David Gigauri

DAVID GIGAURI is a partner at Gryphon, a London-based emerging markets investment firm. He advises family offices and private companies on private market opportunities across borders and is co-founder of the fintech law firm Feesier. His early career includes positions at J.P. Morgan and BP, with experience working in London, Moscow and New York. He holds a BA from University College London (UCL) and an MA from the London School of Economics (LSE), and completed the Singularity Executive Program in Silicon Valley.In addition to his professional career, David is a published author and researcher, specializing in the history of Georgia and the Caucasus. His latest book, The Mdivani Saga (2024), explores the scandalous lives of a family of secretaries – a global phenomenon of their time that helped establish the modern idea of the “celebrity lifestyle”. His first book, Be My Guest: The Georgian Recipe for Cooking Success (2013), brings together stories and culinary recipes from Georgians who have achieved fame on different continents – from a Napoleonic hero to the founder of the New York City Ballet. The book has been translated into German (Georgien: Eine kulinarische Liebeserklärung – Anekdoten & Recepte, Stocker Leopold Verlag, 2018) and was presented at the 2018 Frankfurt Book Fair. He regularly publishes his works and speaks at cultural and academic institutions.David is a board member of the British-Georgian Society and founder of the annual Rustaveli Day at the Royal Asiatic Society in London. He spearheaded the initiative to join the Newcastles of the World Alliance, which connects Newcastles around the world to share best practice and foster collaboration in the areas of tourism, culture, business, education and youth engagement. David is also a member of the advisory board of the Toradze Foundation, which supports young and emerging artists, and serves on the BAFPA committee of Battle Abbey School in the UK.