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Fortune Society Welcomes New Board Member Hassan Nemazee
The Fortune Society, a leading non-profit organization that supports successful reentry from incarceration, has welcomed Hassan Nemazee, Chairman and CEO of Nemazee Capital Corporation, to its Board of Directors.
Nemazee’s journey is a testament to the challenges and opportunities that come with reentry—a journey he personally understands. His recently published memoir, Persia, Politics & Prison, chronicles his remarkable life, from fleeing Iran during the 1978 revolution to building a successful career in the United States, and ultimately confronting a prison sentence that deepened his commitment to criminal justice reform.
A Harvard graduate with honors, Nemazee spent decades at the helm of Nemazee Capital Corporation, a holding company investing in public and private ventures. Over his career, he held prominent advisory roles with prestigious institutions, including the Council on Foreign Relations, the Brookings Institution, and the Asia Society. His philanthropic efforts also extend globally, with leadership roles supporting healthcare, education, and infrastructure through organizations such as the Iran Foundation and Nemazee Hospital.
Nemazee’s memoir sheds light on both his successes and struggles, including his time as a prominent fundraiser and advisor to leaders such as Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden. His career took a drastic turn in 2009 when he was charged with bank fraud, ultimately leading to a 12-year prison sentence, of which he served nine. This transformative experience provided Nemazee with an intimate understanding of the barriers faced by those reentering society and a profound commitment to supporting justice-impacted individuals.
“I am honored to join The Fortune Society’s Board,” Hassan Nemazee said. “Having navigated the complexities of reentry myself, I know firsthand the importance of Fortune’s comprehensive support. The organization’s work is essential in helping people rebuild their lives and achieve their potential, and I am excited to contribute to this mission.”
Stanley Richards, President and CEO of The Fortune Society, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Hassan’s lived experience, along with his strategic vision and deep dedication to social equity, brings invaluable perspective to our work. His journey of rebuilding and advocacy aligns with our mission to empower those impacted by the criminal justice system. We’re thrilled to welcome him to our board.”
Board Chair Dennis Kozlowski added, “Hassan’s dedication to social equity and his impressive expertise make him a perfect fit for our board. His leadership and insight will be invaluable as we work toward a future where everyone has the support and opportunity needed to thrive.”
ABOUT THE FORTUNE SOCIETY: Founded in 1967, The Fortune Society has advocated on criminal justice issues for over five decades and is nationally recognized for developing model programs that help people with criminal justice histories to be assets to their communities. Fortune offers a holistic and integrated “one-stop-shopping” model of service provision. Among the services offered are discharge planning, licensed outpatient substance use and mental health treatment, alternatives to incarceration, HIV/AIDS services, career development and job retention, education, creative arts, family services, drop-in services, and supportive housing as well as lifetime access to aftercare. Fortune has a dual mission of services and advocacy. We use what we learn from our justice impacted staff and leadership and from the people we serve about the obstacles that people with criminal histories face to inform and fuel our advocacy work. For more information, visit www.fortunesociety.org.