Wilton & Bain Names Leader for Middle East and North Africa
September 6, 2024 – Wilton & Bain has appointed Sami Zouehid to lead the firm’s Middle East and North Africa office. “I am absolutely delighted that Sami has chosen to join us,” said David Heron, CEO. “His values, drive, and sense of ambition directly mirror our own. He stood out head and shoulders aside other candidates we met in our process. Sami is a family man, a team player, and someone who cares deeply about his clients and colleagues.”
“Having first visited Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2001, and actively travelled across Middle East and Africa for much of my career, it is a geography that I have a personal affinity to,” Mr. Heron said. “I am encouraged by the reception clients have given to our arrival, but realistic to the differences of working in a new culture, serving both the local and international market. We will take our time to grow, and build on our success, as we establish our track record in the region. Critically also, this office is part of Wilton & Bain’s global expansion into the Middle East and Asia PAC regions. We are excited by what is to come.”
Mr. Zouehid has 16 years of experience in the Middle East. He track record of placing leaders in influential organizations across the region. Mr. Zouehid specializes in executive placements for sectors such as private equity, technology, real estate development, family office, and industrial. Previously, he spent 15 years cultivating and managing retained search mandates across the MENA region with McArthur Murray, a regional search firm which has been based in the Middle East for over 18 years. Prior to this, Mr. Zouehid was a partner with AltoPartners. During his career, he also gained search experience with Kawas Consulting and Amrop Hever Group.
“After 12 unforgettable years with my previous firm—a period I will always look back on with great fondness and gratitude—I am thrilled to join Wilton & Bain as managing partner in their expansion into growth markets such as the Middle East and North Africa,” said Mr. Zouehid. “Throughout the process, Wilton & Bain has shown remarkable openness and a willingness to learn and listen to the nuances and uniqueness of our region. This approach has only strengthened my belief in what we can achieve together.”
Related: Wilton & Bain Grows Leadership Team
“We are committed to building a search firm that is deeply in tune with regional and local values,” Mr. Zouehid says. “At the same time, we will uphold our core values and ensure that the quality and standards set by our U.K. and U.S. operations are maintained and customized to deliver a unique experience to our partners. Moreover, we will bring a different approach to search in the region, led by deep understanding and commitment, while accessing subject matter expertise globally.”
Wilton & Bain Secures Investment from Beechbrook Capital
Wilton & Bain has secured investment from Beechbrook Capital to fund a second management buyout, bringing 12 new partners into the shareholding structure to support the future growth of the firm. There will also be a pool of unallocated equity for future individuals. “Five years after Wilton & Bain’s initial MBO the firm has tripled in size and now takes another important step towards becoming a widely held partnership, with the support of our financial partners Beechbrook,” said Piers Marmion, chairman of Wilton & Bain. “This transaction endorses the resilience Wilton & Bain has shown and its rare growth prospects, recognizing the capability of its enlightened management and the strength of its compelling ownership culture, as it welcomes another 12 new partners as shareholders. As Wilton & Bain matures, unusually it is becoming more dynamic, driven by the collective force of Partners who are now owners. Its prospects are exceptional.”
Founded in 2001 by Jeremy Mobbs and Ben Latreuille, Wilton & Bain provides executive search, interim management/consulting, and technology resourcing services to the technology, professional services, and converging digital markets. With offices in London, New York, Austin, Toronto, and Ireland, the firm has an expertise in technology to focus on digital transformation for clients across TMT, retail, consumer, financial services, insurance, and utilities.
Recent Expansion
In April, Wilton & Bain opened an office in Dubai. “I have personally worked with clients across the region for over 20 years, Mr. Heron said. “So, I’m absolutely thrilled that Wilton & Bain will be putting boots on the ground with such an exceptional team.”
“This step represents a major achievement in our journey as a leading global executive search firm,” Wilton & Bain said. “By setting up an office in the heart of the Middle East and North Africa region, we are confirming our commitment to meeting our clients’ needs wherever they are. Furthermore, our decision to open in the Dubai World Trade Centre was deliberate. It’s a bustling hub for commerce, innovation, and collaboration. This makes it the perfect environment for us to connect with our clients in the MENA region.”
Related: Wilton & Bain Appoints U.S. Advisor
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
