Audacia Capital

The Firm

Fueling Business Growth with Smart Financial Strategies

Who we are

Founder’s message

The meaning of ‘Audacia’ is the state or quality of being bold. We are about boldness, courage and confidence. We believe our work is a direct reflection of those characteristics. The Audacia Capital team takes considerable pride in its individual and collective track records.

We are meticulous, thorough and diligent in selecting and structuring investment opportunities, with the end goal of conceiving and nurturing long-term relationships with investors and portfolio businesses: stimulating growth and delivering exceptional results to all stakeholders.

Among our most important competitive advantages is our ability to source unique proprietary transactions that we then structure intelligently and creatively. In doing so, we mitigate risk exposure for investors, without losing sight of their aim of achieving superior returns. Thereafter, it is our team’s deep sector and market knowledge that enables us to effectively manage investments post-acquisition, drawing on a best-in-class network of partners to support our work across the region.

What does our investment process look like?

We exit our investments at the best possible timing that we believe will achieve highest possible returns for our investors. We consider it a privilege to deploy our experience, knowledge and expertise to ensure that our investors’ objectives are achieved, and that allocation of capital delivers truly rewarding results. I would personally welcome the opportunity to discuss your investment aspirations, to understand your aims, and to discover a bespoke and holistic solution that is the right fit.

With warm regards from the Audacia Capital team,

Emad Mansour

Founder & CEO

Board Of Directors

The Audacia Capital Board of Directors enjoys a high level of independence, guiding our strategic vision to ensure that high levels of corporate responsibility and ethical standards are prioritised across operations. As the most senior governance body within the organisation, the Board is custodian of Audacia Capital’s vision, mission and values, with ultimate responsibility for ensuring the growth of the business, while overseeing a best practice corporate governance architecture.

Jaber Alsulaiti

Chairman

Jaber was Qatar’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom for six years, until he retired from public service and established Alahed, a contracting company that became one of the largest contractors in Qatar…

Emad Mansour

Board Member

Emad is the founder and CEO of Audacia Capital. He has over 25 years of banking experience in the GCC, including as CEO of Qatar First Bank and, earlier, as Head of Investment Banking…

Bassam Abu Issa

Board Member

Bassam is Executive Director for Business Development of Salam International Investment Limited, a publicly-listed Qatari company with regional operations…

Ghassan Akeel

Board Member

Ghassan is the CEO of Astra Group and Director of Astra Industrial Group (PJSC), where he previously held the roles of Deputy General Manager and Chief Financial Officer. Before he joined Astra…

Anas Zaidan

Board Member

Anas began his career in 2005 as a financial consultant with Ernst & Young in Dubai. In 2007, he co-founded C3 Management with two partners…

Dia Nasser

Board Member

In addition to his role as a Director and Board Member at Audacia Capital, Dia has been Senior Manager for Private Banking at Qatar National Bank since 1999. With over 25 years of private banking …

Management

Each member of Audacia Capital’s management plays their own vital role in our success. Our people’s experience, ideas, skills and relationships across the region shape our culture and drive the growth of our business. The success of any institution rests on the skills and network of its principal members. Our management excels in applying exceptional technical abilities that are supported by the depth of its relationships with leading regional players.

Emad Mansour

Founder & CEO

Emad is a seasoned investment professional with over 25 years of banking experience in the GCC, with an excellent reputation and high-level public and private sector…

Hussein Ayache

Chief Investment Officer

Hussein is a founding member of Audacia Capital, joining from Qatar First Bank where he was a Charter Member of the Private Equity division. He has an impressive private equity and investment banking record …

Alyas Al Meftah

Head of Investor Relations

Alyas Al Meftah is an instrumental member of Audacia Capital and is responsible for fundraising and investor relationships in the MENA region. He brings over 18 years of experience with a successful career in investment banking and relationship management …

Philosophy

Mission

To originate, structure and offer world-class, lucrative investment opportunities to select investors in the Middle East North Africa (MENA), generating superb capital growth within a solid framework of integrity, professionalism and effectiveness.

Vision

To build Audacia Capital into an investment banking powerhouse in the MENA region.

Values

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Human Capital

investing in our most valuable asset for the long-term benefit of the business and clients

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Integrity

conforming to the highest standards of integrity in every relationship and interaction

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Discretion

maintaining client confidentiality as a key value of our business

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Professionalism

applying the highest standards of professionalism in all business dealings

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Innovation

thinking creatively, identifying untapped opportunities and deploying sophisticated solutions to complex financial challenges

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Respect

respecting the values and objectives of our clients and partners, respecting regulations and respecting the environment

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Our people

Everything that we do is underpinned by experienced investment professionals of high calibre. They are the bedrock of our organisation and ensure that Audacia Capital is a house of excellence, delivering on its vision, mission and values. Our team members have breadth and variety of experience which collectively enhance the proficiency and capabilities we have to offer.

Five promises to Investors

Our tailored and agile offering is the provision of alternative investment solutions that will achieve the objectives of our investors.
Governance

In a market where demand for sound corporate governance is growing at a rapid pace, Audacia Capital adheres to the highest standards of compliance built on international and principle-based governance structure in line with regulatory requirements.

Beyond our full compliance in accordance to the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), we have developed a holistic and strict internal framework of checks and balances. This framework guarantees that our actions and decisions are properly vested and adhere to the highest ethical standards. This ensure clear accountability and trustworthiness providing credibility and transparency to our stakeholders and investors.

Governance Framework

Board of Directors

Audacia Capital is governed by a seasoned seven-member Board of Directors; five executive directors and two independent non-executives. The Board provides strategic direction, management supervision and continuous oversight to endorse the success and long-term value of the company.

As part of our corporate governance, our Board Members are required to sign a Board Charter; a comprehensive and binding set of rules; defining how each Board Member must conduct oneself in relation to his role. An extract of the charter is as follows.

Board Diversity

Independence

Experience

Board Sub-Committees

Outsourced Compliance and Internal Auditing

Reliable Financial Reporting

Jaber Alsulaiti

Chairman

Jaber was Qatar’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom for six years, until he retired from public service and established Alahed, a contracting company that became one of the largest contractors in Qatar…

Personal & Corporate Banking

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Asset Company Management

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Trading & Bank Investment

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Jaber Alsulaiti

Chairman

Jaber was Qatar’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom for six years, until he retired from public service and established Alahed, a contracting company that became one of the largest contractors in Qatar, upon returning to his home country in 1980. His business interests now span various sectors, including real estate development, oil and gas services, trading, and contracting.

Emad Mansour

Board Member

Emad is the founder and CEO of Audacia Capital. He has over 25 years of banking experience in the GCC, including as CEO of Qatar First Bank and, earlier, as Head of Investment Banking at Samba Financial Group in Saudi Arabia. Emad has a BA in Finance from the University of Newcastle (UK), and a Master’s degree in Financial Economics from City University, London (UK).

Bassam Abu Issa

Board Member

Bassam is Executive Director for Business Development of Salam International Investment Limited, a publicly-listed Qatari company with regional operations in retail, contracting, IT, and oil and gas. He is also a Board Member of Salam Bounian Development Company, a private real estate development and investment company in Qatar. Bassam has a BA in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from the University of Kent (UK).

Ghassan Akeel

Board Member

Ghassan is the CEO of Astra Group and Director of Astra Industrial Group (PJSC), where he previously held the roles of Deputy General Manager and Chief Financial Officer. Before he joined Astra, he worked at Arthur Anderson as Audit Manager. Ghassan has an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona (USA) and is a member of the American Certified Public Accountants Institute (CPA).

Anas Zaidan

Board Member

Anas began his career in 2005 as a financial consultant with Ernst & Young in Dubai. In 2007, he co-founded C3 Management with two partners from the financial services sector. In 2008, he became CEO of C3 Card (previously C3 Management). Since the company’s acquisition by Edenred in 2014, he has served on the board of C3-Edenred Holding. Anas is a graduate of Marymount University, Virginia (USA).

Dia Nasser

Board Member

In addition to his role as a Director and Board Member at Audacia Capital, Dia has been Senior Manager for Private Banking at Qatar National Bank since 1999. With over 25 years of private banking experience, he is a seasoned professional with extensive leadership and investment knowledge. Dia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Kashmir University (India).

Emad Mansour

Founder & CEO

Emad is a seasoned investment professional with over 25 years of banking experience in the GCC, with an excellent reputation and high-level public and private sector relationships across the region. This expertise has seen Emad play a leading role in numerous high-profile transactions in the region. In his capacity as Head of Investment Banking at Samba Financial Group in Saudi Arabia, Emad led various high-profile transactions including advising on the privatisation of Royal Jordanian Airlines; Vivendi’s acquisition of Maroc Telecom; Kingdom Holdings’ IPO; Ma’aden’s IPO and Mobily’s private placement.

Prior to founding Audacia Capital, Emad was the CEO of Qatar First Bank which, under his leadership, became one of the premier financial institutions in the region. He holds a BA in Finance from the University of Newcastle (UK) and a Master’s degree in Financial Economics from City University, London (UK).

Hussein Ayache

Chief Investment Officer

Hussein is a founding member of Audacia Capital, joining from Qatar First Bank where he was a Charter Member of the Private Equity division. He has an impressive private equity and investment banking record with over 12 years of experience, having executed several transactions for QFB and Audi Capital, the investment-banking arm of Bank Audi. Hussein is responsible for sourcing and executing private equity transactions in addition to post-acquisition monitoring and divestment. He holds an MBA from London Business School and a BBA in Finance & Accounting from the American University of Beirut (Lebanon).

Alyas Al Meftah

Head of Investor Relations

Alyas Al Meftah is Head of Investor Relations at Audacia Capital. He brings an extensive 15 years of experience in the banking and finance sector to this role, including an extensive track record in Islamic investments and advisory. His areas of expertise include private banking, wealth management as well as private equity. Before joining Audacia Capital, Alyas served as Executive Director of Investment Development & Distribution in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia at GFH Financial Group, and prior to that he was Director of Investment Placement at International Investment Bank.

Alyas began his career with Durrat Al Bahrain, a leading real estate developer in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He has a Degree in Business as well as a Series 79 Securities and Markets Certification. Alyas has also served on the Boards and Committees of several companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.