Stanton Chase Appoints Leader of Financial Services for Middle East Region

October 11, 2019 – Baltimore, MD-headquartered Stanton Chase has named Julien Abou Khalil as partner and leader of the financial services practice covering the Middle East region. He will be based out of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he will support organizations in the Middle East with the recruitment of top financial executives, leadership growth management, and organizational culture.

“The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing markets in the banking and capital markets; however, the constant industry changes are posing a real challenge for big players in the region to be competitive,” said Wassim Karkabi, managing partner in the Stanton Chase Dubai office and global head of board and executive assessment. “Leaders must adjust their strategy to face the increasingly diverse requirements of new financial products in the market. With his extensive experience and expertise in leadership and the financial sector, Julien will support those organizations with their leadership growth and management challenges.”

Mr. Abou Khalil is an accomplished executive and investment consultant coming from the banking and finance industry, with a track record in setting up and developing businesses. He has more than 20 years of regional and international expertise. Recently, he has been particularly active in the areas of venture capital and investment advisory and structuring, with a vested interest in asset management. Mr. Abou Khalil also has experience in several aspects of the banking sector, notably wealth management for high net worth individuals and investment banking.

Prior to joining Stanton Chase, Mr. Abou Khalil served as the managing partner for a large multifamily office in Dubai where he grew successfully the proprietary portfolio of assets, developed new business opportunities, and structured ventures under a full-fledged privately-owned investment bank in Abu Dhabi. In 2014 he also founded a private structuring and advisory services practice, where he handled close to 500 million USD in discretionary wealth structuring, venture capital, and private equity. Mr. Abou Khalil started building his private banking experience in the Gulf region early 2007 by working in several top banks like Société Générale, Credit Agricole Suisse, Arab Bank Switzerland, Arab Investment Bank, and others. As part of his banking expertise, he spent several years in internal auditing and was a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.

“I am excited to join Stanton Chase and to lead the financial services practice group for the region,” Mr. Abou Khalil said. “I am thrilled to support financial organizations to successfully achieve their strategy by providing them with key insights and skillful leaders and to accompany them in their organizational culture transformation.”

With offices in major cities around the world, Stanton Chase offers clients a global perspective while understanding local cultures and the challenges of moving products by sea, air, rail and trucking.

Recent Expansion at the Firm 

Stanton Chase has named Eva Kingston as leader of financial services for its U.K. team. Ms. Kingston has been working in executive search and leadership consulting since 1995. Her experience covers cross-border retail banking and consumer finance, corporate and transaction banking, corporate functions, fintech, blockchain and impact investment.

Stanton Chase named Kristi Moe Hope, a director in its Atlanta office, as global sector leader for aerospace and defense. Ms. Hope has 25 years of executive leadership experience with broad-ranging international expertise in program management, strategic planning, customer relations, government relations and marketing. 

Stanton Chase named Natalie Sleiman as partner and leader of the technology practice in the Middle East region. Ms. Sleiman is based out of Stanton Chase’s Dubai office, where she supports organizations in the recruitment of top technology leadership — both within the technology industry as well as across the many other industries facing significant challenges…

Stanton Chase opened a new office in Raleigh, NC. Kathleen Lehman Hajek, who joined the firm last year, was named managing director of the new office. In addition to serving companies in the Raleigh/Durham and greater Research Triangle Park area, Stanton Chase has a strong presence in Charlotte, NC. 

Stanton Chase opened a new office in Perth, Australia, led by directors Tony Taylor and Greg Preston. They bring a combined 55 years of executive search and business experience in the industries most relevant to the region. The expansion into the Western Australian market represents an important step…

Stanton Chase recently added veteran search consultant J. James O’Malley as managing director in its Chicago office. He serves as a senior member of the professional services and financial services practice groups for Stanton Chase. Most recently, he was a partner and executive search practice leader at TalentRISE, a recruitment solutions firm in Chicago. 

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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