BrazilZachary Kaplan and Dragos Fundulea join Roland Berger in Middle East
The Middle East team of global strategy consultancy Roland Berger has bolstered its Sustainability practice with the addition of Zachary Kaplan and Dragos Fundulea.
Appointed a partner and principal respectively, Zachary Kaplan and Dragos Fundulea bring extensive experience in topics including climate change, decarbonization of operations, sustainability, and more broadly, environmental, social, and governmental (ESG) to the firm.
“Roland Berger is at the forefront of promoting sustainability in the Middle East. By welcoming Zachary and Dragos into our team, we are reinforcing our commitment to our clients and the environment,” said Hani Tohme, Managing Director of Roland Berger in the Middle East.
Hired externally, Kaplan joins from DAI, a US-headquartered international development company with operations in 150+ countries. During his 12-year tenure at the company, he advised private corporations and lending institutions on sustainability, market entry, supply chains, community engagement, and competitiveness.
Kaplan also worked with dozens of philanthropies and national governments, including the administrations of Canada, US, Australia, Guyana, Ghana, Mexico, Mozambique, Jamaica, Tanzania and Romania. His recent experience was focused on the GCC region, where he according to Roland Berger built an “outstanding track record in helping maximize sustainable localization” in sectors including healthcare, education, and oil & gas.
Commenting on his new challenge, Kaplan said: “Blending my track record in localization and the extensive knowledge and expertise of Roland Berger across industries will undeniably bring substantial value to all stakeholders, both public and private. Our shared aspirations know no limits, and I am excited to be part of the Middle East team.”
Fundulea meanwhile brings twelve years of experience from within the firm to the region. He has been with Roland Berger for twelve years in its Bucharest office, during this time focussing on the implementation of innovative solutions for companies in the energy, mobility, transportation, and industrial sectors.
He is specialized in alternative/ green technologies (such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, alternative fuels), as well as the development of decarbonization and environmental strategies.
His track record spans projects across multiple geographies in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States region, as well as the Middle East. “Thanks to numerous previous assignments across the GCC, I have a deep understanding of the region. I look forward to assist the Middle East team with expanding its Sustainability practice,” Fundulea said.
“Now is the time for sustainability action,” said Tohme. “The combined expertise of Zachary and Dragos will be instrumental in materializing many of the strategies and ambitions set by our clients.”
According to a recent report, the Middle East will need to slash its CO2 emissions by 42% in order to meet 2030 targets. Government-led change will be imperative for the success of greening pathways, while in the private sector landscape, decarbonization roadmaps will need to be complemented by carbon offsetting techniques.
