Early Life
Maritsa Lazari was born in Cyprus in October 1943. At the age of 16, she emigrated with her family to London. She later met her future husband, Christos Lazari, in the UK, and they married in 1965.
Rise to Success
Maritsa co-founded the fashion line Drendie Girl. Using the profits from the fashion business, she and her husband Christos began investing in commercial property in 1978. Together, they established Lazari Investments in 1976. Christos focused on identifying lucrative international markets for his fashion business, expanding into the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The company initially focused on acquiring North London retail properties before moving on to prime commercial properties in Central London.
Key Business Strategies
Lazari Investments, under Maritsa's directorship, acquired numerous properties, including the Brunswick Shopping Centre in Bloomsbury. The company has a portfolio of over 3 million square feet of commercial space and 850 residential units across eight London estates. The company remains a private family business.
Philanthropy
In 2017, Maritsa and her three children founded the Christo Lazari Foundation in memory of her late husband, Christos Lazari. The foundation supports Cypriot, Greek Orthodox, and medical causes. The family also donated £3.25 million of investment property to the children's charity Radiomarathon.