Archives: team-member

Amnah Ajmal is the Executive Vice President, Market Development, MEA for Mastercard. In this role, she is responsible for acceptance, acquiring, merchants, digital partnerships, strategy and M&A for the region. Prior to this role, she led the North America product organization, based out of the US, responsible for the development and management of consumer and small business payment solutions, including credit, debit, prepaid, small business and acceptance solutions, with a focus on creating sustainable competitive differentiation for Mastercard and its customers.

Peter is part of the founding strategic management team at Beehive where he is the Group COO and CFO. Beehive is the GCC’s first digital lending marketplace for SMEs that connects creditworthy businesses with smart investors. It was the first regulated P2P platform in MENA (regulated by the DFSA and the CBB). Beehive has written over AED0.5bn of financing across the platform and has over 10,000 registered investors since it launched in November 2014. Peter is focused on regional expansion and strategic partnerships.

Pavithra Balaji is the Operational Controller & Tax Leader for the Middle East, Turkey & Africa region for General Electric- Global Operations. In this role, she leads GE’s statutory financial and tax compliance function for the META region, including statutory accounting and audits, tax operations and controllership. Pavithra joined GE in 2010 and has held diverse functional and leadership roles within the GE group in financial systems, taxation, and controllership. Notable is her 3 years as ERP Tax Leader for GE Power, providing tax and accounting expertise in implementing an Oracle-based ERP system across the Middle East and Africa.

As a former executive director at Goldman Sachs and now at the vanguard of FinTech, Daniel Gould brings a multifaceted perspective on digital banking transformation along with hands-on experience in launching and managing digital initiatives to drive growth.

21+ years of Senior Management experience in high – growth Domestic & International market of GCC, Asia and America’s. P&L management in the high-tech IT industry with solid strategic and tactical expertise in global operations, fiscal management, sales, marketing, new product development, and Financial Modeling.

Chandru Badrinarayanan is Managing Partner at ECube Investment Advisors Pvt Ltd., ECube – “Engage and Empower for ESG” – is India’s pioneer investment advisory company dedicated to improving Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) performance across the corporate sector. Prior to ECube, Mr. Badrinarayanan was Country Head of MSCI’s India business (www.msci.com) until April 30, 2019. MSCI is an independent provider of research-driven insights and tools for institutional investors. MSCI ESG Research (https://www.msci.com/esg-integration) provides in-depth research, ratings and analysis of the environmental, social and governance-related business practices of thousands of companies worldwide.

Danny is a FinTech expert and a serial entrepreneur that feels very passionate about using technology to solve daily-life problems. He currently is launching his 3rd start-up ‘BANKIOM’ a digital bank for millennials and mobile natives.

Muadh Abdulrahman Alhusaini is a Co-Managing Partner at Ehata Financial. Ehata is the first independent authorized Saudi advisory house focused on financial risks and derivatives, including policy setting, structuring, pricing, valuation, and hedge execution assistance. Their expertise covers interest rates, foreign exchange, commodities, and derivatives.
After Co-founding ‘Ehata Financial Company’ (regulated by the Saudi Capital Market Authority), Muadh assumed the role of Co-Managing Partner. He is a dedicated business professional with experience in financial risk management and investment and has handled different senior roles at local and international banks in the field of Treasury/Global Markets.
Muadh is a Chartered Financial Analyst who also has a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information systems from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals.

Muadh Abdulrahman Alhusaini is a Co-Managing Partner at Ehata Financial. Ehata is the first independent authorized Saudi advisory house focused on financial risks and derivatives, including policy setting, structuring, pricing, valuation, and hedge execution assistance. Their expertise covers interest rates, foreign exchange, commodities, and derivatives.
After Co-founding ‘Ehata Financial Company’ (regulated by the Saudi Capital Market Authority), Muadh assumed the role of Co-Managing Partner. He is a dedicated business professional with experience in financial risk management and investment and has handled different senior roles at local and international banks in the field of Treasury/Global Markets.
Muadh is a Chartered Financial Analyst who also has a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information systems from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals.
Muadh is engaged in supporting the Saudi Investments industry through active membership of the Investments & Securities Committee at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he assumed different board and committees’ memberships at government, public and private entities within the areas of investment, risk, governance, and compliance.

+20 years developing digital acquisition, engagement and loyalty strategies in the U.S., Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Sub-saharan Africa.

Launched the first digital bank in the Middle East/North Africa, setup digital channels/capabilities from scratch for 3 banks, and guided multiple companies to growth in customer acquisition, mobile usage, online reach, digital adoption, and mobile money.

Developed and executed multi-national digital strategies for Fortune 500 brands: IBM, Disney, Coca-Cola, American Express, Vodafone, Prudential, Ogilvy, Shangri La, and the United Nations.

Holds a Master’s in Digital Strategy & Comms. from Georgetown University & Executive Management Degree from HEC Paris.

About Mastercard:

As a technology company in the global payments business, Mastercard operates the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone.

Anne-Sophie Perret has 29 years of experience in finance, risk management and regulatory/compliance and set-up her own advisory firm in 2017, Circe Partners. Prior to this, she held roles in tier 1 banks and big 4 consultancy & audit firms where she led large transformation programs covering risk management, new regulations and standards, and corporate governance. She has experience with handling sensitive stakeholders such as monitors and regulators in the GCC region, the UK and the US. Earlier in her career she was an external auditor carrying out due diligence for M&As and appointed to investigate suspicions of criminal activities such as fraud, embezzlement, and corruption. Her main base locations have been Paris, London, Singapore and Dubai, with assignments across the globe.
Anne-Sophie is a certified accountant, holds an MBA from Neoma Business School and certifications in risk and compliance – CISI, ACAMS, and GARP. She promotes innovation and new technologies and completed the Blockchain Strategy Program provided by the Said University, Oxford. She also participated in the Global Digital Finance AML working group to assist with the evolution of FATF recommendations to cover cryptocurrencies and Virtual Assets Service Providers.

About CIRCE Partners:

CIRCE Partners (“CP”) offers a range of services in risk management, compliance, corporate governance, and financial planning and controls and are partnering with firms to help them grow their business in a sustainable way, optimize the risk-reward equation and protect their franchise.
CP assists businesses looking either for temporary support to address a specific problem or on a continuous basis, from design through the implementation of strategic plans and into the monitoring of the outcomes.
CP believes that good corporate governance is key for firms to deliver their strategic objectives in the long term and make their vision a reality. With their ability to understand the big picture, design simple solutions to solve complex problems and synthesise information inadequacy with the audience, CP have become many firms’ valued partner.
CP has an impressive track record in delivering change, as they have grasped the importance of people as the key enablers to any successful transformation, an aspect that they integrate systematically into their approach.
They also explore new concepts and technologies that can be leveraged to provide innovative solutions and assist firms in the assessment and implementation of new strategies.
Their client base is mainly in the GCC and Europe in the Financial Services sector, with growing demand from FinTechs and RegTechs.
CIRCE Partners is based in Dubai, UAE.