Advisory Board
We would like to thank our esteemed advisory board for their input on the most relevant topics facing CFO’s during these unprecedented times.
Markus Kobler
Global CFO, Allianz Global Investors
Photis Kellaris
Financial Director, Capita
Nusrate Ibrahim
Head of Corporate Governance and Internal Controls, Diamond DevelopersIn 2019, I took the brave decision to stepping out of the “comfort zone” and embrace the challenging role as Head of Corporate Governance and Internal Controls at Diamond Developers, the real estate developer that built the first sustainable city in the Region. The Sustainable City in Dubai is one of the World’s first fully sustainable community and GCC’s Happiest Community for three consecutive years (2017, 2018, and 2019).
At Diamond Developers, I have worked with the CEO/Board and the leadership team to ensure our decision-making is supported by quality information, driven by adequate mechanisms of performance reporting/ KPIs, which help us in achieving our strategic objectives. This is an ongoing work and I would define it as an exercise in changing a corporate culture in “bite sizes” by building relationships and winning hearts and minds, one step at a time.
I promote our own sustainability by working across the organisation in establishing a strong infrastructure based on adequate internal controls, well-documented policies and procedures, clear reporting lines and communication channels supported by appropriate technology platforms.
While in The UK, I worked at British Airways, National Grid Plc, Monitor and over the last 10 years that I have been in the UAE, I experienced the endurance at the transactions services department at Deloitte and led the internal audit and financial due diligence services at Crowe, an American public accounting, consulting, and technology firm, based in Dubai and also had a short spell, working as an independent consultant.
Will Thompson
UK Finance Director, The Engine Group LimitedWill has been leading finance functions for nearly 20 years. He is an expert at taking complex situations and providing clear recommendations for teams to deliver on. He uses in depth knowledge of the business to ensure that he delivers meaningful financial information in a way that enables it to be used to drive more successful outcomes. For the last six years he has been Finance Director for The Engine Group, the UK’s leading independent marketing services business with a £100m turnover and 800 staff. He works closely with the management team on the strategic direction for the business and ensures that it aligns with the objectives of the private equity sponsors. Prior to this he spent ten years working for a WPP agency in London where his last role was as Chief Operating Officer.
He has previous experience in Telecoms and IT sectors, is a CIMA qualified accountant and studied Politics, Philosophy & Economics at the University of York. He spends most of his spare time trying to stop his young children from watching too much TV, in addition he is attempting to run once every day in his forties, not missed one yet!
Luke Bailey
FD, TUI Musement, TUI GroupLuke has been at TUI for the last 8 years after previously gaining his CIMA qualification at Stonegate pub company. He has a strong background in FP&A and led the Performance and Planning function at TUI UK&I for 3 years. For the last 18 months he has been the Finance Director for the UK and Swedish airlines and recently has moved to be the Finance Director at TUI Musement, a digital platform plus business providing experiences to customers both home (wherever that may be) and in destination.
He has two young children, although he and his partner combined have four. He is a keen cyclist and enjoys films.
Martin Sanders
Chartered Accountant and Business Coach, (former) Chief Audit Executive, Honda
