Francis Najafi is Founder and CEO of Pivotal Group, a thirty year old investment firm in Phoenix, Arizona, with experience in private equity investments and all major real estate product types. Najafi completed his Bachelor of Science degree in engineering at Arizona State University (ASU), followed by two Masters Degrees from Thunderbird – The School of Global Management and the University of Southern California (USC). While a Ph.D. candidate in International Political Economy at USC, he began his entrepreneurial activities. Najafi has served on the Board of Directors of Network Solutions, NxSystems and Western Alliance Bancorporation. Currently he serves on the Board of Directors of EastWest Institute, is a member of Urban Land Institute (ULI), and serves as Governor of the ULI Foundation. Mr. Najafi is also active in the World President’s Organization (WPO) and Chief Executive’s Organization (CEO).

Najafi is a member of the Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL), a Trustee of Thunderbird – The School of Global Management, and a Foundation Board member of Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). He is a member of the President’s Club at ASU and serves on ASU’s Business School, Dean’s Council.