View All
Abu Dhabi’s Invest AD hires new head of sales, sees global interest in MENA
24 Jan 2010
ABU DHABI, Jan. 20 - Abu Dhabi financial services company Invest AD has hired Jackie Fitzgerald as head of sales and marketing to spearhead a drive to introduce global investors to investment opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa.
“The MENA region offers enormous opportunity, and we are delighted that someone of Jackie’s experience has joined us to attract investors to that potential,” said Nazem Al Kudsi, Invest AD’s chief executive officer.
Fitzgerald, who was previously global head of sales at Dubai-based Shuaa Capital, believes that investors are showing increasing interest in the MENA economy, which the International Monetary Fund expects to grow by over 4 percent in 2010.
“All the signs are right, from demographics to improving financial infrastructure and government commitment to diversification,” said Fitzgerald, who has worked in the region for a decade.
“And MENA countries have come a long way in terms of transparency, demonstrating a strong desire to comply with international standards.”
Invest AD, created as the Abu Dhabi Investment Company in 1977 to invest on behalf of the Emirate’s government, has transformed in the last couple of years into a customer-focused financial services company, offering investment banking services and investment funds to international and regional clients.
The company has created four listed equities funds in the last six months –- for the UAE, Gulf, MENA and emerging Africa – and has just launched a $400 million private equity fund. A joint venture between Invest AD and Swiss bank UBS raised $250 million of commitments to its infrastructure fund early last year.
Fitzgerald, who has extensive experience on raising capital for regional investments, was excited to introduce global investors to what she called “a strong new brand”.
“There’s an attractive suite of products, and a real understanding of the region from three decades of investment experience,” Fitzgerald said.