Ankura strengthens financial services advisory team with Salah Hamawi

Ankura has strengthened its Middle East business with the appointment of Salah Hamawi as Senior Managing Director in the firm’s Advisory business.

Born and raised in Bahrain, Hamawi began his professional career in North America, gaining corporate experience and pursuing entrepreneurial ventures. Yet from early on, he always knew he wanted to apply his talents to strengthen ‘back home’.

“I returned to the Middle East because I believe in growing and transforming the region,” says Hamawi, who moved from New York to Dubai in 2017. He initially worked at PwC for five years before joining Kearney, where he became a partner in 2024.

Hamawi focuses on clients within the financial services ecosystem, specialising in areas such as performance improvement, organisational design, large-scale transformation, digital & analytics, and transactions. He has built a track record serving commercial banks, regulators, central banks, fintechs, and other players across the financial services sector.

“Over the years, my experience in problem-solving, technology, entrepreneurship, and consulting has positioned me at the intersection of tech and financial services,” Hamawi explains. “I’m always looking ahead to understand how technology will shape the financial services industry and how I can help influence that future.”

As of the start of this year, Hamawi is continuing his mission with Ankura, a global consulting firm with offices in Riyadh and Dubai.

“I’m excited to be joining Ankura and contributing to its growth story as we expand the practice across the region and partner with institutions to rethink strategy, operating models, and innovation. I look forward to reconnecting with old friends, meeting new colleagues, and collaborating with clients on what comes next.”