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Caan's family emigrated to the United Kingdom when he was 2 years old. His father subsequently established a clothing company in Brick Lane, east London. Caan's father had intended him to join the family business once his formal education was completed, but Caan instead decided to set up his own company. This lead to Caan being estranged from his father for many years.

Caan started his own recruitment company in the early 1980’s, his first office was in Knightsbridge but was so small that the door could not be fully opened as it was blocked by his desk, but allowed him to use the prestigious address to attract clients, client meetings would often take place in coffee shops. At this time he also changed his name from Nazim Khan to James Caan after seeing a film by the famous actor and an alternative way to spell “Khan”, this also helped him in his recruitment company as the name was more easily recognisable.

Caan did not excel at school but graduated from the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School in 2003.

Caan founded the recruitment company Alexander Mann in 1985. In 1993 Caan co-founded the executive headhunting firm Humana International with Doug Bugie, eventually growing the business to over 147 offices in 30 countries. In the same year Caan launched the trade magazine Recruitment International, which he later sold in 2000. In 1996 Caan co-founded the business process outsourcing company AMS with Rosaleen Blair. Caan subsequently sold his interests in AMS in 2002. Caan sold Humana International to CDI International, a New York listed company, in 1999. Later in that year Caan sold a minority stake in Alexander Mann Group to private equity firm Advent International.

In 2002 Caan sold his interests in Alexander Mann, which by that time had a turnover of around £130m. In 2004 Caan established the London-based private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw. In the same year he invested in the managed office provider Avanta, which he sold three years later to the private equity company Kenmore. In 2007 Hamilton Bradshaw acquired the recruitment specialist Eden Brown and Caan sold his remaining interest in Alexander Mann Group to Graphite Private Equity in a management buy-out lead by Rosaleen Blair.

In 2009 Caan was appointed chairman of The Big Issue Company. In 2010 Caan launched The Entrepreneurs Business Academy and became a non–Executive Director of McCaan London. In 2011 Caan founded Hamilton Bradshaw Venture Partners

In 2007 Caan joined the panel of Dragons’ Den judges for the fifth series of the show.
Through his role on Dragons’ Den, Caan has worked with Children in Need for many years. In 2008, CiN filmed a ‘Youth Dragons Den’. ‘Look for Loneliness’ was his initiative to help reduce bullying and get children to understand what it is like to feel isolated. Caan went on to work with CiN in 2009, helping to renovate a Community Centre for young people to visit before and after school.

In 2008, in aid of Comic Relief, Caan teamed up with the other presenters of Dragons Den for a special edition of the programme titled ‘Victorians Dragons’ Den’.

In December 2009 Caan joined the Sport Relief team on a four-day trip to Kenya.
Hilary Devey replaced James Caan on Dragons Den in 2011

Caan founded the James Caan Foundation (JCF) in 2006. The JCF supports charities in the UK and seeks to promote greater awareness of issues facing the developing world, with a primary focus on children's access to education and healthcare.
The JCF has funded the construction of a new school in Lahore, northern Pakistan. Since first purchasing a barren plot of land and opening the state-of-the-art 16-classroom school in 2005, the TCF School, named after Caan’s father, has over 420 children aged from 5-11.
Pakistan Floods & UNICEF


In July 2010, Caan flew out to Pakistan immediately after the worst flooding in the country's history. Whilst in Pakistan Caan personally purchased, prepared and delivered emergency food parcels to families in the village of Nowshera.


On his return to the UK Caan partnered with UNICEF to provide urgent food, medical supplies and water and hygiene kits to 1,000 families in the affected area. Whilst UNICEF delivered on the ground, Caan undertook an extensive media outreach campaign, speaking on the BBC news, The One Show, CNBC, ITV news and GMTV. His trip was also documented in newspapers all around the country. After just two weeks, Caan had raised £100,000 for UNICEF.


In the aftermath of the destruction in Pakistan, Caan decided that he, as an individual, wanted to do more. With the James Caan Foundation, he is now undertaking a reconstruction project, where he wants to rebuild an entire village in Pakistan, including schools, hospitals, homes and all infrastructure and water supplies. The project is being endorsed by Prince Charles and the prince’s charities and is supported by the UK government. Aid agencies including UNICEF, Oxfam, Islamic Relief, Muslim Hands and Mosaic amongst many others, are also heavily involved in delivering each facet of the project.

The reconstruction costs around £180,000-£250,000 and will be underwritten entirely by Caan’s Foundation. At present, Caan has committed £100,000 to this project and is also securing sponsorship from large donors and businesses around the country. Passionate media icons including Jemima Khan and Bob Geldof are also actively involved in supporting the project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6_u4ZtigJE