OCO Global appoints Mohammad Raza as Managing Director for Middle East

International economic development consultancy OCO Global has brought Mohammad Raza on board from EY as its new Managing Director for the Middle East.

Mohammad Raza brings over 20 years of experience in economic development, strategy and transformation to OCO Global, all of which he gained in the professional services industry. After spending a dozen years in the United Kingdom working for Arup, Menzies and RSM, among others, Raza then spent around 13 years and EY and its strategy consulting subsidiary EY-Parthenon.

In his last role, he was a Partner at EY and led its FDI Centre of Excellence for the MENA region.

Raza’s track record includes helping clients with growth strategy, FDI policy, deal origination, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships, and value creation.

Headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland, OCO Global has 12 offices worldwide including in London, Dublin, Frankfurt, Paris, New York, Beijing, and Shanghai. Its Middle East business operates with offices in Dubai and Riyadh, and serves numerous governments with attracting inward investment, and private companies with expanding and entering the region.

Commenting on his new role, Raza pointed at the booming opportunities for the firm in the region, with both public and private sector investments on the rise.

“FDI inflows into the UAE and Saudi Arabia have surged over the last five years. Government strategies across the region have contributed heavily to the region’s resilience in the face of global economic challenges, with dealmaking activity remaining robust due to strategic government initiatives that support diversification. Additionally, we continue to see more local expansion of regional business, which is also playing a significant role in the economic expansion domestically,” he said.

“These concerted efforts underscore the region's dedication to transforming its economic landscape, attracting substantial inward investment, and leveraging the capabilities of its talented workforce. I look forward to supporting this and developing further trade and investment opportunities for investors and businesses across the region from our offices in Dubai and Riyadh.”

Gareth Hagan, CEO of OCO Global, stated: “At a key strategic time for our organisation and the region as a whole, we are delighted that Mohammad is joining us, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. With our specialist trade and investment experts on the ground and the recent approval of our Saudi HQ, OCO Global is perfectly poised to support the growth and development of economies and businesses across the region.”