BrazilPortas Consulting promotes Wissam Khalaf to partner
Four years after joining the specialised sports consultancy, Wissam Khalaf has become a partner at Portas Consulting.
Wissam Khalaf brings over a decade of consulting experience to the firm’s partnership, and becomes the firm’s fifth partner globally alongside company founder David Portas (an ex-McKinsey partner), Asahi Takano (also ex-McKinsey based in Singapore) and Middle East based partners Nathan Clute (ex-PwC partner) and Donal Mcelwee (ex-Roland Berger and head of the Middle East region).
Prior to joining Portas Consulting, which founded in 2006 in the UK, Khalaf spent eight years with Strategy& (formerly Booz & Company). The Lebanese-origin advisor has extensive experience working with governments, sports ministries and sports governing bodies on the development of sector strategies, market entry plans, commercial turnaround, operating model design, project management, and partnership & alliances.
Commenting on the promotion, Mcelwee said: “Over the past four years, Wissam has been an integral part of our regional and global growth. He has established a distinctive client portfolio in the Middle East, as well as dedicated projects in football, camel racing, and motorsports.”
“Wissam has exemplified our values and behaviours throughout his tenure. Clients told us how they highly value his excellent advice and distinctive knowledge of the sports landscape in the region. Partners and colleagues recognise his dedication, commitment, and leadership.”
Khalaf holds a Bachelor degree from the American University of Beirut, a Master degree from Telecom ParisTech and an MBA from Insead.
Portas Consulting has offices in London, Dubai, Riyadh and Singapore. Its track record in the Middle East includes: developing a national sports participation strategy for Saudi Arabia’s government, developing an esports vision and strategy for mega project in GCC, supporting a sports investment business plan for a sovereign wealth fund, and helping am international sports apparel company expand into the region.
Internationally, the consulting firm recently helped the Scottish Football Association with developing its new five-year strategy, and supported the English Football Association with its recently launched ‘The Social and Economic Value of Grassroots Football in England’ report.
