BrazilLeaders in professional services shine in top international executives list
Seven executives of global consulting groups have been named one of MENA’s top international executives by Forbes, based on their profound impact and achievements in the industry and region.
Now in its 12th year, the ‘Global Meets Local’ ranking by Forbes recognizes the regional heads of the world’s largest international companies who are based in MENA. This year’s list features around 100 executives, most of which are executives at Fortune 500 companies, with the majority coming from Lebanon, followed by India, the UK, and France.
Headlining the list is the Lebanese Samer Abu-Ltaif, who is the President of Microsoft for Central & Eastern Europe and Middle East & Africa, who is followed by two executives at payment giants Visa (the American Andrew Torre, who is Regional President for Central & Eastern Europe and Middle East & Africa) and Mastercard (the German Dimitrios Dosis, who serves as President for Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa).
Notably, seven members of the Forbes list earn their bread and butter in the professional services landscape:
Elie Chaillot
Company: GE Healthcare
Position: President & CEO of International
Sector: Healthcare consulting and services
Elie Chaillot started his career with GE Healthcare as an account manager in 2001 and assumed his current position in January 2024. Chaillot leads a $7 billion business unit covering over 150 countries with a workforce of 25,000 people. He was previously the president and CEO of GE Healthcare’s Intercontinental Region, a $3 billion business unit covering over 60 countries.
In February 2024, GE Healthcare collaborated with Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Services Group to advance digital healthcare tech solutions, including equipping 13 hospitals and eight medical centers.
Joseph Anis
Company: GE Vernova
Position: President & CEO of Europe, Middle East, and Africa of the Gas Power division
Sector: Energy consulting and services
Joseph Anis assumed his current position in January 2021, having joined the company in 1997. In April 2024, GE Vernova signed agreements with the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity to add a further three gigawatts of energy into the grid, as well as offering five years of services and upgrades to enhance the availability of up to 7.5 gigawatts of capacity across the country.
An MoU was also signed with the Iraqi Ministry of Oil to increase the use of flared gas to boost power generation. Anis is also the co-chair and executive sponsor of GE Vernova’s global Gas Power Women’s Network.
Saad Toma
Company: IBM
Position: General Manager & Technology Leader for the Middle East and Africa
Sector: Technology consulting and services
Saad Toma was appointed general manager in July 2021, having been at IBM for over 30 years. The company inaugurated a new regional headquarters in Riyadh in January 2024. Two months later, it announced plans to invest over $200 million in talent and infrastructure in a new IBM software lab in Riyadh.
Toma is also a member of AmCham and the International Petroleum Technology Conference. He also sits on the board of the American Turkish Society.
Omar Boulos
Company: Accenture
Position: Market Unit Lead for the Middle East
Sector: Management consulting and technology services
Omar Boulos assumed his current role in September 2023, having first joined Accenture in 1997. In December 2023, the company signed a three-year strategic agreement with Riyadh Air to provide cloud and cybersecurity infrastructure. Boulos was previously the client group lead for US South Resources and the resources industry group lead for North America. He has held leadership positions for Accenture across the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey.
Renee McGowan
Company: Marsh McLennan (Mercer, Marsh, Oliver Wyman, Guy Carpenter)
Position: CEO of India, Middle East and Africa
Sector: Professional services and management consulting
Renee McGowan assumed her current position in 2023. Marsh McLennan’s four businesses in the Middle East – Marsh, Mercer, Guy Carpenter, and Oliver Wyman – recorded a growth of 15% in 2023 compared to 2022. In 2023, the company introduced new retirement schemes to support governments and private enterprises.
McGowan is also a board member of INJAZ UAE, chair of the 30% Club in MENA, and a Global Steering Committee member.
James Allan
Company: JLL
Position: CEO for the Middle East & Africa
Sector: Real estate consulting and brokering
James Allan joined JLL in 2008 and took on his current role in 2023. He manages over 1,900 people across offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Cairo, Casablanca, Johannesburg, and Nairobi.
In 2023, the company advised on over 375 hospitality assets, with a development potential of $65 billion, and completed $200 million in hotel transactions. It also managed around 813,000 sqm of assets under management and transacts over 100,000 sqm of offices, industrial, and business space on behalf of corporates and landlords. Allan also serves on the JLL EMEA Work Dynamics Board.
Michael Young
Company: CBRE
Position: Managing Director of MENA
Sector: Real estate consulting and brokering
Michael Young assumed his current role in July 2024. For 2023, total leasing value amounted to $20 billion globally, with a transaction value of $285.3 billion. In September 2023, CBRE supported New Balance in securing a location at the Dubai Hills Mall. Young previously led advisory and transaction services for CBRE across the region.
To compile the Global Meets Local ranking, Forbes assessed CEOs of over multinational companies with a presence in the Middle East and North Africa, looking at factors such as: impact of the CEO on the region and the markets they serve, performance in the last year, size of the business they lead, seniority in the CEO role, and contribution to financial success and ESG factors.
