Ahmed Al-Esry succeeds Sherif El-Kilany as EY's MENA Tax boss

EY veteran Ahmed Al-Esry has been promoted to the head of the firm’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Tax practice. 

Al-Esry takes the reins from another company veteran, Sherif El-Kilany, who will remain with the accounting and consulting giant, transitioning to the role of Managing Partner for EY Egypt.

In his new role, Al-Esry leads a team of tax professionals across 16 countries and 21 offices. EY’s Tax service line offers a range of tax services, including business tax services, global compliance reporting, international tax & transaction services, indirect tax, tax technology and legal tax. 

“I am very excited to be leading the Tax team at EY for the MENA region,” said El-Esry, who joined the firm some 20 years ago after previously serving Petroleum Development Oman. He started in the Assurance unit before moving to the Tax service line in 2007. In 2014 he became the Country Managing Partner for Oman, and in 2018 was appointed as the Kuwait, Qatar, Oman cluster Tax Leader. 

In his client work, El-Esry brings a wealth of tax experience to the table. He led numerous tax advisory projects for both local and international companies in the oil and gas, construction, and manufacturing sectors as well as the financial services industry.

Looking ahead, MENA’s new Tax boss said that he foresees a number of growth areas to unfold as economies gradually emerge out of the current covid-19-induced crisis. Growing tax focus from governments is one, on the back of recent changes to corporate tax and VAT. “Efficient tax systems will help mobilise revenue, allowing for a more robust economy,” he said.

An accelerated push for digitisation is another: “A sophisticated, digital tax function can support businesses and allow for better data, risk management, strategy, and compliance.” 

Congratulating El-Esry on his promotion, Abdulaziz Al-Sowailim, EY’s boss for the MENA region, said “Ahmed’s broad experience across a variety of sectors and specialised tax services will allow him to continue to grow and strengthen the EY tax service and the solutions we offer our clients.”

In related news, one of EY’s main rivals PwC earlier this week promoted seven of its professionals to partner in its Consulting division.