AHMED HEIKAL

Dr. Heikal is the founder of Qalaa Holdings (QH). In the past 10 years QH transformed from a general partnership private equity manager with EGP 2 million in capital to a leading investment holdings firm investing in Egypt and East Africa with EGP 9.1 billion in capital. The firm is a leading investor in a number of platform companies in the energy, cement, transportation & logistics, mining, consumer finance and retail sectors.

Prior to founding Qalaa Holdings, Dr. Heikal had joined EFG Hermes in 1992. At the time, EFG Hermes had a capital of EGP 250,000. Dr. Heikal was instrumental in transforming EFG Hermes from a small financial consultancy into the leading investment bank in the Arab world and emerging markets. Dr. Heikal was an executive board member and Managing Director of EFG Hermes Holding. He was also head of asset management (1994-95), head of investment banking (1996-97), head of securities brokerage (1997-99), and head of private equity (1999-2001). He spearheaded highly successful private equity investments, including the creation of Egypt’s leading IT company (Raya Holding) and Egypt’s largest natural gas distribution company (Genco). He also raised three rounds of financing for regional mobile telecommunications operator Orascom Telecom and led the IPOs of Orascom Construction Industries and Orascom Hotels, among other landmark transactions.

Dr. Heikal holds a Master’s degree and a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management from Stanford University.

Hisham El-Khazindar

Mr. Farouk joined Qalaa Holdings in 2006 with more than 16 years of experience in finance and accounting, having previously served as Finance Manager of Fayrouz International A.G., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Heineken International. At Fayrouz International, he was responsible for leading high profile projects related to transfer pricing, tax structuring and financial systems. Mr. Farouk joined Fayrouz from Procter & Gamble, where he served as Senior Costing Manager, and began his career at EFG Hermes Securities Brokerage, the largest broker in the Arab world, handling high-net-worth and institutional clients.

KARIM SADEK

Managing Director

Prior to joining Qalaa Holdings, Mr. Sadek was Managing Director of the Arab Investment Company (ABIC), one of the largest private-equity firms in Egypt. During his tenure, Mr. Sadek returned a substantial part of the firm’s total investments (valued at over EGP 500 million [US$ 90.91 million]) to ABIC’s shareholders in the form of dividends and share buybacks. Mr. Sadek holds a Master’s in International Securities, Investment and Banking from the Business School for Financial Markets at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. He has extensive experience in corporate banking and credit risk assessment through his work both at the Commercial International Bank (CIB) and Arab Bank.

MOATAZ FAROUK

Mr. Farouk joined Qalaa Holdings in 2006 with more than 16 years of experience in finance and accounting, having previously served as Finance Manager of Fayrouz International A.G., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Heineken International. At Fayrouz International, he was responsible for leading high profile projects related to transfer pricing, tax structuring and financial systems. Mr. Farouk joined Fayrouz from Procter & Gamble, where he served as Senior Costing Manager, and began his career at EFG Hermes Securities Brokerage, the largest broker in the Arab world, handling high-net-worth and institutional clients.

MAGDY EL DESOUKY

Magdy El-Desouky is a Non-Executive Member of the Board of Directors of Qalaa Holdings. Mr. El-Deskouky has since 1994 been with Egypt’s Youssef Allam Group, where he is presently Vice-President for Investments. With more than 35 years of experience at both global and regional investment and financial management firms, Mr. El-Dessouky was previously assistant financial auditor of Le Meridian Jeddah Hotel, the financial auditor of Ramada Jeddah Hotel, General Director of Ramada Jeddah Hotel, and the administrative director and finance manager at Naghi Motors Company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition to his service to Qalaa Holdings' Board of Directors, he sits on the boards of companies including EGYCAP Investment, MENA for Real Estate Investment, National Company for Development and Trade, Golden Crescent, Bonyan, Gozour and United Company for Foundries. Mr. El-Desouky holds a BA in Commerce from Cairo University.

PHILIP BLAIR DUNDAS, JR.

Dr. Dina Sherif is an Independent Member of the Board of Directors of Qalaa Holdings. Ms. Sherif is the founder and CEO of Ahead of the Curve (ATC), a social enterprise promoting sustainable management practices and the development of socially innovative business models. ATC established the first impact investment fund in the MENA region called Entrepreneurship with Impact Ventures to support early stage impact entrepreneurs through equity financing. Ms. Sherif serves as an Advisor to the President of Egypt for economic development and job creation, and is currently an Associate Professor of Practice, holding the endowed Willard Brown Chair for International Business at the American University in Cairo, where she is also Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. She earned both her BA in Political Science and International Relations and her MA in Economic Development from the American University in Cairo.

MONA MAKRAM-EBEID

Dr. Dina Sherif is an Independent Member of the Board of Directors of Qalaa Holdings. Ms. Sherif is the founder and CEO of Ahead of the Curve (ATC), a social enterprise promoting sustainable management practices and the development of socially innovative business models. ATC established the first impact investment fund in the MENA region called Entrepreneurship with Impact Ventures to support early stage impact entrepreneurs through equity financing. Ms. Sherif serves as an Advisor to the President of Egypt for economic development and job creation, and is currently an Associate Professor of Practice, holding the endowed Willard Brown Chair for International Business at the American University in Cairo, where she is also Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. She earned both her BA in Political Science and International Relations and her MA in Economic Development from the American University in Cairo.

DINA HASSAN SHERIF

Dr. Dina Sherif is an Independent Member of the Board of Directors of Qalaa Holdings. Ms. Sherif is the founder and CEO of Ahead of the Curve (ATC), a social enterprise promoting sustainable management practices and the development of socially innovative business models. ATC established the first impact investment fund in the MENA region called Entrepreneurship with Impact Ventures to support early stage impact entrepreneurs through equity financing. Ms. Sherif serves as an Advisor to the President of Egypt for economic development and job creation, and is currently an Associate Professor of Practice, holding the endowed Willard Brown Chair for International Business at the American University in Cairo, where she is also Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. She earned both her BA in Political Science and International Relations and her MA in Economic Development from the American University in Cairo.