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South Florida

Ken Griffin’s spokesperson wrote Miami mayor’s quote supporting move of historic villa 

Billionaire’s communications director provided the statement to the mayor’s office, which then presented it word-for-word as coming from Francis Suarez

Ken Griffin’s Close Ties to Miami Mayor Suarez Revealed
Citadel's Ken Griffin and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (Getty)

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s statement supporting billionaire Ken Griffin’s proposal to relocate a historic home from his $106 million estate came directly from Griffin’s director of communications — showing the high level of access Griffin and his team have to the mayor.  

Suarez has further ties to Griffin. Suarez is the subject of a state ethics investigation for his acceptance of tickets to the Miami Grand Prix and other events. Griffin, founder and CEO of the now Miami-based Citadel, provided the Grand Prix weekend tickets to Suarez. Suarez eventually said he repaid Griffin about $14,000. 

According to emails obtained by the Miami Herald, Griffin’s spokesperson Zia Ahmed provided the statement about the historic villa to the mayor’s office, which then presented it to the Herald word-for-word as Suarez’s statement. It reads: 

 “The citizens of Miami, South Florida and visitors from all over the world would be able to appreciate firsthand its significance and beauty so we hope this project moves forward.” 

Griffin paid nearly $106 million for Adrienne Arsht’s waterfront Coconut Grove estate last year, The Real Deal first reported. One of the two homes on the 4-acre property includes the historic, 110-year-old Villa Serena, which was once home to former U.S. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan. That’s the structure Griffin sought to move in order to likely build a new estate on the bayfront lot. In his proposal, the home would be opened to the public. 

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In his email to Suarez’s then-communications director Soledad Cedro on Dec. 15 of last year, Ahmed of Citadel offered the quote “in case it’s helpful.” Soledad recently resigned from her post. 

The proposal to move Villa Serena off site hasn’t moved forward on paper. No permit applications have been filed, according to the Herald. 

Griffin, who earlier this year contributed $1 million to a political action committee supporting Suarez, has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Miami real estate since he announced in 2022 that he was moving Citadel’s headquarters from Chicago to Miami. Citadel also plans a waterfront commercial tower on a development site near the Arsht estate he purchased. 

Suarez is also under scrutiny for his paid role as a consultant for an affiliate of disgraced developer Rishi Kapoor’s former Location Ventures. 

— Katherine Kallergis

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BrickellCoconut GroveFrancis SuarezKen GriffinMiamiMiami-Dade County