| Perfect Knowledge is one of London's most | | | | directed to Harrods Aviation, which is a |
| secretive service which caters for the | | | | private aviation service for businesses. As I |
| multimillionaires and dignitaries. Welcome to | | | | arrived, I was told to board a plane and was |
| the secretive, hush hush world of the | | | | flown to Geneva, where a chauffer-driven car |
| Gentleman Fixer. | | | | was waiting to take me to the client's house. |
| | | | There I had dinner with him and handed over |
| Of all the services available to the | | | | the watch personally." So. not just a typical |
| super-rich, that which is offered by a | | | | day in the office then. |
| Private Fixer is perhaps the most intriguing. | | | | |
| Even the job title carries an aura of | | | | Other jobs have involved picking up several |
| mystery. I am reminded of the John Travolta | | | | expensive pieces of jewellery and watches to |
| character in the movie Pulp Fiction, or a | | | | be repaired at Harrods; establishing a |
| Philip Marlowe-like figure skulking about in | | | | finance company; setting up a warehouse from |
| the shadows in classic film noir. But there | | | | scratch for a client who wanted to store high |
| is no cigar or bowler hat in sight as Ifzaal | | | | value goods; negotiating with yacht brokers, |
| Khan, an articulate and charismatic | | | | and chaperoning an extremely rich but ill |
| thirty-something, settles in front of me in a | | | | client to see her sister. "One gentleman has |
| luxury hotel in Chelsea. | | | | asked me to sell three Picassos, which he |
| | | | doesn't want to do through the auction |
| "My clients are high net worth individuals," | | | | houses. I don't know anything about art," |
| explains Khan a Private Fixer from "Mostly | | | | smiles Khan, "but I'm a fast learner." |
| CEOs, MDs, titles and aristocracy. Yes, I | | | | |
| look after a few celebrities too, but they | | | | Khan offers these services through his |
| tend to be too high profile, so normally I | | | | Chelsea-based company, which he set up over |
| deal with people from the international high | | | | a year and a half ago. Asked how long he has |
| society. Most are English, but some are | | | | been a private fixer for, he says |
| American, Arab, Russian, and a few are Asian. | | | | mischievously, "Since I was 16 and growing up |
| Many are not even listed in the Sunday Times | | | | in Oxford. I was always fixing things for |
| Rich List because they might have most of | | | | people - whether fellow students or visiting |
| their money held in trusts or assets. They | | | | friends." Before setting up his company, he |
| come to me because I'm not part of their | | | | researched the job for two years and built up |
| staff, I'm on the outside, and they may not | | | | an enormous contacts book. Having a clear |
| want their staff to know everything. They | | | | vision of what you want to achieve is |
| could just be visiting for three or four | | | | imperative, he says, as preparation met with |
| weeks, and there are often financial | | | | opportunity is the key to success. |
| incentives in asking an outsider to do | | | | |
| things." | | | | Khan works with six colleagues, who between |
| | | | them are based in London, Oxford, Devon, |
| Khan explains that his job is part of a long | | | | Geneva and Dubai. They are all childhood |
| tradition of private secretaries, PAs and | | | | friends whom he trusts implicitly. "I would |
| courtiers, but it is not a concierge service. | | | | never reveal my clients' names, not even to |
| So what does a Private Fixer actually do? "It | | | | family or friends, and as each person is |
| depends on what a client wants, really," says | | | | given a unique code even my colleagues don't |
| Khan. "For example, I might help somebody | | | | find out who they are. Privacy, |
| source and buy properties off market. One | | | | confidentiality and discretion are key to |
| person asked me to find him an off-market | | | | this job. Many of my 18 clients came to me |
| property for £20 million, and I knew | | | | via word of mouth recommendations, a few I |
| somebody who wanted to sell, so I liaised | | | | approached myself when circumstances were |
| between the two. Another asked me to find a | | | | right. It takes a long time to build up |
| £4 million house in Chelsea for his | | | | trust. We don't want people selling stories |
| daughter. Somebody has also asked me to set | | | | to the papers." |
| up a property company, so I'm currently in | | | | |
| the process of doing that. Commercial | | | | Other qualities needed for a job like this |
| property is where the money is, so I've been | | | | are diplomacy, the ability to get on with a |
| trying to get more involved in that and it's | | | | wide range of people and, as Khan puts it, |
| really taken off in the last few months." | | | | "Knowing when to listen and when to talk. |
| | | | These are highly successful individuals who |
| The job isn't only to do with property | | | | know the industry they're working in inside |
| though; it also involves providing a personal | | | | out. They don't want unsolicited advice." |
| courier service. Khan relays this wonderful | | | | Indeed so important is the client-fixer |
| anecdote:"A client left his rare 1930s | | | | relationship that Khan, who combines a deep |
| £200,000 Rolex in the penthouse of a five | | | | knowledge of the super-rich lifestyle with |
| star hotel in London. It had been in his | | | | street savvy and common sense, says he's |
| wife's family for generations and she had | | | | turned down projects from those who he |
| given it to him, so it had sentimental value. | | | | believes would be demanding and make his job |
| He asked me to pick it up and take it to | | | | difficult in the long run. |
| Luton Airport. When I got there. I was | | | | |