Middle East firms must secure their strategies for global grasp

by Mohamad Mourad, Rafiu Abina & Amr Goussous February 22, 2010

written by Mohamad Mourad, Rafiu Abina & Amr Goussous February 22, 2010

Fueled by their financial strength and increasing competition in their home markets, many Middle Eastern companies have launched unprecedented cross-border expansions since 2004. The disclosed value of Middle Eastern companies’ cross-border merger and acquisition (M&A) deals between 2004 and the third quarter of 2009 exceeded $127 billion, accounting for 63 percent of total regional M&As. These companies now operate in multiple markets and industries globally, with revenues from international subsidiaries becoming a key contributor to their growth. Going global, however, comes with a new and challenging set of organizational demands, which most Middle Eastern companies are facing for the first time. The companies that successfully address these challenges will be best positioned to earn a place among the world’s largest and most successful businesses. Now is the time for the senior executives in the region to create a sound foundation for successful global growth by reviewing their operating models and

Mohamad Mourad

Mohamad Mourad has a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from LAU and an MBA from INSEAD. He started his career right after graduating from LAU in 1994 as the regional manager for Beam Engineering. In 2002 he joined Mars as the company’s Business Planning Manager. In 2005 he took the post of Principal at Booz & Company. In 2011 Mohamad was approached by Google and was offered the position of Managing Director for their operation in the Middle East and North Africa, a job he accepted. In 2016 he became Google’s Senior Director for YouTube Products Partnerships. In 2019, Mohamad joined Instacart, the North American leader in online groceries and one of the fastest-growing companies in e-commerce, as Vice President of Partnerships.

Rafiu Abina

Rafiu Abina is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in launching and growing successful businesses and products, guiding transformations, and leading strategy and operations functions. He has served as CEO, CCO, and head of strategy across telecom, tech, consumer/media, and healthcare sectors in the US, Africa, and the Middle East, focusing on driving growth. Known for his people skills and judgment, he has a proven track record of building and empowering teams while collaborating with diverse stakeholders. His expertise includes go-to-market strategy, strategic partnerships, digital transformation, product strategy, and new business incubation.

Amr Goussous

Amr co-leads the Transport & Logistics practice in the Middle East. He advises leading public and private sector players in the region on their sector and corporate strategies, capability led transformation and operating model and governance alignment.

Middle East firms must secure their strategies for global grasp

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