Group CFO, Head of Investment & IT
Shahini Holding Group
Total years of experience :35 years, 4 Months
Shahini Group, Saudi Arabia is a privately owned $ 500 Million group of three companies that has been in the Saudi market for +40 years. The Group owns a leading frozen food trading and distribution business and a large capacity warehousing, logistics and transportation company well as a strong investment arm in Real estate, Food production, and medical fields worldwide.
My role is GROUP CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
← Reporting to Group Chairman & CEO; responsible for building the capacity and capability of the finance, investments, accounting and Information technology organizations’ in the 700+ employees' business.
← Designed and implementation of a corporate structure that best fits the group’s growth into Logistics in addition to Trading & Distribution operations while running the Investment portfolio worldwide.
← Developed the Corporate governance Framework and took leadership role in the group steering committee, work processes standardization and documentation as well as finding new sources of financing for the business future expansion.
← Led the Group 5year Objectives and Goals creation and the execution plan starting with 2017 budget.
← Led the final stages of the SAP implementation across all segments of the three companys’ Group.
During my Exploration year in Canada I acted as a Finance & Investments expert focussing on International Expansion, Turn around, Financial Management Expert
Worked on merging my operational experience with the Canadian business operational issues.
Joined and contributed to business development groups like Mississauga Board of Trade, Oakville Chamber of Commerce and Happen executives.
Nawah is a privately owned operator of 3 retail companies in the Middle East with $4B investments and $200M investment seed cash.
Legacy: Fortified the company’s regulatory compliance across all business units, introducing performance tracking tools to heighten accountability and visibility for the investment owners and management.
Acheivements:
- Conceived and implemented the corporate structure for the new holding company to incite intrigue and optimal fit with local and international stakeholders to participate in SPV investments and secure the best return on repatriated dividends.
- Collaborated with international offshore tax and legal experts based in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, and US.
- Researched, created and launched a customized corporate governance model designed for the holding company and its subsidiaries.
- Managed the charters for the leadership, investment and staffing committees playing a key contributory role.
- Influenced the human resources staffing complement, pivotal in tabulating and documenting salary ranges and grades, and on selection interview boards to screen multicultural candidates.
- Critical lead in calculating and enforcing operational and financial targets, creating a Balanced Score Card to measure performance.
ICC is a financial and management consultancy specializing in business restructuring to return profit and positive cash flow utilizing extensive corporate, operations and finance experience.
Achievements:
- Parachuted in to underperforming companies on contract to resurrect floundering operations for clients in: FMCG, retail, real estate development, construction, building materials, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment.
- Performed detailed due diligence into client business operations encompassing all facets of the business to uncover hindrances and problems.
- Compiled data and delivered a compelling facts-based report to the senior management team to secure buy-in for change and restructure.
- Partnered with the corporate team to devise and execute the business transition plan, working with multiple internal and external stakeholders to swiftly deliver results.
- Worked with major banks and the big four global accounting firms on clients IPO plans, M&A and divestitures.
Legacy: Defined and executed a plan to build and integrate multiple individual entities to create a corporate cluster each specializing in different area: real estate development, class1 construction, design, facility management, building materials, landscaping, and a holding company.
Achievements:
- Devised the corporate structure for a new consolidated entity, drafted processes and practices, calculated resources and budget, interacting with cross-functional professionals to drive project to a successful conclusion.
- Created and executed an aggressive sales and marketing strategy generating swift results to catapult revenue from $25M to $500M in 2.5 years with and initiated the creation of a $30M bank facility.
- Instigated a massive jump in staff from 80 to 400 with full accountability for onboarding, training, coaching, and performance management.
- Bolstered operational accountability, introducing performance targets and scorecards, report manuals to elevate financial management units, and governance compliance to minimize risk.
• Spearheaded the creation of the Communication and Information Technology holding group. Designed, negotiated and implemented new structure while working with owners, CEOs of the existing three companies and business associates.
• Implemented Oracle and performance measurement tools such as balanced scorecards and institutionalised responsive financial and IT policies, processes and procedures for the Group and its subsidiaries in Africa and the Middle East.
• Planned, directed, coordinated and controlled the finance, accounting, treasury and IT operations of the Group holding company and all its subsidiaries.
• Influenced the analysis and the impact of the new expansion projects into new markets, joint projects with potential partners on the company and the shareholders as well as the required joint ventures’ structures, shareholders agreements.
Ambah Group is a Saudi Investment Holding Group with diversified investments in Pharmaceuticals, Building materials Real Estate and trading.
- Impacted notable changes touching all facets of the 350-person business investment firm creating objectives, goals, strategies, and measures to propel profit by 11% per annum achieved by cost extraction, process improvement, and contract renegotiation to deliver double digit margins.
- Vital in growing the pharmaceutical business from $35M to $100M over 2 years, boosting the product range adding manufactured, imported and traded products to the portfolio.
- Conducted delicate and confidential negotiations with the Saudi family owners to gain their confidence to initiate a radical family real estate development project, executing a fundamental restructure shuffling contracting and concrete businesses from 1 factory to 3.
- Defined and steered the firm’s international expansion into Dubai, developing family real estate properties in Egypt, France and Spain.
- Tasked with planning and building an international expansion plan for Egypt’s largest construction, cement, fertilizer, and building material business with a $9B capitalization, traded on the London Stock Exchange.
- Initiated a sweeping business restructure across all business units developing a convincing business case for change, strengthening cash flow and multi-jurisdiction tax optimization.
- Appointed the General Coordinator for all OCI international reporting for the Chairman.
• Planned and orchestrated the Ambah family reacquisition of their shares in PSI to currently being 58% up from 36% in July 2001.
• Led the first attempt to have a company budget across all departments, and a five years plan and achieved the first OGSM Chart with a clear mission and vision statement made specific by detailed financial targets.
• Developed the capacity of the finance organization, reporting systems. Took a leading role in the implementation of the integrated financial system J D Edwards.
• Secured sufficient financing of the plant expansion, while focusing on cost control and profitable growth.
Multiple Assignments in multiple Countries:
➢ CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER - P&G Yemen | Yemen 2000 - 2001
Promoted to resurrect the floundering country business unit rapidly repositioning from double-digit loss and negative cash position to breakeven on Profit and positive cash in one year.
➢ ASSOCIATE FINANCE DIRECTOR (Duel Responsibility) 1997 - 2000
- P&G Arabian Peninsula | Jeddah
Accountable for the $550M profit in 5 markets with 5 distributors delivering the highest cash return in P&G International. Gaining recognition for impeccable management of capital, cash, profit, and media.
- Fabric & Home Care Category (ME, C&E Europe) | Brussels
Appointed to create this new role. Streamlined profitability, product sourcing and line-up on a $900M business in a multi functional team and high profile Country business considerations.
➢ ASSOCIATE FINANCE DIRECTOR - Product Supply Finance (Central & Eastern Europe) | Brussels 1995 - 1997
➢ FINANCIAL SYSTEMS GROUP MANAGER - P&G Arabian Peninsula | Jeddah 1995
➢ PLANT FINANCE GROUP MANAGER - P&G Arabian Peninsula | Jeddah 1994 - 1995
➢TREASURY & TAX DEPARTMENT MANAGER - P&G Arabian Peninsula | Jeddah 1992 - 1994
➢ FINANCIAL ANALYST - Beauty Care Category, Bahrain & Qatar markets | Jeddah 1990 - 1992
➢ Senior Corporate Investment Officer, Follow up Dept, Jan‘89-May‘90
• Managing projects as they receive the first bank loan and through out its operation. Designing the operation’s financing needs
• Got the Board’s approval on 13 new cases increasing the bank's portfolio by 20%
• Defined & recommended new financing for 21 existing projects by equity participation, syndicated loans or from international institutions.
• Fully responsible for 12 large corporations with total loans of over 40% of the bank's portfolio
➢ Corporate Investment Officer, Follow up Dept. Jan’87-Jan‘89
Three parts course: CashFlow Management, Asset Management, and Balance sheet management. Top Performer Certificate awarded.