Ward Howell makes its Middle East debut with new Abu Dhabi office

Ward Howell, a global leadership advisory and executive search firm, has made its on the ground debut in the Middle East.

Established at the start of this month, the new office in Abu Dhabi will serve as Ward Howell’s stepping stone for the UAE market, and the broader GCC region. Ward Howell, which is headquartered in Germany, now has 30+ offices in 23 different countries worldwide.

Commenting on the expansion, Bernd Prasuhn, Chairman of Ward Howell, stated: “The opening of our Abu Dhabi office is a significant step in our global growth strategy. This region holds immense potential for economic and business development, and we are excited to bring our decades of expertise to support organizations in achieving their leadership goals.”

“With this expansion, Ward Howell reaffirms its dedication to supporting clients in the Middle East, delivering the same standard of excellence that has defined the firm for over 70 years.”

Ward Howell was founded in 1951 by a former McKinsey & Company leader. Today, the company is active in three lines of business: board-level human capital and governance advisory, executive search, and leadership development.

The decision for Abu Dhabi as its Middle East base was according to Prasuhn based on the “capital’s strategic importance as a hub for business and innovation within the UAE.” The office is located in ADGM, an international financial centre in the heart of the capital city.

Recruited to lead the new venture are two Armenians, Sevag Alexandrian and Gregory Nazaryan, who both previously were partners at counterpart True Search. “Sevag and Gregory bring extensive experience and a deep understanding of the local and regional markets, making them ideally positioned to drive Ward Howell’s growth in this dynamic area,” stated Prasuhn.