Who's who: Samar Nassar, leader of Accenture's Healthcare practice

In Who’s Who, ConsultancyME profiles leaders from across the management consulting industry. This edition: Samar Nassar, the leader of Accenture’s Healthcare practice in the Middle East.

As Managing Director for Healthcare at Accenture, Samar Nassar oversees the global consultancy's healthcare practice in the region, focusing on end-to-end management of large clients in both public and private sectors.

“Additionally, I focus on bringing industry expertise and industry-focused solutions to the region, aligning with Accenture’s strategic direction and investments in the Middle East. This includes investing in local talent and establishing a stronger regional industry presence.”

Samar has more than 20 years of experience. She started her career in the healthcare sector, spending over a decade at Johnson & Johnson (where she notably was the first female representative hired in Saudi Arabia) and GE Healthcare (where she latterly held country-focused roles in Saudi Arabia and regional roles in Turkey and Dubai).

Samar then worked as the marketing director at the National Center for Privatization and Public-Private Partnerships, where she was one of the institutionalizing board members of the healthcare PPP committee and managed many of the center’s sectors toward improving public-private relationships in the healthcare sector.

Early 2019, Samar crossed to the world of management consulting. During her time as a consultant at Arterys (acquired by Tempus Labs in 2022), Samar made space for AI-based diagnostic imaging technologies in the Middle East by leading the company’s expansion into the region’s market.

Samar then served as an executive director in the Healthcare practice of KPMG, where she collaborated with the Ministry of Health on primary care reform and the Saudi Genome 2.0 strategy.

Prior to her move to Accenture in February this year, Samar was managing director for Healthcare at the Ministry of Investment, helping KSA’s healthcare sector attract foreign and domestic direct investments into the sector. She also was a board member of the health sector transformation program for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program.

Reflecting on her move back into consulting, Samar said: “My return to the consulting sector was driven by my passion for solving complex problems and driving meaningful impact in the industry.”

“I have always been drawn to the dynamic nature of consulting, where you have the opportunity to solve diverse problems for different clients across various markets. The thrill of tackling key challenges and being the preferred partner to help economies achieve their ambitions and drive meaningful impact is incredibly stimulating for me.”

“On top of that, consulting allows me to continuously learn and stay updated on the latest emerging technologies and trends in healthcare, which is personally enriching.”

Her diverse background and extensive experience in healthcare enables Samar to bring a unique perspective to her role at Accenture. “I leverage my insights from various healthcare industry segments to drive innovative solutions and deliver value to our clients. Additionally, my experience in investment facilitation and policy engagement equips me to navigate complex healthcare landscapes and drive meaningful change in the industry.”

Following a background in biochemistry, Samar earned an MBA in international business from the University of Birmingham, as well as a master’s degree in health care and design from Imperial College London in a joint program with the Royal College of Arts.