Ghassan Ashkar

Project based contractor in Deals Advisory practice working on M&A on behalf of clients in KSA and UAE

Senior executive reporting directly to the CEO and Board of Directors with a key executive role in driving the Group’s strategic initiatives across all functions - from strategic planning to execution
•Responsible for overseeing all matters related to the Group’s finance function from both a strategic and operational perspective. Key interactions with, and management of, various internal and external stakeholders: the Group comprises more than 150 legal entities and has relationships with over 40 international franchisors, 30 local and international banks and more than 50 regional and local landlords
•Successfully led a major private placement process whereby Azadea sold a 25% shareholding in the Company to Dubai Holding (Government of Dubai); sales process included dealing with several well-known international and regional private equity investors over a 4-year period
•Experience leading enterprise-wide change as head of the Company’s newly established shared service center (over 160 employees) and newly established business transformation function, both of which are aimed at driving change management, organizational effectiveness and optimization across all business units / divisions. The business transformation team and shared service center have combined for more than $10m in back office savings
•Successfully restructured the Group’s finance function resulting in a reduction in headcount and cost of approximately 30%
•Full suite of financial and strategic skills including: reporting results to the Board of Directors and other key stakeholders; driving group-wide strategic initiatives; treasury & cash management, including hedging and banking relationships; budgeting & analysis; establishing and implementing policies and procedures to mitigate financial (and non-financial) risk; optimizing cost and driving organizational effectiveness; tax & compliance; and evaluating acquisition opportunities

Investment Banking
•Cedrus was established in 2011. Established the Bank’s Investment Banking Division, which provides M&A advisory, project finance and a suite of other advisory services including financial due diligence, feasibility studies, valuations, financial modeling, etc.

Promoted to Manager in Jan ‘05
•Managed financial due diligence (FDD) assignments, reviews of financial projections and feasibility studies across the Middle East region on behalf of multinational investors. Work involved financial modeling, business valuation, market research, assumptions validation, meeting with prospective investors and advising on project financing. Assignments included the establishment of an insurance company in Saudi Arabia; review of the projections and business valuation in connection with a potential IPO of an FMCG company held by a major Kuwaiti group; the establishment of brokerage firms in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon

working on behalf of large corporate and private equity clients on more than 60 transactions / acquisitions (including several multi-billion dollar public to private deals) in a variety of industries including media & entertainment, telecoms, manufacturing, retail, consulting, consumer products, financial services, publishing, warehousing & logistics and others in both the US and Europe. Areas of expertise include analyzing quality of earnings and cash flows; evaluating key business drivers; assessing valuation models; assessing potential synergies and/or carve-out issues; reviewing purchase agreements; assisting with purchase price adjustment mechanisms; highlighting financial reporting and accounting issues; reviewing audit work papers and holding discussions with target auditors; and liaising with other key advisors on transactions including tax, human resources, IT, insurance, legal and other consultants
•One of five New York Office Champions tasked with assisting with the roll-out of a new, firm-wide reporting tool and software
•Manager representative to the TS Staff Advisory Committee (a communication channel between Managers & Partners aimed at developing ideas for improving the practice)
•Instructor for various Learning & Education technical training courses

in financial accounting for two semesters
•Guest lecturer at AUB’s MBA and Master of Finance Programs

Acted as team manager on a portfolio of several multinational and local clients in a variety of industries including distribution, advertising, courier services, oil and gas, tourism and others. Also, managed assignments for multinational not-for-profit organizations, leading local educational institutions and international (EU) aid programs
•Organized and led an annual two-week training event (Go Audit) for new employees
•Delivered training material in other training events such as ABAS II and Team Manager I
•Organized the firms participation in on-campus job fairs and interviewed candidates