Uri Harkham

Uri P. Harkham is an American business Tycoon, 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. His maternal ancestors are keepers of Ezra's Tomb in Iraq. In 1965, Uri emigrated to Australia to join his brother, David Harkham, who was involved in ladies fashion in Sydney. Uri is one of 8 siblings, 5 brothers and 3 sisters. In 1974, with ex-wife Sally and oldest son Jonathan, he came to Los Angeles for a visit and decided to reside.

Business career

In 1975, he founded Jonathan Martin company with Bill Richling, specializing in ladies shirts & blouses. In 1976, Uri started investing real estate in LA and bought part of the Desmond building on 11th & Hope st.. The company is now called Harkham Industries. It sold women's clothing under the labels Harkham, Hype, Jonathan Martin and Johnny Martin. He has also been Chairman of Harkham Properties, also known under the umbrella brandname of Harkham Family Enterprises, since 1978. It is a redevelopment company of commercial real estate, especially retail facilities. In 1982, the company purchased Bel Air Sands Hotel which is now part of the Luxe group which is currently run by his younger brother, Efrem Harkham.

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

He has served on the Board of Trustees of Public Storage since 1993.

Philanthropy

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

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

He is an extremely generous man, who has donated and continues to donate to thousands of charities throughout the world from schools in Australia to America, synagogues, to providing food for thousands of families in the community who are less fortunate.