Ward Howell International Opens New Office in Abu Dhabi

January 14, 2025 – Ward Howell International has expanded with the opening of a new office in Abu Dhabi. The firm explains that the decision to establish a presence in Abu Dhabi underscores Ward Howell’s commitment to the Middle East and Africa region and reflects the capital’s strategic importance as a hub for business and innovation within the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The firm’s expansion into the UAE is led by the appointment of Sevag Alexandrian and Gregory Nazaryan as managing partners for the Middle East and Africa region. “Both bring extensive experience and a deep understanding of the local and regional markets, making them ideally positioned to drive Ward Howell’s growth in this dynamic area,” the firm said.

“Our presence in Abu Dhabi aligns with our vision to be at the center of the Middle East’s thriving business ecosystem, with our new office strategically located in ADGM, we aim to further strengthen our relationships and expand our impact across the Middle East and Africa” said Sevag Alexandrian, managing partner. “The UAE is a strategic gateway to the region, and our strong network and proven expertise allow us to connect clients with world-class leadership talent. Ward Howell’s reputation for execution excellence is rooted in our ability to deliver tailored solutions that meet the unique challenges of our clients.”

“The opening of our Abu Dhabi office is a significant step in our global growth strategy,” said Bernd Prasuhn, chairman of Ward Howell. “This region holds immense potential for economic and business development, and we are excited to bring our decades of expertise to support organizations in achieving their leadership goals. With Sevag and Gregory at the helm, I am confident in our ability to make a substantial impact in the Middle East and Africa.”

Mr. Alexandrian specializes in regional strategic, C-suite and board searches mostly in healthcare, oil and gas, industrial, media, and advisory services. He is a seasoned HR professional who recently joined . He brings over 20 years of experience, with particular strengths in high profile recruitments, transformation, performance management, restructuring/optimization and HR strategy in multi-cultural and plurilingual environments, during both growth and volatile markets.

Prior to joining Ward Howell International, he served as a partner at True as well as in various C-level functions, the most recent one being in the largest healthcare network in UAE during the years of Covid-19. Before that, he served in a leadership role in the most important European EPC contractor, where the company grew from a team of 150 to 4,000.

Mr. Nazaryan specializes in executive search and leadership advisory, with over 15 years of experience in the field, focusing on C-suite and board-level executive searches across the industrial, supply chain, logistics & transportation, manufacturing, energy, real estate, and government sectors. He also has experience in placing investment professionals for leading regional sovereign funds and private equity firms, particularly within the industrial and real estate sectors. Over his career, he has played a key role in identifying and developing senior talent for both public and private sector organizations.

Related: Ward Howell International Expands to Cleveland

Before joining Ward Howell, Mr. Nazaryan held senior leadership roles at global executive search firms True and Stanton Chase, serving as both managing partner and partner in MENA region. In these roles, he led the global transportation, logistics, and supply chain practices, successfully recruiting senior executives for clients across the MENA region and Eastern Europe. Earlier in his career, Mr. Nazaryan held C-level positions in the retail, logistics, technology, and non-profit sectors. He is fluent in English and Russian and a native speaker of Armenian.

Abu Dhabi Economy

The UAE’s large hydrocarbon wealth gives it one of the highest GDP per capita in the world and Abu Dhabi owns the majority of these resources—95 percent of the oil and 92 percent of gas. 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.

Ward Howell International is a global executive search firm with a network of more than 130 partners across 26 offices. As one of the pioneers in the search industry, the firm works with corporate boards and senior leadership to deliver immediate and impactful performance gains through better leaders, teams and organizations.

Related: The Skills That Help CEOs Make the Right Choices

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media

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