About

Things that are not on my resume: when I was at Lehman Brothers, I held my Series 7 and 63 Licenses. When I was at Saffar, I was SEO, registered with the Dubai Financial Services Authority! I'm just saying!

But seriously...

I am an accomplished Finance and Business Operations Executive with experience in institutionalizing companies in various industries ranging from financial services to information and technology. I  have developed and implemented processes and procedures that allow for operations to be repeated for growing organizations, improving value for firms. By applying metrics that are easy to collect and analyze, I have been able to scale organizations and empower junior staff to better manage their respective areas in support of the long-term business objectives. Using a team approach, I  have been able to achieve the strategic vision through a tactical approach, striving for continuous improvement to find practical solutions to complex problems.

I have significant experience with startup companies and operations. In 2000, I was tasked with turning an Investment Banking operation at Lehman Brothers into a self-funded, firm-wide resource. In successfully doing this, I modelled the first shared services network for research and design services for a bulge bracket financial services company. In 2001, I helped set up Saffar Capital, a private equity group in Bahrain. My role involved evaluating deals, setting KPI’s and metrics, and reporting directly to the Board of Directors and Sabah al-Binali, the CEO. With the acquisition of zawya.com, I was asked to sit on the Board of that portfolio company and serve as the controller for the company, providing fiscal oversight. In that role, I maintained financial rigor as well as operational oversight for human resource functions, while providing the autonomy for the business to thrive (it was later sold to Thomson Reuters). In 2005, Saffar set up a business and investment advisory arm in Dubai. I set up the office, developed all the procedures and processes, including the HR, technology, accounting, compliance (as a regulated entity), reporting, and training systems and procedures. This role required that I develop the business, and staff the operation in a lean manner in order to grow the revenues while maintaining the disciplines required from the private equity parent. While doing this, I commuted to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where I built an Investment Bank for a client (a consortium of majority Saudi investors). In this role, I set up the infrastructure, developed all manuals (operations, HR, reporting, disaster recovery), implemented all technology (trading systems, IVR, data center, backup site), and received certification and go-live status from Tadawul (the stock exchange) and SAMA (the Central Bank). Although I was working for Saffar, I reported directly to the partners of the venture as the acting COO. The Investment Bank was later sold to Credit Suisse. In 2008, I worked through a private organization to develop and implement a S.T.E.A.M. program for the Emirates Foundation throughout the UAE. This required meeting their strict reporting guidelines in order to receive reimbursement for the program which reached thousands of children of all nationalities and employed dozens of Emiratis.

Working as a consultant through A.R.M. Consulting, I have guided companies through the growth process, as well as worked with companies that need to develop new strategies to thrive under challenging and adverse conditions. My work has included setting up a merchant bank for a client, and developing business models for their portfolio companies, including a cotton producer, alternative energy supplier, beef producer, medical airline, and chemical producer.

I am currently in Houston, working with SMB’s on their growth and development strategies. I am a mentor at Station Houston, a technology accelerator and co-working space, and I was an Advisor at TMCx Innovation Center, a biomedical accelerator.