Sia announces senior promotions in its Middle East team
Global management consulting firm Sia has announced a series of promotions in the Middle East, including four senior leaders recognized for their contributions to the firm’s growth and the expansion of its capabilities across the region.
The senior promotion cohort comprises Cesar Moukarzel, who has been promoted to Partner; Khalid El Bachraoui and Patrick Holzer, who have been elevated to Associate Partner; and Anis Balla, who has been appointed as Managing Director.
Cesar Moukarzel has been with Sia for eight years, focusing on public sector strategy, innovation, sustainability, and large-scale transformation programs. Based in Dubai, he advises government entities on major national initiatives focused on service redesign, digital transformation, and sustainability. He leads the Citizen Services offering worldwide.
Prior to joining Sia in 2018, Moukarzel’s career spanned consulting and industry roles across Europe, South-East Asia, and the Middle East.
He holds a Doctorate in Public Administration at the University of Paris-Dauphine (France), a Master’s Degree in Strategy and Innovation from the University of Oxford (UK), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut (Lebanon).
Khalid El Bachraoui has spent 15 years with Sia, having joined the consulting firm in 2011 following a career spanning both consulting and industry. He specializes in business and digital transformation, artificial intelligence, data, digital innovation, and customer experience.
A graduate of Delft University of Technology with an Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering, he has led major digital transformation programs and developed customer-centric strategies across sectors including travel, energy & utilities, manufacturing, retail, and government. El Bachraoui is based in Dubai, where he leads Sia’s Digital, AI, and Customer Experience activities across the Middle East.
Patrick Holzer joined Sia in 2018 after a career across consulting and industry roles. He is an expert in business strategy and transformation, market and business model innovation, economic clusters development, and long-term strategic growth, and works for clients across sectors.
At Sia, Holzer leads the Strategy & Future Foresight, Tourism & Hospitality, and Culture & Creative Industries practices in the GCC, supporting clients across one of the region’s fastest-growing sectors. He holds an MBA from Hult International Business School.
Anis Balla has been with Sia for five years. Based in Dubai, he leads the firm’s Energy, Utilities, and Transport activities across the Middle East. Drawing on his international experience, he advises clients on strategic projects focused on innovation, business transformation, and human capital development across the region.
Before joining Sia in 2021, Balla spent nearly a decade working in the consulting industry in France. He is a graduate of École des Mines in France with a degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business Management.
Sia in the Middle East
Founded in 1999, Sia has over 3,000 consultants working from 48 offices across 19 countries. The company has been present in the Middle East since 2009, and currently employs around 100 employees across its offices in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. The firm’s award-winning Middle East team supports both government entities and private organizations, primarily on strategic growth and digital transformation initiatives.
