BrazilAbdullah Akbar appointed Head of Family Business and Private Enterprise at KPMG
KPMG has announced the appointment of Abdullah Akbar as the new Head of Family Business and Private Enterprise for the Middle East, a role he holds alongside his position as Head of the Board Leadership Centre for the region.
In his new function, Abdullah Akbar will lead the development of KPMG’s Family Business and Private Enterprise industry group, working closely with service line leaders to deepen client relationships and drive growth across the region.
Family-owned businesses are an integral part of economies and societies worldwide, but in the Middle East, their role is even more at the forefront, with family businesses contributing over 60% to economic output (GDP) and employing more than 80% of the workforce.
Additionally, Akbar will help KPMG champion stronger governance standards in the sector, echoing key findings from the firm’s Global Family Business Report, which underscores that high-performing family businesses are significantly more likely to have formal board structures in place.
Abdullah Al Fozan and Emilio Pera, the CEO and Deputy CEO of KPMG in the Middle East, said that the appointment of Akbar will position KPMG as the premier advisor for family businesses across the Middle East [a claim backed among others by this ranking], aligned with national transformation agendas such as Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia, Vision 2031 in the UAE and Vision 2040 in Oman.
Al Fozan stated: “KPMG remains deeply committed to supporting the region’s family businesses as they navigate generational transitions, market shifts, and governance enhancements. Under Abdullah’s leadership, we are confident in our ability to drive growth, sustainability, and governance excellence across the Middle East.”
Pera added: “Family businesses and private enterprise are essential drivers of the economies in our region. We continue to invest in the segment and expand our client relationships with family-owned enterprises across the region as a premier advisor on family business governance, succession planning and growth in the Middle East.”
