Ammar Qureshi

Deputy Chief of Party for the USAID-funded Investment Promotion Activity (IPA) - a $17 million project strengthening Pakistan's business enabling environment and institutional capacity for foreign direct investment and US-Pakistan bilateral trade.
• Functioned as Acting Chief of Party when required, managing a team of 25 professionals focused on investment promotion, trade facilitation, policy support, and grant administration
• Led investment promotion initiatives targeting $75 million in foreign direct investment and $40 million in US-Pakistan bilateral trade over the project lifecycle
• Designed and executed international investment roadshows in the USA, UAE, and KSA, facilitating matchmaking between investors and investees
• Developed and maintained a pipeline of 100+ investable and trade-worthy Pakistani projects, connecting them with 600+ international investors and trading partners
• Cultivated relationships with government ministries, private sector entities, and donor agencies to ensure alignment with project objectives
• Monitored performance metrics, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and contractual obligations

Investment Expert for UNIDO's Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) project - Pakistan Private Sector Energy (PPSE) Activity, an $8 million USAID-funded initiative focused on raising foreign and local financing up to US $ 100M and providing financial advisory for private sector firms.
• Responsible for investment facilitation and relationship management with financial institutions and firms
• Nurtured a pipeline of 40 firms and raised financing through IFIs, DFIs, foreign investors and banks.
• Managed investor client relations through fund-raising, reporting, and communications

• Advised UK based firm SRM on business risk consulting assignments in UAE and Iran.
• Devised fund-raising strategy for ASAS Capital, a DIFC based fund in Dubai, to raise US $ 22 million for a 4-Star hotel tower in Makkah, KSA
• Managed preparing a business plan for a flour mill in Bahrain for Bahrain’s sovereign fund Mumtalakat as Lead Consultant with Farrelly & Mitchell Business Consultants, Ireland-based consulting company,
• Designed a Rs. 500 million SME fund for Government of Khyber Pakthunkhawa in Pakistan as fund design specialist for Chemonics-USAID project on SMEs.
• Advised Asian Development Bank in Manila on irrigation infrastructure project- New Khanki Barrage Project- in Pakistan as Knowledge Management Specialist
• Directed Apex Consulting’s team on Karandaaz’s study on uptake of warehouse receipt financing scheme in Pakistan
• Led Apex Consulting’s team on Karandaaz’s Third Party Monitoring and Evaluation assignment regarding their loan portfolios to SMEs in Pakistan
• Developed on-line modules for training on SMEs and rural entrepreneurship as part of consulting team working with Asian Productivity Organization (Japan) on rural entrepreneurship in Asia.
• Designed a market entry study for Ernst & Young to enter Iran market in the post-sanctions environment.

General Manager of Iranian group Solico Group- an international food and beverage conglomerate with more than US $ 1 billion of revenues. Solico Group, under the brand name of Kalleh, produces, trades, distributes and sells food in more than 10 countries, operates 12 factories, 70 distribution centres, employs more than 15, 000 people and produces 1800 SKUs. Dairy products, ice cream, ready-meal, beverages and snacks are the main products offered by the group in retail and food service sectors.
• Directed and implemented policies as General Manager pertaining to strategy and new business development, sales, marketing, distribution, purchasing & supply chain, legal and compliance, accounting & finance functions.
• Boosted GCC subsidiary sales (which include Iraq also) to US $ 250 million as Kalleh was ranked among the top 50 billionaire food brands of the world by Euromonitor.

• Treasury head for a group of companies, with US $ 250 million turnover for 4 companies in food and agriculture sector, part of Dabbagh Group which has turnover of US $ 1 billion, with brand name Tanmiah. Main products- Fresh and frozen chicken and processed foods (main suppliers of burgers to Burger King in Middle East)
• Managed treasury operations- existing working capital and credit facilities (about US $ 100 million) with banks, LOCs, Foreign Exchange, cash management and forecasting, counterparty credit exposure etc.
• Raised new working capital and trade financing of US $ 10 million from different sources.
• Actively monitored, funded and supported treasury aspects of inter-company projects worth US $ 30 million.
• Ensured timely compliance with covenants, analysed risk exposure and implemented cash optimisation strategies such as automated payments etc
• Identified and executed cost cutting opportunities worth US $ 0.2 million.
• Established new systems and procedures in treasury department and introduced robust controls. Worked with the CFO and the team on planning, budgeting and forecasting for group entities.
• Pro-actively managed banking relationships and negotiated on terms and rates with banks

2011-date ERNST & YOUNG Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Executive Manager
• Executive Manger focusing on investment advisory transactions across different sectors in MENA region.
• Involved in business development-origination, structuring, negotiations, and execution of investment advisory engagements. Targeted 75 public listed companies in different sectors (financial institutions/oil and gas/industrial manufacturing/insurance/telecom) in Jeddah for assurance/advisory proposals.
• Performed investment analysis, risk allocation and management, and due diligence for advisory proposals and engagements.

2009-2010 CF PARTNERS London, UK Business Development Consultant
• Business Development Consultant for investment transactions in South Asia, MENA, China and Latin America - sourcing, structuring, negotiating and finalizing deals for the investment fund, advisory and brokerage business.
• Originated more than 100 deals worth around US $ 100 million in a wide range of sectors (energy/renewable/waste etc)
• Supervised completion of project cycle pertaining to transactions-right from origination to deal agreement signing and then on to host country approval, validation and registration of the project.
• Performed financial due diligence/investment analysis/risk allocation and management for projects requiring equity financing or advance payment. Broad knowledge of energy/clean tech/emission or carbon markets.
• Involved in trading and broking transactions with clients based in Europe and Japan.
• Managed relationship with financial institutions, government agencies, project developers.

2007-2009 CARBON RESOURCE MANAGEMENT UK Business Development Manager
• Head of business development /origination for investment transactions in South Asia & MENA region
• Led investment transactions in various sectors in renewable energy (wind, hydro etc), waste management, cement, fertiliser, sugar, oil and gas etc
• Managed complete deal flow process. Involved in originating, negotiating, structuring and executing deals. Performed investment and risk analysis in addition to due diligence for investment transactions.
• Signed 5 deals in oil and gas, wind, energy efficiency sectors. Robust pipeline of deals worth US $ 50-100 million across different sectors in the region. Broad knowledge of energy and carbon markets.
• Developed and managed relationship with financial institutions, project developers, local partner organizations, approval bodies, international audit firms. Excellent client management track record and project management skills

2006-2007 VARIOUS CONSULTANCY CONTRACTS
CLIMATE CHANGE CAPITAL LTD London, UK Consultant
• Identified deal flow in investment projects and partners in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and waste management sectors. Broad knowledge of energy and carbon markets.
BECHTEL London, UK Consultant
• Advised on business development, investment appraisal and financial analysis on two energy sector projects: a gas field JV (with Aramco) in Saudi Arabia and a Reliance Export Refinery Project (a US $5.5 billion export orientated refinery project in India)
HAMILTON BRADSHAW (Private Equity) London, UK Advisor
• Persuaded the firm to set up Private Equity fund in South Asia and the Middle East
• Devised country strategy, identified sectors, participated in negotiations with JV partners and deal flow matters in different sectors such as real estate, leisure, IT, telecom and renewable energy. Strong relationship and client management skills displayed. Appointed Member of the Advisory Board of the private equity firm. Involved in deal origination, selection, screening, due diligence, negotiations and structuring of deals. Assessed risk profile and conducted investment appraisal of transactions

2002-05 AMZ CONSULTING LTD Islamabad, PAKISTAN Business Development Manager
• Managed the consulting company with projects in Pakistan, Central Asia and Middle East. Displayed strategic, client and relationship management ability.
• Developed Business Strategy and Business Plan for SHV Energy (the world's largest LPG marketing firm) in Pakistan, involving investment of US $ 35 million
• Served as Consultant to World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Commission etc on studies related to financial and infrastructure sectors as part of US $ 300 million loan programme.
• Formulated and shaped business propositions to prospective clients and actively participated in writing proposals for consulting studies. Assessed risk profile and conducted investment appraisal of transactions. Credit risk assessment and valuation exercises of clients undertaken. Performed competitor analysis and provided strategic insights

1999-01 PA CONSULTING Islamabad, PAKISTAN Manager (Energy Programs)
• Marketed business propositions to various clients (both upstream and downstream) and responsible for writing of consulting proposals
• Led sales effort resulting in closure of consulting assignments worth US $ 200, 000
• Headed consulting assignments worth US $ 15 million regarding regulatory, market restructuring, privatisation, and risk analysis related issues in the energy sector
• Advised international energy companies (BP, British Gas, Shell, BHP, Premier Oil, Hubco etc) on investments worth US $ 1.5 billion focusing on sovereign risk and credit rating issues, business strategy, market, pricing, and risk & competitor analyses
• Participated in Corporate Finance and Privatisation transactions in the energy sector. Assessed risk profile, performed competitor analysis, and conducted investment appraisal of transactions. Responsible for professional management of client relationships.

1996-99 HSBC INVESTMENT BANKING Islamabad, PAKISTAN Investment Analyst
• Recommended and presented equity investment proposals in the oil, gas and chemicals sectors to foreign fund managers based in London, Hong Kong and New York. This resulted in a foreign portfolio investment of US $ 15 million
• Rated HSBC equity research team member- covering oil and gas stocks. Ranked Number 1 and Number 2 by Asiamoney in October 1998 and The 1998 Reuters Survey respectively
• Participated in corporate finance and privatization transactions. Supervised and trained junior employees. Performed risk analysis for clients. Strong investment valuation experience gained in the investment bank. Research reports incorporated competitor analysis and financial valuation

1994 PAKISTAN OILFIELDS LIMITED Rawalpindi, PAKISTAN Engineer
• Assisted as an engineer in running a 20 MW power plant in an oil-field. Responsible for the maintenance, planning and scheduling activities of electric devices in the oil-field's power plant