Family Businesses – The Role of The Next Generation

Mr. Al-Kooheji is a seasoned executive who has held a number of senior roles across banking and investments for over 20 years. Prior to Arbah Capital, he served as an Executive Director at GFH Financial Group, a leading international investment firm, where he was part of the senior management team, leading the revitalization of the group. Previously, he was Head of Investor Relations at Tadhamon Capital, a Bahrain-based investment firm and a key member of Arcapita Bank’s placement team. Prior to this, he held other senior positions at Al-Salam Bank Bahrain, Bahrain Development Bank, and Kuwait Finance House Bahrain. Notably, he served as a founding member of both Al Salam Bank and KFH Bahrain. During his career, he has worked in all fields of investment banking, including deal sourcing, syndication, management and exit strategies. Mr. Al-Kooheji holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and Economics from the University of Texas, USA, and a Masters in Finance.

Zena is CEO of Altum Group and is responsible for the strategic leadership of the business and its continued delivery of high-quality products and services to Altum’s clients. Zena also leads Altum’s talent acquisition and retention strategy, ensuring the Group attracts the future leaders, changemakers, and innovators of tomorrow who have the vision, ambition, and drive to be the blueprint for its continued success. Zena has over 24 years' experience working in Financial Services in key jurisdictions such as Jersey, London, Luxembourg, and the U.A.E. She has spent over 16 years working with Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund, investors, and families on the structuring and administration of their global portfolios with experience in real estate, corporate governance, and complex restructuring and re-domiciling of assets for large families. Zena holds a number of regulated and unregulated directorships for large real estate companies investing globally.

Having worked with Knight Frank for the past 9 years in London and the Gulf, Henry is a specialist in advising clients on the purchase, sale and management of UK, European and US real estate. Given Henry’s position within the Private Office, he is unrestricted by a specific market or geography, therefore able to provide a specialised service across a whole host of Knight Frank service lines to make sure the right assets and opportunities are offered to his clients. Henry has experience in development, asset management and valuation of residential property with a focus on the transaction of real estate. He frequently assists his clients with single properties for personal use through to bulk transactions for investment. Henry acts as a trusted advisor and single point of contact for your real estate requirements, whether residential, commercial or market intelligence; ensuring his clients are best informed on key markets around the world.

Henry is a Chartered Accountant and senior management professional with 35 years’ experience in the finance industry. He started his career with a Big Four accounting firm in Montreal, Canada before holding various positions with an international bank’s wealth management division in Barbados, Cayman Islands, London and Jersey where he has resided since 2005. Henry joined the ZEDRA Jersey office in 2018 and currently leads the trust and company business as the Head of Active Wealth for Zedra in Jersey and will be taking on the role of Managing Director of the Zedra Jersey business commencing in January 2023. He is experienced in providing wealth management and fiduciary solutions to global (U)HNW families, advisors and corporations and has broad geographic experience, having assisted families based in Africa, Middle East, North America and the UK.

Fred is Counsel in the International Trusts & Private Clients team, based in Mourant's Jersey office. He has worked in the trusts and private client industry for over 25 years and has held senior roles in law firms and trust companies. Before moving back to Jersey in 2016, Fred worked in Geneva for 11 years. Fred's core areas of expertise are succession planning and family governance and the use of trusts and companies in achieving those objectives and related issues. He is also interested in family office structuring, investment management arrangements, risk management for trustees, and the confidentiality vs transparency debate. Fred has spoken at conferences and contributed to or been quoted in publications including STEP Journal, The Lawyer and Le Temps in Geneva.

Akram Okeili is a seasoned management advisor with more than 15 years in the Family Business Advisory domain. In addition to being a leader in emerging market strategy, he is a veteran Family Business Expert, Ultra-affluent Individuals Advisor, a Governance & Restructuring Expert and a savvy Investment Banker. imagesimagesimages Previous Next MANAGING PARTNER AKRAM OKEILI Akram Okeili is a seasoned management advisor with more than 15 years in the Family Business Advisory domain. In addition to being a leader in emerging market strategy, he is a veteran Family Business Expert, Ultra-affluent Individuals Advisor, a Governance & Restructuring Expert and a savvy Investment Banker. Akram has over 15 years of US, European and regional experience in management consulting, private equity and investment banking with a substantial focus on Family Business strategic initiatives spanning various industries.

Hassan leads the private wealth practice at Alzawawi and Almarzouki Law Firm. Having trained at an international law firm in London and worked for two leading Saudi law firms in both Jeddah and Riyadh prior to joining the firm, he has developed a focus on advising private wealth clients on various matters including their family businesses. This experience includes, corporate governance, succession planning, the administration of estates with assets in multiple jurisdictions. Hassan further advises private wealth clients on various contentious matters. Hassan further has corporate experience working closely with multinational companies in relation to foreign direct investment in the Kingdom, restructuring and commercial disputes. This experience covers various sectors in the Kingdom including food and beverage, real estate, logistics, hospitality and hotels, casual dining, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.