Oxford Business Group (OBG), a global publishing, research and consultancy firm, has appointed Michelle Solomon its new regional director for its operations in the Gulf. In her new role, Michelle will spearhead OBG’s country reports across the region. The group’s publications have earned a reputation among the global business community as market leaders thanks to the key analysis and comprehensive data they provide on the developments taking place in GCC economies. Since joining OBG in 2005 as country director, Michelle has played a key role in helping the group expand its operations across the Gulf. She has overseen the production of some of its most important publications, including the group’s landmark launch report on Saudi Arabia’s economic activity and investment opportunities that was published in 2006. She moved to Saudi Arabia after making a valuable contribution to OBG’s operations in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain. After a two-year tenure in Saudi Arabia, she returned to Abu Dhabi in 2008, where she remained to oversee production of OBG’s economic guides on the Emirate, which have been published annually over the past three years. Her work in Saudi Arabia helped lay the foundations for OBG’s 2010 report. Michelle said she was delighted that her new role would give her the chance to once again witness firsthand Saudi Arabia’s fast-paced progress in driving forward reforms as it continues to diversify its economy on the back of revenues from its vast hydrocarbons reserves. Elizabeth Boissevain, OBG’s director of field operations, said that the experience Michelle had gained in her six years as country director across the Gulf would equip her well for her new challenge.
Estarta Solutions’ board of directors has appointed Rasheed D. Shakhsheer as the company’s CEO. He will be lead managing the regional ICT provider and innovator. Shakhsheer is a seasoned executive with 20 years of success driving multi-million dollar revenue growth in ICT solutions and engineering services. He holds a master’s degree in engineering management and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Washington State. He combines big company experience with entrepreneurial drive, and has a track record of efficiency in extending market reach and building strategic alliances across several vertical markets. Shakhsheer said: “I’m honored with the trust reposed in me by the board of directors and look forward to solidifying Estarta’s market leadership in the region.” Prior to joining Estarta, he was director of key projects at Mobily, a major mobile and data operator in Saudi Arabia. Previously, he was country manager for Microsoft Corporation in Oman, and business development and partner’s manager in Microsoft Arabia. He was also a member of the Microsoft Middle East Leadership Team. Formerly, Shakhsheer was senior business development consultant at Intergraph Corporation for the Middle East following regional sales management assignments in Saudi Arabia. He started his career as professional engineer at Dar Al Handasah Group and ZF Engineering Consultants.
As part of its restructuring strategy, TAIB Bank has appointed Khaldoon Bin Latif as general manager of TAIB Securities. Before joining TAIB, Bin Latif was head of the international equity sales desk at AKD Securities, a major securities firm in Pakistan. He has extensive experience in trading equities from both a ‘Buy and Sell’ side perspective. Prior to his role at AKD Securities, Bin Latif was head of research with responsibilities for the management of an energy fund at PICIC Asset Management, part of Temasek Holdings, an Asian investment house headquartered in Singapore with 193 billion Singapore dollars under management. Bin Latif, who has a degree in economics from Lahore University of Management Services, said: “TAIB has a well-established private client broking business within the region with one of the widest broking platforms in the Middle East with market access to over 40 countries via its presence in Turkey, Kazakhstan, the UAE, Bahrain and India. This capability will provide our Middle Eastern investors with access to some of the fastest growing frontier and emerging markets and I am very excited about both the growth and investment opportunities that lie ahead for TAIB and its client base.” Welcoming Bin Latif, Sohail Sultan, TAIB’s CEO, said: “A restructured and rewrapped broking platform is key for TAIB as we look to rebuild our equity capital markets business within our geographic footprint of the Middle East, South Asia, Turkey and Central Asia.”
