Early Life
Anthony Aouni Tamer was born on October 12, 1957, in the United States. While specific details of his early life are limited, it's known that he grew up in a family that valued hard work and education, which laid the foundation for his future success. He is of Lebanese descent.
Rise to Success
Tamer's career began with roles at Hewlett-Packard and Sprint Corporation, where he gained experience in engineering, marketing, and manufacturing. In 1986, he joined Bain & Company, rising to partner and developing business unit strategies. His significant career move came in 1993 when he co-founded H.I.G. Capital with Sami Mnaymneh. H.I.G. Capital quickly became a leader in the private equity sector, specializing in investments in small and mid-sized companies, with a flexible and operationally focused approach. Tamer's leadership has been instrumental in the firm's growth to manage billions in assets across various industries.
Key Business Strategies
H.I.G. Capital, under Tamer's guidance, has focused on a strategy of providing capital to small and mid-sized companies, investing in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate carve-outs. The firm has expanded globally with offices across the US, Europe, and Latin America, and also runs a large credit business. This strategy has led to successful investments in over 300 companies worldwide, with a combined sales exceeding $53 billion.
Philanthropy
Tamer and his wife, Sandra, are committed philanthropists. In 2015, they established The Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia University. This center supports social ventures, providing funding and resources to students and entrepreneurs. Tamer also serves on various boards of philanthropic organizations, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). He is also the founding chairman of COOP Careers.