KPMG strengthens Middle East leadership team with six senior appointments
KPMG has announced several leadership appointments in the Middle East, with a six-person line up strengthening its capabilities in financial services, digital transformation, and technology consulting across the region.
Jamal Habahbeh has been appointed Head of Financial Services for KPMG in the Middle East. With 30+ years in financial services and technology, he previously held senior roles at Big Four firms, Crealogix, and regional banks.
Based in Riyadh, he will drive KPMG’s financial services strategy, focusing on banking, insurance, capital markets, and fintech, heavily concentrating on national transformation agendas such as Vision 2030.
Ali Buhaji has joined KPMG as a Partner focusing on Abu Dhabi’s Government and Public Sector and UAE market growth. With 18 years of leadership at Masdar, Rolls-Royce, and ADNOC, he has delivered landmark renewable energy projects, including the Al Dhafra Solar plant and Abu Dhabi’s first solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) giga-project.
Based in Abu Dhabi, he will help expand KPMG’s footprint in the UAE.
Ollie Holger Kurpanik has joined as a Partner in the Advisory business, relocating from KPMG’s team in Germany. He brings 16 years of experience across Australia, Germany, and Global in risk consulting, financial risk management, and assurance. He previously led KPMG Global’s Risk Hub Solution and will now strengthen managed service risk offerings in the Middle East.
Based in Dubai, he will support both regional and global clients out of the emirate.
Amur Ali has joined as a Partner in the Digital and Innovation practice, part of the Advisory division. He has over 20 years of experience in IT strategy, ERP, enterprise architecture, and digital platforms, leading large-scale transformations with cloud, AI, and automation. He previously was a Partner at another Big Four firm.
He is based out of Dubai, and will focus on digital transformation work in the UAE.
Maher Kilani has been named a Partner in the Technology practice within Advisory. With two decades of consulting experience, he has led national initiatives in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, including e-government and performance systems.
Previously at Deloitte, where he spent thirteen years and latterly led AI & Data Analytics, Kilani’s focus will be on bolstering KPMG’s technology offerings in the region.
Yousaf Mir joins as Partner in Advisory, bringing 20+ years in technology consulting and financial services across the UK, Europe, Australia, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. He will lead KPMG’s Financial Services Advisory team and accelerate growth in ServiceNow solutions across the region.
Comments from top leadership
Commenting on the senior appointments, Abdullah Al Fozan, CEO of KPMG in the Middle East said: “The Middle East is at the forefront of global economic and digital transformation, with financial services and technology driving much of this momentum. These leadership appointments demonstrate KPMG’s continued commitment to helping our clients reimagine business models, embrace innovation, and deliver long-term impact aligned with national visions.”
“With Jamal, Ali, Ollie, Amur, Maher, and Yousaf joining our leadership ranks, we are uniquely positioned to guide organizations through this next wave of growth and digitization.”
Emilio Pera, Deputy CEO of KPMG in the Middle East added: “The addition of these seasoned leaders strengthens our ability to support clients across critical sectors where digital adoption, resilience, and regulatory transformation are reshaping the business landscape. From financial services and fintech to AI, data, and enterprise platforms, our new partners bring the right expertise at the right time.”
