The birth of Azure

Our Story

Driven by purpose, we create sustainable investments that honor nature and support local communities, with a focus on real estate, hospitality, and retail.

Modern residential complex with curving balconies adorned with green plants, a large swimming pool in the foreground, palm trees, and people relaxing and walking near the pool.

Where vision meets coastal living

AZURE Paje brings together years of experience in real estate and sustainable development across East Africa. Developed by AZURE United Properties, the project is a commitment to design-forward living spaces for a new generation of residents.

Full pool view of the apartment complex Azure Paje
Vision

Vision-Led Development. Grounded in Zanzibar.

At Azure, we don’t just build properties — we shape places that elevate lives. Our team blends deep regional expertise with a global vision for sustainable real estate that serves both people and the planet.

Developed by The Village Group, with a legacy of investments across East Africa

Committed to projects that create long-term value for owners

We believe that great design, sustainability, and smart investment go hand in hand.

Modern open living space with wooden dining table and six chairs, built-in wood-paneled kitchen on the left, sliding glass door leading to a balcony with ocean view, wall-mounted flat-screen TV above low cabinet, round woven rug with rustic coffee table, and sheer curtains on large windows.
Main Living Area - Dining Table
Meet our

Dedicated Team

The people who design, build, sell and look after AZURE’s places.

Nikitas Adrian Simion

Executive Leadership

Nikitas Adrian Simion

Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Nikitas brings 25 years of entrepreneurial experience across real estate, hospitality, trading, technology and retail. Four years in Zanzibar and two in Dar es Salaam give him local insight alongside an international business view. He coordinates The Village Group’s activities across Zanzibar and leads AZURE United Properties’ vision, strategy, capital allocation and partnerships.

Erkens Gjini

Executive Leadership

Erkens Gjini

Chief Information Officer

Erkens leads AZURE’s digital infrastructure and systems architecture, spanning websites, CRM, APIs, integrations, automation, AI-enabled workflows, account environments and digital security. He translates commercial and operating priorities into connected technology systems that support lead management, reporting, customer communication and scalable execution.

Chris Badea

Executive Leadership

Chris Badea

Head of Sales

Chris leads AZURE’s sales function, shaping sales discipline, pipeline management, adviser performance and buyer engagement. His mandate is to build a consistent, high-trust process that converts qualified interest into well-informed purchasing decisions while protecting the credibility of the AZURE brand.

Fabian Weinberger

Sales & Marketing

Fabian Weinberger

Senior Sales Executive

Fabian manages high-value buyer relationships as a Senior Sales Executive, with particular relevance to international and German-speaking markets. He guides prospects through project positioning, ownership considerations and the decision process with a clear, consultative and relationship-led approach.

Javier Carmona

Sales & Marketing

Javier Carmona

Sales Executive & CRM Lead

Javier combines direct sales engagement with CRM ownership. He manages lead follow-up, pipeline discipline, conversation quality and the transition from enquiry to qualified opportunity, helping ensure that every prospect receives timely, contextual and consistent communication.

Andra Ioana Rotaru

Sales & Marketing

Andra Ioana Rotaru

Head of Email Marketing

Andra leads AZURE’s email marketing and lifecycle communication, developing campaigns that nurture interest, explain the projects and support the buyer journey over time. Her work connects brand voice, segmentation, automation and commercially relevant content.

Diogo Monteiro

Sales & Marketing

Diogo Monteiro

Performance Marketing Manager

Diogo manages AZURE’s paid media and performance marketing, focusing on audience strategy, campaign execution, testing, optimisation and lead quality. He connects acquisition data with the sales pipeline to improve efficiency, insight and measurable commercial outcomes.

Arnold Pouwels

Development & Project Delivery

Arnold Pouwels

Senior Development & Construction Advisor

Arnold advises AZURE’s leadership on development delivery, construction strategy, project controls, budgeting and technical decision-making. Working closely with the project-management team, he provides senior oversight on coordination, risk resolution and the practical systems required to move complex developments from plan to execution.

Juan Bernardo Tamayo

Development & Project Delivery

Juan Bernardo Tamayo

Lead Architect

Juan leads the architectural direction of AZURE’s developments, translating commercial, operational and lifestyle objectives into coherent, buildable environments. He coordinates design development, technical documentation and spatial quality, helping maintain consistency between the brand promise, guest experience and construction reality.

Marian Barbu

Development & Project Delivery

Marian Barbu

Client Representative & Project Manager

Marian represents the client’s interests across project planning and delivery. He coordinates consultants, contractors, programme priorities and technical decisions, helping keep design intent, budget awareness, reporting and site execution aligned with AZURE’s objectives.

Mkonzi Ngoma

Development & Project Delivery

Mkonzi Ngoma

Commercial Manager

Mkonzi oversees commercial coordination within the development delivery function, supporting procurement, cost awareness, contractual follow-through and communication across project stakeholders. His role connects on-site requirements with disciplined commercial decision-making and management visibility.

Ralph Futcher

Development & Project Delivery

Ralph Futcher

General Foreman

Ralph leads day-to-day site execution as General Foreman, coordinating trades, sequencing works and supporting quality and productivity on the ground. He provides practical site leadership and helps translate approved plans into controlled construction activity.

Kassim Musa

Finance & Corporate Administration

Kassim Musa

Senior Accountant

Kassim supports AZURE’s financial control through accounting records, reconciliations, payment tracking and management reporting. His work helps maintain reliable financial information across projects and provides the operational discipline required for informed decision-making.

Seif Shaaban Seif

Finance & Corporate Administration

Seif Shaaban Seif

Senior Accountant & Internal Auditor

Seif combines senior accounting responsibilities with internal audit oversight. He supports the integrity of financial records, control testing, reconciliations and compliance-oriented review, helping strengthen accuracy, accountability and confidence in the company’s reporting processes.

Shemsa Salum

Finance & Corporate Administration

Shemsa Salum

Executive Assistant to the CEO & Corporate Administration Manager

Shemsa supports the CEO while coordinating key corporate administration across AZURE. Her remit includes expatriate work and residence permits, banking and legal coordination, liaison with local authorities, records and executive follow-through, making her a central link between leadership and day-to-day administration.

Mark Mariampillai

Strategic Initiatives

Mark Mariampillai

Tokenisation Programme Manager

Mark coordinates AZURE’s tokenisation initiative, aligning workstreams, stakeholders, documentation and delivery milestones across the proposed structure. He supports the disciplined progression of the project from concept and diligence through implementation readiness.

Giuseppe Casciere

Strategic Initiatives

Giuseppe Casciere

Structuring, Legal & Regulatory, Tokenisation

Giuseppe leads the structuring, legal and regulatory workstream for AZURE’s tokenisation initiative. He coordinates product design, regulatory analysis, documentation requirements and transaction-readiness considerations, overseeing transactions from initial concept through to closing and execution.

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