Facebook appoints former consultant as new managing director for MENA

Social media giant Facebook has named former consulting executive Ramez Shehadi as its new managing director for the Middle East and North Africa.

As the company seeks to gain ground in the Middle East, global social media giant Facebook has named experienced management consultant Ramez Shehadi as its new Managing Director for the MENA region. In a media release, Facebook stated that Shehadi will be tasked with leading the commercial growth of the social media platform’s growing portfolio of apps, services and business offerings across the region.

“The ever-evolving MENA region continues to be a key market for Facebook, with over 181 million people using the platform every month,” explained Facebook Vice President of Middle East, Turkey and Africa Ari Kesisoglu. “Ramez’s depth of global experience in industry and technology strategy will help us further drive impact amongst individuals, communities and institutions in the region.”

“We remain only 1 percent finished in our journey and look forward to seeing Ramez lead our MENA team into the next chapter of Facebook’s story in the region and beyond,” Kesisoglu added, with the firm noting the extensive experience in “establishing, scaling and running regional and global lines of business and cross-industry portfolios” Shehadi brings to the role.Based in the Middle East since 2001, Shehadi previously headed Booz Allen Hamilton’s MENA business and technology consulting practice as a Senior Partner and Managing Director for nearly three and a half years. In an earlier close to seven-year stint with Booz Allen Hamilton (from 2001 to 2008) Shehadi served as MENA Regional Leader of Information Technology Practice, before crossing to spin-off Booz & Company.

At Booz & Company (now Strategy&), where he worked for more than six years until 2014, Shehadi was a Vice President and global co-lead of Booz Digital and the firm’s digitisation platform. Earlier in his career, Shehadi spent three years with A.T. Kearney’s Strategic Information Technology Practice in the US and Canada, after crossing from the field of industrial engineering, in which he holds a masters degree.

In addition to his consulting career, Shehadi sits on several boards, including as a member of the board of directors for logistics provider Amarex, as a member of the board of trustees for the Beirut Museum of Art (BeMA), and as a fellow / moderator for The Aspen Institute's Middle East Leadership Initiative, which brings together transformational leaders to address community challenges and needs.

Commenting on his new challenge, Shehadi said, “Digital transformation is well underway across the region, driven by demand for secure, fast and personalised online experiences throughout social communities and public and private sectors. I am excited to join the Facebook team at such a time and look forward to helping shape and drive the strategy in MENA, ensuring that the market remains prioritised and a source of information globally.”