Roundtable Speakers
Nawaf AlNaqbi
Head of Equity Strategy
Emirates NBD
United Arab Emirates
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Nawaf AlNaqbi
Head of Equity Strategy
Emirates NBD
United Arab Emirates
Nawaf is Head of Equity Strategy at the CIO Office of Emirates NBD in Dubai. He is responsible for the bank's house view on global and regional equity markets and for the stock and sector recommendations that inform its tactical asset allocation and client portfolios. Working closely with the bank's private banking and wealth management business, he advises financial advisers on equity positioning across regions, sectors and themes and presents regularly on the equity outlook.
Satyajit Singh
Head of Fixed Income Strategy
Emirates NBD
United Arab Emirates
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Satyajit Singh
Head of Fixed Income Strategy
Emirates NBD
United Arab Emirates
Satyajit Singh, CFA, Head of Fixed Income Strategy, has over 15 years of experience in investment strategy, portfolio management and credit research. He leads fixed income strategy` and asset allocation, overseeing a recommended universe of more than 1,000 bonds and sukuk supporting over $10 Bn in Assets under advisory.
Prior to Emirates NBD, Satyajit held roles at ADCB, Deutsche Bank and ICRA. He holds a CFA charter and got his MBA in Finance from IIM Kozhikode as well as a M.Sc in Mathematics and Computing from IIT Kharagpur.
Mohammad AlFahim
Country Head of UAE, Oman and Bahrain
BlackRock
United Arab Emirates
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Mohammad AlFahim
Country Head of UAE, Oman and Bahrain
BlackRock
United Arab Emirates
Mohammad Al Fahim, Managing Director, serves as BlackRock Country Head UAE. In his role, Mohammad leads key strategic initiatives in the region and manages the delivery of BlackRock’s platform, collaborating closely with various client business channels, FMA and Aladdin. He is based in Abu Dhabi, where he oversees the ICB, FO and iSW client groups and drives strategic projects within BlackRock's Middle East operations. Prior to joining BlackRock, Mohammad held the position of CEO of Goldman Sachs Abu Dhabi Global Market Branch, where he also led the UAE business for Goldman Sachs Asset Management for 5 years. His prior experience also includes working with Mubadala Investment Company's healthcare team, focusing on healthcare investment execution and asset management within the UAE. Mohammad graduated with a BDS from the University College Cork, National University of Ireland.
Ehsan Khoman
Director
BlackRock
United Arab Emirates
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Ehsan Khoman
Director
BlackRock
United Arab Emirates
Ehsan Khoman is a Macro Strategist at BlackRock. He focuses on generating proprietary macro research and devising actionable market strategies to support asset allocation for the firm’s portfolio managers and clients. With over 20 years of experience across the financial sector, Ehsan is recognised for delivering insightful, data-driven analysis and driving value across global financial institutions, public policy bodies, leading corporates, and institutional investors. He has a proven track record of guiding C-suite executives through periods of macroeconomic volatility, formulating strategies that are both analytically rigorous and commercially relevant, while amplifying institutional influence through best-in-class research and strategic advisory. Throughout his career, Ehsan has been a prominent external voice on global platforms, enhancing institutional visibility, brand recognition, and thought leadership across media outlets, conference forums, regulatory consultations, and Board-level engagements.
Dr. Bhaskar Dasgupta
Chairman of the Board, Fundrock
Apex Group
United Arab Emirates
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Dr. Bhaskar Dasgupta
Chairman of the Board, Fundrock
Apex Group
United Arab Emirates
Dr Bhaskar Dasgupta is a board member, adviser and investor with extensive experience in regulation, strategy, business development and transformation across banking, capital markets, digital assets, asset management and technology. Based in UAE, he runs his ADGM based family office investing globally across financial services, fintech, virtual assets, health technology, defence and hospitality. He chairs the Apex FundRock Board and FundRock ADGM, and advises companies, families, regulators and universities internationally. Previously, he worked for the FSRA at Abu Dhabi Global Market and served as Chief Operating Officer of UK Export Finance, UK Goverment, following senior roles at HSBC, ABN AMRO, Citigroup and PwC globally.
Christiane El Habre
Global Head of Family Office
Apex Group
United Arab Emirates
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Christiane El Habre
Global Head of Family Office
Apex Group
United Arab Emirates
Christiane El Habre is Global Head of Family Offices at Apex Group, where she leads the firm's family office strategy worldwide. As Regional Managing Director, she also leads Apex's expansion across the Middle East. Drawing on two decades in wealth and asset management, she helps families institutionalize their capital through governance, structuring and institutional access.
Kristiina Lumeste
Senior Manager - Virtual & Digital Asset Solutions
Apex Group
United Arab Emirates
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Kristiina Lumeste
Senior Manager - Virtual & Digital Asset Solutions
Apex Group
United Arab Emirates
Kristiina Lumeste is a Senior Manager, Virtual & Digital Asset Solutions at Apex Group, focused on the convergence of traditional finance and digital assets. She works with asset managers, family offices, private banks, and institutional investors on tokenization, digital asset operating models, and next-generation investment structures. Based in the Middle East, Kristiina helps drive Apex Group's digital assets strategy, supporting clients across fund formation, administration, custody ecosystems, governance, and distribution. Her work is centered on enabling institutional access to digital assets while advancing the infrastructure required for the future of global capital markets.
Markus Krygier
Co Chief Investment Officer
Strategic Investment Group
United States of America
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Markus Krygier
Co Chief Investment Officer
Strategic Investment Group
United States of America
Markus Krygier, Ph.D; Co-Chief Investment Officer, Strategic Investment Group. Markus is a member of the Office of the CIO, responsible for all aspects of investment process, portfolio construction, and implementation in client portfolios, and sits on Strategic’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Previously, he was Deputy CIO at Amundi Asset Management in London; worked at Dresdner Kleinwort in London and the IMF in Washington DC; and was Head of Strategy at Credit Agricole Asset Management in London and Paris.
Markus holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Wayne State University and graduated from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Khurram Mirza
Senior Executive Officer
Strategic Investment Group
United Arab Emirates
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Khurram Mirza
Senior Executive Officer
Strategic Investment Group
United Arab Emirates
Khurram A. Mirza is Senior Executive Officer of SIG International (DIFC) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Strategic Investment Group, which holds a DFSA Prudential Category 4 licence. He was Chief Investment Officer of Osool Asset Management in Bahrain, managing assets for Bahrain's pension funds, and worked at Investcorp Bank and Aviva Investors in portfolio risk. He began his career in actuarial consulting in the UK over 30 years ago. A Fellow of the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries (London), he holds a BSc (Hons) in Actuarial Science and an MSc in Mathematical Trading and Finance from Bayes Business School.
Sunil Garg
Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer
Lighthouse Canton
United Arab Emirates
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Sunil Garg
Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer
Lighthouse Canton
United Arab Emirates
Sunil is an expert in global markets, banking, and macroeconomic research - he oversees the overall strategy of the Investment function at Lighthouse Canton.
Julie Rouas
Managing Director DIFC
KENDRIS
United Arab Emirates
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Julie Rouas
Managing Director DIFC
KENDRIS
United Arab Emirates
Advising Middle Eastern and international families on wealth structuring, succession planning and long-term continuity.
Hermione Harrison
Partner and Senior Director - Governance
M/HQ
United Arab Emirates
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Hermione Harrison
Partner and Senior Director - Governance
M/HQ
United Arab Emirates
Hermione Harrison, Partner and Senior Director - Governance at M/HQ, advises prominent families on governance, structuring, and long-term wealth planning. Her practice focuses on foundations, family offices, and complex cross-border holdings. Recognised in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide, she guides families through sensitive transitions, including succession planning and intergenerational governance.
Jinesh Patel
Director, Workplace Investing
Fidelity International
United Arab Emirates
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Jinesh Patel
Director, Workplace Investing
Fidelity International
United Arab Emirates
Jinesh has over 19 years’ experience in pensions and workplace savings industry and joined Fidelity in 2019. He partners with large multinational organisations across the GCC on the evolution of workplace savings, including the transition from traditional end-of-service benefits towards funded, long-term savings solutions. He brings extensive expertise across plan design, governance, and employee engagement programs.
Peter Duke
Head of Intermediary Sales - Middle East and Africa
Fidelity International
United Arab Emirates
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Peter Duke
Head of Intermediary Sales - Middle East and Africa
Fidelity International
United Arab Emirates
Peter Duke, Head of Intermediary Sales, Middle East & Africa
With over 30 years of industry experience, Peter leads Fidelity's Intermediary Sales business across the Middle East & Africa. Based in the UAE for more than two decades, he partners with banks, insurance companies, family offices, and institutional investors across the GCC. Peter's expertise spans public markets and retirement solutions. He joined Fidelity 25 years ago after holding positions with AMP and Aviva and holds a degree from the University of Manchester.
Thomas Frey
Partner
KENDRIS
Switzerland
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Thomas Frey
Partner
KENDRIS
Switzerland
Thomas Frey acts as legal counsel and advisor to international families, their global businesses and international wealth-holding structures.
Aimy Roshan
Partner, EMEA Disputes-Construction
White & Case LLP
United Arab Emirates
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Aimy Roshan
Partner, EMEA Disputes-Construction
White & Case LLP
United Arab Emirates
Aimy is a Partner in White & Case’s Dubai office, specializing in international arbitration, complex commercial litigation, regulatory investigations, and strategic advisory matters. She advises clients on high-value construction, infrastructure, energy, shareholder, M&A, fraud and white-collar disputes. Aimy also sits as arbitrator under major institutional rules, including ICC and DIAC. Her practice encompasses cross-border disputes across the Middle East and internationally, including proceedings before the DIFC Courts and UAE courts. Recognized by Chambers, Lexology Index and Legal 500, Aimy is noted for her hands-on approach, strategic insight and management of complex commercial disputes.
Hazem Ayoub
Head of Investments
Mashreq Bank
United Arab Emirates
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Hazem Ayoub
Head of Investments
Mashreq Bank
United Arab Emirates
Biju brings over 30 years of experience in Corporate Banking, Transaction Banking, Supply Chain Finance, Product Sales, Private Banking and Wealth Management across the Asia, GCC and wider MENA region. He has developed a strong network of Family Offices, Institutional and High-Net-Worth clients, with a proven track record in overseeing financial activities and delivering tailored investment & lending solutions. His approach is grounded in the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and disciplined client service.
Lata Swaminathan
Unit Head, Senior Director
Mashreq Private Bank
United Arab Emirates
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Lata Swaminathan
Unit Head, Senior Director
Mashreq Private Bank
United Arab Emirates
Lata comes with nearly 3 decades of impeccable track record in the banking sector, across 2 banks viz: Citibank & Mashreq Private Bank. She has essayed multiples Senior Management roles in the banking sector (Private Banking, Wealth Management, Service, Operations, Controls, Acquisitions, Marketing). Lata has a track record of consistently raising the delivery bar in the myriad roles undertaken by her. Client relationship & customer experience is her forte. She believes in achieving her goals with highest standards of ethics
and integrity.
Biju Thomas
Unit Head, Senior Director
Mashreq Private Banking
United Arab Emirates
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Biju Thomas
Unit Head, Senior Director
Mashreq Private Banking
United Arab Emirates
Biju brings over 30 years of experience in Corporate Banking, Transaction Banking, Supply
Chain Finance, Product Sales, Private Banking and Wealth Management across the Asia,
GCC and wider MENA region.
He has developed a strong network of Family Offices, Institutional and High-Net-Worth
clients, with a proven track record in overseeing financial activities and delivering tailored
investment & lending solutions. His approach is grounded in the highest standards of ethics,
integrity, and disciplined client service.Prior to joining Mashreq, held Corporate Banking
roles with First Abu Dhabi Bank, Saudi National Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank
& Reliance Industries Limited, where he further strengthened his expertise in managing sophisticated client portfolios.
Lamiaa Chaabi
Solution Chief Investment Officer
Blackrock
United Arab Emirates
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Lamiaa Chaabi
Solution Chief Investment Officer
Blackrock
United Arab Emirates
Lamiaa Chaabi is the MASS MPS Investment Lead and Solutions CIO - Middle East. In this capacity, she is responsible for model design and management, quantitative research, and the expansion of the solutions business in the region. Before this, she was a portfolio manager on the Diversified Strategies team within BlackRock's Multi-Asset Strategies & Solutions (MASS) group, which is responsible for developing, assembling and managing investment strategies involving multiple asset classes. She also led the development of the team’s portfolio construction analytics and tech capabilities.
Prior to this, she started her career in the Mergers & Acquisitions division at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs.
Lamiaa earned an MSc degree in Risk & Finance from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a BSc degree in Computer Science from University College London (UCL).
H. E. Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi
Minister of Foreign Trade
United Arab Emirates
UAE
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H. E. Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi
Minister of Foreign Trade
United Arab Emirates
UAE
His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi is the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Foreign Trade. He is responsible
for leading the development of the non-oil foreign trade, including the expansion of global trade partnerships, the
increase of national exports, and the consolidation of the UAE’s status as an international trade hub.
Hussain Sajwani
Founder & Chairman
Damac Group
United Arab Emirates
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Hussain Sajwani
Founder & Chairman
Damac Group
United Arab Emirates
Hussain Sajwani is the Founder of DAMAC Properties, one of the UAE’s and the Middle East’s largest private real estate developers. He is also the Founder of DAMAC Group, a global multi-billion-dollar conglomerate with operations spanning more than 20 countries across real estate, hospitality, data centers, retail, fashion, capital markets, and strategic investments.
Dr Shanu S.P. Hinduja
Chair
S.P. Hinduja Banque Privée
Switzerland
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Dr Shanu S.P. Hinduja
Chair
S.P. Hinduja Banque Privée
Switzerland
Dr. Shanu S. P. Hinduja is the Chair of S.P. Hinduja Banque Privée and Co-Chair of the UN Global Accelerator. As a trailblazing leader who pioneered as a female chair of a Swiss private bank, Dr. Hinduja blends institutional banking governance with values-driven, progressive leadership. Recognized globally by Forbes and the FT, she is a leading advocate for ethical wealth stewardship, sustainable development, and inclusive global capital markets.
Shehab Gargash
Founder
Gargash Prime
United Arab Emirates
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Shehab Gargash
Founder
Gargash Prime
United Arab Emirates
Shehab Gargash is a steward of a century-old UAE business family. Hailing from an early career in banking and financial services, Mr. Gargash branched the family business interests by founding Gargash Prime, a modern encapsulation of the family values in which he has been rooted throughout his business career.
Osama Ibrahim Seddiqi
Vice Chairman
Seddiqi Holding
United Arab Emirates
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Osama Ibrahim Seddiqi
Vice Chairman
Seddiqi Holding
United Arab Emirates
Osama Ibrahim Seddiqi is Vice-Chairman of Seddiqi Holding, where he works alongside the Board of Directors and shareholders to shape the Group’s strategic vision and long-term growth. He also serves as Chief Financial Officer, overseeing finance, legal, internal audit, retail projects and real estate developments, while spearheading strategic investments for the Group and the Seddiqi family. He is also Chairman of the Family Business Advisory Committee and serves on the boards of Retail Business Group and Dubai Insurance.
Zaid S. Al Khayyat
Managing Director
Al Khayyat Investments (AKI)
United Arab Emirates
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Zaid S. Al Khayyat
Managing Director
Al Khayyat Investments (AKI)
United Arab Emirates
Zaid S. Al Khayyat is Managing Director of Al Khayyat Investments (AKI), a diversified Emirati family-owned holding company, with more than 12,000 people driving its momentum. He guides AKI’s strategic growth, international partnerships and integration of AI and emerging technologies, with a focus on creating meaningful, lasting impact for the communities AKI serves. A champion of homegrown Emirati businesses, Zaid supports youth development, local manufacturing and innovation, contributing to the UAE’s long-term economic ambitions. He studied at Sawyer Business School in Boston and gained international experience at Oracle and Boston Consulting Group before returning to the UAE to continue building AKI’s legacy.
Katralnada Binghatti
CEO
Binghatti Holding Limited
United Arab Emirates
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Katralnada Binghatti
CEO
Binghatti Holding Limited
United Arab Emirates
Katralnada oversees Binghatti’s operations and portfolio of projects. Her vision was to place Binghatti on a global and international platform. In doing so, Katralnada has transformed Binghatti’s strategies by diversifying the group’s capital and investment, including the listing of Binghatti’s inaugural Sukuk on London Stock Exchange and NASDAQ Dubai. As an engineer by background, Katralnada holds a Bachelor of Science, in Industrial Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York.
Mohammed Al Fardan
Group CEO
Al Fardan Corporation
United Arab Emirates
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Mohammed Al Fardan
Group CEO
Al Fardan Corporation
United Arab Emirates
A strong advocate for innovation-driven economies, Mohammed has been at the forefront of investments in artificial intelligence, fintech, digital banking, data centers, semiconductors, blockchain, and next-generation technologies. Through Al Fardan Ventures and its global ecosystem, he actively supports entrepreneurs, emerging technologies, and transformative industries that are shaping the future of business and society. Mohammed is also deeply involved in strategic investments across sports, media, and digital transformation, recognizing the convergence of technology, capital markets, and global entertainment as one of the defining investment themes of the next decade.
Maurice Gravier
Group Chief Investment Officer for Wealth Management
Emirates NBD
United Arab Emirates
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Maurice Gravier
Group Chief Investment Officer for Wealth Management
Emirates NBD
United Arab Emirates
Maurice Gravier is Emirates NBD’s Group Chief Investment Officer for Wealth Management since 2018. He has over 25 years of investment experience across asset and wealth management, with roots in public equity and multi-asset. His previous positions include fund manager and head of active equity at Natixis Asset Management (Paris), head of equity portfolio management and strategy and member of the investment committee at Lombard Odier (Geneva), and member of the Executive Committee of a prominent Dubai based family office. A French national, he earned a Masters in Management in 1995 from ESCP Europe business school. Maurice is a regular host of Bloomberg TV and CNBC and a LinkedIn “Top Voice”.
Mohammed Al Hakim
Vice Chairman
MultiBank Group
United Arab Emirates
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Mohammed Al Hakim
Vice Chairman
MultiBank Group
United Arab Emirates
Mohammed Al Hakim is Vice Chairman of MultiBank Group and CEO of MB.io, overseeing MultiBank Exchange. His appointment as President of Crypto.com’s UAE operations marked the first time an Emirati and GCC national held such a role in the cryptocurrency industry. He helped build its UAE business through regulatory milestones and partnerships with Emirates, Dubai Duty Free and Dubai Finance. He previously held senior roles in the UAE federal government.
Dixit Joshi
Managing Director, Middle East Technology and Advisory Solutions, and Digital Assets
BlackRock
United Arab Emirates
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Dixit Joshi
Managing Director, Middle East Technology and Advisory Solutions, and Digital Assets
BlackRock
United Arab Emirates
Dixit Joshi, Managing Director, is focused on Middle East Technology and Advisory Solutions, and Digital Assets, and is based in the Middle East. He helps drive the expansion of BlackRock’s Middle East platform across technology, digital assets, capital markets, and whole portfolio solutions.
Dixit brings more than 30 years of global financial services experience spanning finance, risk, treasury, trading and capital markets, senior business leadership, restructuring, and board governance.
Before joining BlackRock, he was Chief Financial Officer and an Executive Board member of Credit Suisse through its combination with UBS. He previously spent twelve years at Deutsche Bank in London and Hong Kong, where his roles included Group Treasurer and senior leadership positions across prime finance, fixed income, and equities. Earlier, he held senior roles at Barclays and Credit Suisse First Boston.
Dixit previously served on the boards of Man Group plc and Nedbank Group Limited, with responsibilities spanning audit, risk, and capital management.
He supports education and financial inclusion through the Student Sponsorship Programme in South Africa and the Financial Times Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign, and previously served on the board of Pratham, an India focused education NGO. He holds a degree in Statistics and Actuarial Science and Statistics from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Jane Witherspoon
Managing Editor Middle East, Central Asia and South Caucasus
Euronews
United Arab Emirates
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Jane Witherspoon
Managing Editor Middle East, Central Asia and South Caucasus
Euronews
United Arab Emirates
Jane Witherspoon is Managing Editor, Middle East, Central Asia and South Caucasus for Euronews and is based in their Dubai bureau. She manages the output and teams across the regions.
She regularly appears in some of Euronews’ best-known titles including The Agenda and Interview and is the host of Global Conversation. As part of this coverage, Jane has interviewed high-profile personalities, presidents and prime ministers including Presidents Ilham Aliyev (Azerbaijan) and Bajram Begaj (Albania), Prime Ministers IrakliKobakhidze (Georgia) and Milojko Spajić (Montenegro), entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer, EU Ambassador to the UAE Andrea Matteo Fontana, chef Gordon Ramsay and legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan to name a few.
Yann Mrazek
Managing Partner
M/HQ
United Arab Emirates
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Yann Mrazek
Managing Partner
M/HQ
United Arab Emirates
Yann Mrazek is Managing Partner at M/HQ, specialising in private wealth and intergenerational planning. He advises entrepreneurial families on implementing wealth transfer strategies and structuring global assets through family holdings and private offices. He is a three-time WealthBriefing MENA Leading Individual awardee.
David Morley
Director-Middle East and Africa Institutional
Fidelity International
United Arab Emirates
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David Morley
Director-Middle East and Africa Institutional
Fidelity International
United Arab Emirates
David represents Fidelity across the institutional market in the GCC. His partnerships include sovereign wealth funds, central banks, family offices, pension funds, and treasury functions. David's expertise covers the public equity and credit markets that are deeply rooted in Fidelity's heritage as well as private markets such as real estate and private credit.
Will Lund
Partner & Head of Tax Structuring, Middle East
White & Case LLP
United Arab Emirates
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Will Lund
Partner & Head of Tax Structuring, Middle East
White & Case LLP
United Arab Emirates
Will Lund is Partner and Head of Tax Structuring, Middle East, at White & Case LLP. He advises clients across the Middle East and other major international markets on the tax aspects of complex cross-border private equity and M&A transactions, investment structures, financings and strategic tax matters. His practice includes advising sponsors and investors on fund structures, real estate transactions, corporate reorganizations and incentive arrangements, including carried interest structures. Recognized by Chambers for his commercial judgement and experience, Will brings a practical perspective to sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional deals.
