Nabil Ben Ayed

AIMS Holding Group is a distinguished family-owned conglomerate based in Saudi Arabia, with a rich history spanning over eight decades. Guided by a commitment to Islamic values and ethical business practices, the group manages a diversified portfolio of global investments, including a strong presence in real estate development, industrial manufacturing, and hospitality.

• Spearheaded the group's financial restructuring, securing approval from the Board and General Assembly. Collaborated with business CEOs to develop and implement a comprehensive restructuring plan, enhancing operational efficiency, and strategic alignment.
• Led the restructuring of the group's global investment portfolio, both within and outside Saudi Arabia, to increase liquidity, reduce concentration risk, and lower overall risk levels, while ensuring strict adherence to Sharia compliance.
• Instituted a new ERP system (SAP S/4HANA) across the group to centralise financial data and improve reporting accuracy. Established a dedicated cost control department to drive efficiency and optimise expenditures.
• Overhauled and revised group financial policies to ensure robust governance and compliance. Restructured and centralised the finance team to enhance collaboration and strategic support across all business units.
• Business Activities: Managed the financial oversight for a diversified portfolio, including extensive real estate development (including the first six-star hotel in Makkah), a large global investment portfolio, and a hospitality division with hotel and restaurant management.

Mezzan is a diversified conglomerate listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange, one of the leading biomedical, food and beverage, and FMCG companies in the Middle East. Mezzan manufactures and distributes over 34,000 consumer goods and services SKUs. Operates in the GCC region and other selected markets through 36 vertically integrated operating companies in 7 countries: Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.

• Worked closely with the CEO and the Board of Directors to develop and execute a five-year strategic plan for the company.
• Collaborated with executive leadership to execute the developing plans and operational budgets that support growth, as per the board's directives.
• Collaborated with the legal department and the financial team to prepare and organise all material, legal documents, and materials for both ordinary and extraordinary General Assemblies.
• Managed relationships with investors, stakeholders, and the media to effectively communicate the financial performance and strategic direction.
• Drove financial digital transformation initiatives, leveraging technology to enhance decision-making capabilities.
• Tracked organisational performance against objectives, and revamped strategies to better meet the shareholders, and board targets.
• Conducted detailed budget analysis, identifying variances and recommending corrective actions to align with financial goals.
• Established and maintained strong relationships with banking institutions, ensuring favourable terms for credit facilities, leading to the restructuring of external debts and implementing hedging options, reducing FX exposure by US$3 million, which lowered the Net Debt/EBITDA ratio, maximised the returns on assets, and positively impacted the share price.
• Lead the financial aspects of all mergers and acquisitions transactions, conducting due diligence and financial modelling to assess potential impacts.
• Developed high-performing financial teams to support the business in consistently exceeding goals, driving revenue, and expanding markets.
• Elaborate and present solutions to the recommendations emanating from the Risk and Audit committees, and obtain their approval from the board.
• Responsible for updating the financial policies in accordance with IFRS requirements, allowing the completion of a significant part of external and internal audit qualifications.
• Resolved CMA (Capital Markets Authority) concerns, permitting the Group to remain listed on the Kuwaiti Premium Stock Exchange.
• Overhauled the Group's financial strategy, decentralising the finance structure and controls.
• Restructured the finance teams within the Group and implemented a finance team grading system based on qualifications and fixed KPIs.
• Play a key role in planning, implementing, and leading the financial operations plan of the food contract with FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

• With cooperation between Frankfurt School for Finance and Management and certain institutions such as the World Bank, Central Bank of Myanmar, and Central Bank of Ethiopia, I conducted training sessions on change management and leadership for CFOs and branch bank representatives in East Africa and Southeast Asia.
  Presented complex topics on IFRS, corporate governance, and reinforcing best practices.
  Developed customised workshop materials to address regional challenges faced by financial institutions.
  Fostered interactive discussions, promoting knowledge sharing among banking professionals.

• Led and developed a team of 22 Financial Controllers, with accountability for a team totalling 145 people across 22 countries, improving financial and accounting policies, systems, processes, due diligence, and controls for long-term organisational and business strategies in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
• Was primarily responsible for streamlining and enhancing financial and management information systems (IT) for evaluating financial data, budgeting, report production, and legal and tax planning, in compliance with international standards and legal requirements.
• Also liaised with tax advisors, auditors, and other stakeholders, identifying and resolving critical external accounting and legal advisory issues.
• Other vital aspects of the role included supervising risk management and insurance coverage of assets; evaluating investment and funding alternatives; ensuring proper asset management and associated insurance; and successfully mobilising funds to finance development projects in Africa, Australia, and Asia.
• Played a crucial role in business development as a Member of the Strategy Committee reporting to the Board and CEO, determining market positioning, contract management, cost control, budgets, forecasting, optimisation, and risk control strategies, plans, and implementation methods.
• Harmonised and integrated major operational contracts, proposals, subcontracts, and CAPEX decisions, steering and directing the implementation of strategic projects worth US$750 million, with the restructuring of acquired entities.
• Implemented mergers and acquisition plans to support consistent growth for MNCs in Australia.
• Collaborated closely with the company's treasury department, successfully closing unnecessary bank guarantees in 22 countries, resulting in cost savings of US$620 mn.
• Managed significant challenges in organising balance sheet governance and account reconciliation by leading the annual budgeting programme and interacting with the suppliers and materials team to optimise and restructure inventories, producing a US$10mn cost reduction.
• Directed financial reporting processes, ensuring compliance with SOX regulatory standards and internal policies.
• Oversaw month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of financial statements.
• Managed cash flow to optimise liquidity and ensure availability of funds for operational needs.
• Trained and supervised finance team members, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
• Oversaw all financial business affairs, verifying they are conducted legally and professionally with full regulatory compliance.
• Identified opportunities for cost-reduction and conducted reviews and evaluations to assess impact and feasibility.
• Consulted with the materials team to optimise and restructure inventories, resulting in cost reductions of US$10mn.
• Utilised financial insight to create strategic medium- and long-term plans to support company needs during periods of growth and recession.
• Played a key role in mergers and acquisitions, conducting due diligence and financial modelling to assess potential impacts.