b c d Forbes: Uri Harkham
  5. ^ a b SMC: Uri Harkham
  6. ^ a b Public Storage: Board of Trustees
  7. ^ a b Bloomberg BusinessWeek
  8. ^ a b c d imdb
  9. ^ Naomi Pfefferman, Labor Pains, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, February 19, 1998
  10. ^ Board of Directors, Quarterly Magazine: American Jewish University, p. 2, issue 6, summer 2009
  11. ^ Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre: Donors
  12. ^ Uri Blau, Donor bought Olmert's J'lem home in 1995 for 30% over value, Haaretz, September 13, 2006
  13. ^ Eli Lake, Bush Visit May Boost Olmert, The New York Sun, May 13, 2008
  14. ^ Campaign Money: Uri Harkham