Finance Digitize

A Qualified Professional Business and Financial Leader with more than 27 years of broad experience managing and leading Organizations in multiple sectors with a large experience in Company start-ups, restructuring and change management while handling key mergers, acquisitions and JVs in the middle east region. Over the years, I have built a strong track record in administering the financial and operational aspects of multiple businesses focusing on improved financial returns, increased cash flow, improved financial position and increased overall business value. I have acquired remarkable proficiency in setting organization’s strategies, company re-structures, and organizing businesses in accordance with the shareholders strategic objectives using technology & digitalization.

Kishore Purswani is a seasoned finance professional with over 25 years of experience in the Middle East and North America. He is being involved in digital transformation, cost optimization, strategy formulation, capital raise, setting up and measuring KPIs, providing robust reporting framework, guiding and supporting in driving growth and in achieving desired corporate goals. He has over a decade of working experience with technology companies providing solutions in the B2B and B2C space. He has experience in insurance, software & solutions, CPG, Manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, retail, media and printing industries. He is currently involved in mapping out a digital roadmap to build tech enabled eco-system to drive growth.

Ahmed Dawoud is a 24-year Finance veteran, He has been leading the ongoing financial, commercial, auditing and business combinations for some enterprises across the Middle East in the CPG, Pharmaceuticals and Oilfield industries. Ahmed is also a qualified trainer in the Finance, Strategic Management and Quantitative analysis fields As the CFO of PepsiCo Middle East Foods, Ahmed is a critical member of the leadership team and plays a key role in driving the financial success and strategic direction of the company. Ahmed is responsible for managing the financial operations of the company, overseeing the budgeting, and forecasting process, ensuring compliance with financial regulations and standards, and providing financial analysis to support business decisions and facilitate the achievement of the company’s’ objectives while realizing profit targets and growth.

Mr Umair Ashraf is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and has worked with many prestigious organizations including PWC, British American Tobacco etc. He is currently working as CFO for Samana Group of Companies. He is having rich experience in Digital Transformation, Corporate Tax, Corporate Finance, Private Equity/IPO.

Ajai Thomas General Manager - Financial Control & Planning Department / Chief Financial Officer Kuwait International Bank (KIB) Ajai is the Chief Financial Officer at Kuwait International Bank (KIB) and has been a member of KIB’s management team since 2014. He brings with him over 22 years of professional experience in assurance engagements and functional responsibilities in various industries and regions. He leads the financial control and planning activities along with investor relations at KIB. Ajai played a key role in elevating KIB to Boursa Kuwait’s Premier Index and with its award winning AT1 and AT2 Sukuk issuances. He spent over a decade with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte & Touché in Kuwait, where he led multicultural teams specialized in assurance engagements; in addition to his various functional roles in Bahrain and India prior to joining KIB. Ajai is a Chartered Accountant (ICAI, India), Certified Information Systems Auditor – CISA and a Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer – CDPSE (ISACA, US). He also holds Master’s degree in financial management and Bachelor’s (Physics major) in addition to various professional certifications. Various Islamic finance periodicals have featured his articles. He is also regular speaker in the MENA banking sector.

With over 25 years of international experience, Ramesh is a seasoned Chartered Accountant & MBA who has successfully steered FedEx, Inchcape PLC, Ericsson AB, Bahrain International Circuit (F1) and Volex PLC towards greater efficiency and profitability. He currently serves as a CFO of RAKEZ where he is responsible for IT function as well. In his illustrious career, he has built, coached and motivated high-performance multinational/multicultural teams that consistently deliver. He has a proven track record of driving digital transformation, innovation & growth, improving P&L scenarios, and implementing crucial change initiatives while maintaining employee and creditor loyalty and trust. He excels in shaping business strategies and addressing growth challenges for growing, mature and declining businesses. Ramesh Subramanian is a skilled negotiator with balanced judgement, capable of steering consensus among core business disciplines with diverse agenda.

A Strategic Finance Expert trained from Harvard Business School (HBS), with International accreditations in Finance, Accounting, Project Management, International Arbitration, Risk Management and Maritime Economics/Finance. Seasoned Finance & Accounting Professional with more than 25 years of experience in various world-class organizations like MASA Retail & Wholesale Group JAFZA Dubai, Dubai Ports and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC, 12+ Group Entities), Dubai Maritime City Authority, Government of Dubai (GoD), Dubai World, Citicorp (Citibank Group), Ford Visteon and Premier Audit Firms. An innovative, result-oriented financial advisor, recognized as a change agent for my expertise in Financial Strategy & Management. Has proven record in delivering advisory function and decision support to Top Management and Investment Committees/Boards. Currently heading as Chief Financial Officer of the Masa Trading FZE, leading the entire Financial and Strategic Operations of Wholesale and Retail across the MENA Region, Europe and the CIS. Masa Trading FZE, is a Dubai Free Zone entity is a top authorized distributors in the GCC region for Air Conditioners, Televisions, and Home Appliances, importing from China to the UAE region and re-exporting to MENA, Europe, CIS, and the Asian region covering 25 countries. We are the main distributor for premium international brands like LG Korea and Evvoli, Italy in the MENA Region, importing and exporting more than 5,000 containers per annum. Previously, heading as the Group Financial Planning & Analysis Manager for Ports Customs & Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), a Government of Dubai entity, was controlling and reporting for 12 Group entities. He coordinated with Group Sector Strategy department ensuring the alignment of Finance with Group Corporate Strategy.

Global finance & strategy leader, with 20 years of experience in global multinational companies ; J&J, Novartis, Allergan, Takeda, and Energizer. Handled multiple international senior finance roles across the globe. > International Finance speaker > Member of MEA FP&A council by AFP > Gartner community ambassador > CGMA Chartered Global Management Accountant from CIMA Chartered Institute of Management Accountant, UK > FPAC Certified Corporate FP&A professional, from AFP Association for Financial Professional, USA > OKRP Certified OKR practitioner, from OKR institute. > MBA in Finance & Investment

BIO: Ram is an International Banking CFO with a wealth of Finance experience working in Retail, Corporate and Investment Banks. He has led several Finance transformation projects and has leveraged the unique position of the CFO at the intersection of finance, technology and strategy to drive digitalization and inspiring a data-driven decision making culture. He is also engaged with the wider Finance community, often speaking at events on the challenges facing the function and how to be ready for the future or making the function future proof Quote: CFOs are the go-to experts in the finance domain, but need to escape from the ‘curse of expertise’ that could make them over estimate their own knowledge and become closed-minded. They would do well to cultivate a ‘beginner’s mind’ and approach the new technologies with openness, curiosity, flexibility and a desire to learn thereby unlocking many possibilities to become a value-adding finance function and the ultimately the custodian of performance for the firm.

Jarna is an enterprising financial leader with experience in finance business partnering, financial planning & analysis (FP&A), scaling start-ups and fund raising. Has excelled in areas like designing financial solutions, automating and implementing processes and systems and has consistently contributed to increasing revenues, reducing costs and driving operational efficiencies. With 10 years of leadership experience working with IT Consultancy, Tech Start-up and FMCG companies, Jarna has demonstrated a strong track-record in situational leadership and has been appreciated for her resourcefulness and problem-solving abilities. Currently she is working directly with the CXOs on strategic decision making, business process improvement and fund raising. Key Competencies: P&L Management + Business Transformation + Fund Raising + Investor Relations + Pricing & Strategy + Finance & Commercial Business Partnering + Financial Planning, Analysis & Reporting + Financial Modelling & Valuation + Budgeting & Variance Analysis + Taxation & Auditing + Cash flow Management + Cost Control Management + Automation & Process Improvement + ERP Implementation + Project Management Transferable Skills: Strategic Planning & Leadership + Critical Thinking & Innovation + Analytical & Problem-Solving Abilities + Team Building & Management + Relationship Management + Negotiation & Closing Deals

Experienced international finance professional with extensive general management exposure and a reputation for strong leadership and achievement; facilitating business expansion, directing M&A developments, driving major performance improvement and delivering substantial cost reductions.