Roland Berger strengthens Middle East leadership with Kenan Nouwailati

Global strategy and management consultancy Roland Berger has appointed Kenan Nouwailati as Senior Partner and member of its Middle East leadership team.

Based in Riyadh, Kenan Nouwailati will oversee the firm’s Operations practice, with a remit across the Middle East. Headquartered in Germany, Roland Berger has five offices in the region – in Dubai, Beirut, Doha, Manama and Riyadh.

Nouwailati brings over 35 years of global experience across consulting and industry, with a track record in transforming procurement, improving supply chain management, developing and executing localization plans, and leveraging technology to ensure growth and performance excellence.

A chartered mechanical engineer from the UK, Nouwailati began his career in the energy sector before making a headway into consulting in year 2000. He has advised clients in primarily energy, utilities and in the public sector across the Midde East and Europe.

“I am delighted to join Roland Berger at such a pivotal time for the region. As industries evolve in line with national transformation agendas, there is tremendous opportunity to reimagine how organizations operate, through stronger supply chains, digitalization, and innovation. I look forward to partnering with clients to help them achieve sustained performance and operational distinction while propelling the growth of Roland Berger,” said Nouwailati.

Prior to joining the firm, Nouwailati was a Senior Partner at KPMG and a key leader in its Middle East Advisory business. He also was a Managing Director at Accenture Strategy and served Charles River Associates, latterly in the role of Vice President.

In the region (and worldwide), Roland Berger has one of the strongest Operations practices in the industry.

“Kenan’s appointment marks a significant step forward in strengthening our regional leadership and deepening our capabilities in operations transformation,” said Santiago Castillo, Managing Director for the Middle East. “His deep technical expertise, global perspective, and regional experience will enable us to deliver even greater impact for our clients, particularly as organizations across the Middle East accelerate localization, cost optimization, and operational excellence.”