AIMS International Expands to Dubai
January 29, 2021 – Executive search consortium AIMS International has expanded its reach in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region with the opening of a new office in Dubai. Kyriakos Kofinas has been hired as managing partner to heading the office which serves the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Jordan.
“We are glad to announce the opening of our Gulf office based in Dubai, earlier in 2020, and welcome Kyriakos Kofinas, who brings solid experience and expertise in leadership across many industries, as our managing partner,” said Bernardo Entschev, president AIMS International. “Our focus is on consistently advising our clients in building and strengthening their organizations, with impactful and lasting leadership. We have started well with the first projects in 2020, leveraging Aims International’s footprint to attract projects and select top executives and talents.”
“Moreover, Kyriakos’s awarded work in CEO coaching and mentoring, and more importantly with various companies across GCC and Jordan, demonstrates his expertise in helping firms developing their executives and selecting the right profiles to achieve their business and transformation goals,” Mr. Entschev said. “We are happy to open the Dubai office, and look forward contributing to the region’s growth targets for our clients and for the market.”
Mr. Kofinas has 30 years of executive career experience in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. He held executive positions as regional CEO, business director and board member in consumer, medical, food, retail, sportswear, luxury, education, energy/E-mobility for companies like P&G, Adidas, Safilo, and local leading retail and energy groups. He is also a certified executive coach for CEOs, C-suite, teams and business owners.
Asked about his approach and the value he can add to search assignments, Mr. Kofinas said: “I seek to understand the business and organizational needs before engaging candidates. I view the situation through both the eyes of the candidate and the client, thereby making sure the perfect match can be obtained. In AIMS we source candidates from across the region and the world, thanks to the AIMS Gulf team, AIMS global practice experts and to our partners connected to more than 50 countries globally.”
“I am very pleased to partner with AIMS Gulf and extend our MEA coverage in the Gulf region from our new base in Dubai, meeting the growing demand from global and regional clients for our executive search and talent management services,” said Karim Ahniche, vice president EMEA and managing partner AIMS Morocco.
One of the world’s fastest growing economies, Dubai’s current gross domestic product is projected at $107.1 billion. The Persian Gulf and its coastal areas are the world’s largest single source of crude oil, and related industries dominate the region, making it a hotbed of activity for search firms with an eye on expansion.
With over 80 offices worldwide, AIMS International provides clients with customized, global executive search and talent management services in 50 countries. It has active global practice groups working in the automotive, financial and professional services, FMCG and luxury goods, industrial, IT and telecoms, and life sciences industries, as well as in talent management and board advisory services.
Glowing Global Organization
AIMS has experienced a wave of growth over the past year. The consortium recently appointed Bernardo Entschev as its new president. He took over from Pierangelo Favero who served in the role since 2015. Mr. Entschev is managing partner U.S. and previously served as international vice president and executive vice president for the Latin Americas and Americas regions. He is qualified as a medical surgeon in Brazil and worked as a craniofacial surgeon for 10 years before joining his father’s executive search company in Brazil in 2007. Since then he has become an integral part of AIMS International, growing the business, first in South America and more recently in North America.
“I am honored by the great confidence shown by our general assembly in Marrakech, electing me as president of AIMS International,” said Mr. Entschev. “The executive search market is changing due to the development of tech platforms, connecting candidates and companies. To stay relevant in today’s market, an executive search organization needs to offer more than finding the right candidate.”
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
