Allam tells Business Week of journey from torture to triumph

WHEN he arrived in Hull 42 years ago, he had just £20 to his name, no job and a family to support.
Having escaped his native Egypt after his outspoken remarks about
Nasser's regime landed him in serious trouble, Assem Allam's body still
bore the torture marks from his ordeal.
With an accountancy degree from Cairo University and a
masters in business administration under his belt, he left to start
afresh.
Hull City owner Mr Allem told delegates gathered at the KC
Stadium for Business week: "I had my share of torture. I used to make
very hard speeches at university and when I think now about what I said,
I cannot believe I did it.
"I was badly tortured a number of times, so decided to leave."
Originally heading to Germany, Mr made a flying visit to Castle
Hill Hospital to visit his sister, who had married a doctor, although he
"only planned to stay for a month".
Forty-two years later, he is at the helm of Allam Marine in
Melton, the most successful generator manufacturing company in Europe.
However, the journey from cash-strapped to cash-rich has not been
easy. It has taken many years of hard work, as he explained to
business leaders yesterday at the Chamber Expo lunch.
He said: "When I came here, I sold everything I owned, so there was no return.
"I converted everything into dollars and put all of my money in the Midland Bank in Cottingham.
"The following day, the bank called me to say every single dollar was fake."
As a gasp echoed around the assembled guests, Mr Allam added
rather matter-of-factly: "I have a habit, I don't sit and cry but go out
and do something."
Mr Allam explained how he secured a job at Thompson's Flour Mill
before taking a role as a welder at Van Leer in Southcoates Lane, which
later became the Metal Box Company. He then worked in the University Of
Hull's economics department, before joining the Charterhouse Group
merchant bank in London.
"I commuted there from Hull," he said. "Within one month I was a financial manager."
It was during his time at the bank Mr Allam was seconded to the company he now owns.
"Everything in my life was meant to be for a short time, but it always ends up being a long time," he said.
When the bank later sold off its subsidiaries, Mr Allam bought the company, which manufactured marine engines.
"I realised the future was to be big or be nothing," he said.
"But how to be big? I realised I had to either acquire other companies or do something else.
"So I launched a supermarket for the generator industry. I became my competitors' supermarket and the business went sky high."
The entrepreneur, whose distinguished appearance and softly
spoken voice belie his 71 years, still works seven days a week, which
goes some way to explaining how he has built Allam Marine into the £132
million turnover success story it is today.
And now he is determined to share that success with the
"generous, friendly" people of Hull, as demonstrated by his recent
purchase of the Tigers.
Mr Allam said: "When you reach a level of being the biggest
generator company in England and then Europe, there comes a time when
you look after your community.
"There must come a time when you give back."