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- Forbes Middle East’s ninth annual Global Meets Local list honors the regional heads of international businesses.
- 96% of entries work for global firms with regional headquarters in the U.A.E.
- The most populated sector is technology, with 12 entries.
- The regional heads of General Electric, P&G, and Microsoft make up the top three.
Dubai, U.A.E. : Forbes Middle East has released its ninth annual flagship “Global Meets Local” ranking, recognizing 50 individuals leading the regional offices for Forbes Global 2000 companies.
The executives in this ranking represent a diverse cohort of 28 nationalities. Lebanese and French lead with five entries each among the 50, followed by British and Egyptian with four each. The U.A.E. reigns as the top country for regional headquarters, with 48 of the 50 executives based in the emirates and one each in Bahrain and Lebanon. Technology is the most populated sector consisting of 12 listees, followed by five executives in banking.
From pharmaceutical pioneers to investing titans, the leaders on this list are heading growth in the MENA region. Stephen Moss, HSBC’s Regional CEO for MENAT and Group Managing Director, spearheaded a $5 billion initiative to support U.A.E. businesses in June 2021. Meanwhile, Novartis Pharma Services, led by President and Head of the MEA Cluster, Georg Schroeckenfuchs, signed an agreement with Egypt’s Ministry of Health to provide Spinal Muscular Atrophy therapy in the country for the first time. Committed to youth education, Fadi Pharaon, Ericsson’s President for the Middle East and Africa, oversaw the launch of the Ericsson Graduate Program in the U.A.E., which will provide young Emiratis with training to accelerate the country’s digital progress in line with the U.A.E. Vision 2021.
To develop this list, Forbes Middle East looked at companies on the Forbes Global 2000 ranking with significant direct business operations in the Middle East. This year, due to the pandemic leading many executives and employees to work from home, we allowed for leaders who are temporarily living elsewhere while in charge of the Middle East office. The highest-ranking leaders from their Middle East headquarters were then ranked based on factors such as impact and scope of their role, size of the business, personal achievements, and public recognition.
Global Meets Local 2021 – Top 10
Nabil Habayeb
Company: General Electric
Designation: Senior Vice President of GE, and President & CEO of GE International Markets
Sector: Diversified
Nationality: Lebanese-American
Global headquarters: U.S.
MENA headquarters: U.A.E.
Omar Channawi
Company: Procter & Gamble
Designation: CEO—Asia Pacific, India, the Middle East, and Africa
Sector: Consumer goods
Nationality: Moroccan
Global headquarters: U.S.
MENA headquarters: U.A.E.
Samer Abu-Ltaif
Company: Microsoft
Designation: Corporate Vice President & President—Middle East, and Africa
Sector: Technology
Nationality: Lebanese
Global headquarters: U.S.
MENA headquarters: U.A.E.
Remy Ejel
Company: Nestlé MENA
Designation: Chairman and CEO—MENA
Sector: Food and beverage
Nationality: Lebanese – French
Global headquarters: Switzerland
MENA headquarters: U.A.E.
Raghu Malhotra
Company: Mastercard
Designation: President- MEA
Sector: Technology
Nationality: Indian
Global headquarters: U.S.
MENA headquarters: U.A.E.
Stephen Moss
Company: HSBC
Designation: Group Managing Director, and Regional CEO—MENAT HSBC Bank Middle East
Sector: Banking
Nationality: British
Global headquarters: U.K.
MENA headquarters: U.A.E.
Mwaffak Kanjee
Company: McDonald’s Corporation
Designation: Head of Middle East and Africa
Sector: Food and beverage
Nationality: American
Global headquarters: U.S.
MENA headquarters: U.A.E.
Caspar Herzberg
Company: Schneider Electric
Designation: President—Middle East and Africa
Sector: Capital goods
Nationality: German
Global headquarters: France
MENA headquarters: U.A.E.
Patrick van der Loo
Company: Pfizer
Designation: Regional President—Middle East and Africa
Sector: Pharmaceuticals
Nationality: Dutch
Global headquarters: U.S.
MENA headquarters: U.A.E.
Ronaldo Mouchawar
Company: Amazon
Designation: Vice President—MENA
Sector: Technology
Nationality: Syrian
Global headquarters: U.S.
MENA headquarters: U.A.E.
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About Forbes Middle East
Forbes Middle East is a licensed edition of Forbes for the Arab world, championing inspiring business journalism and entrepreneurial capitalism. Its online and social platforms break news covering billionaires, business, investment, technology, economy, entrepreneurship, leadership, and luxury lifestyles. The monthly magazine, featuring in-depth interviews with the Middle East’s most influential and innovative leaders, is published in print in English and Arabic, with digital versions available to both regional and global audiences online.
Forbes Middle East extends the Forbes brand of journalism across the Arab world, conducting its own comprehensive research to publish original lists that adhere to strict methodologies. Its content attracts business leaders, investors, active and potential entrepreneurs, and a wide audience of ambitious and influential executives.
Media Contact
Juweyria Hersi,
hersi@forbesmiddleeast.com
© Press Release 2021
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