Executive Chairman and CEO
DMCC
Ahmed Bin Sulayem is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC and has driven its growth from a start-up of 28 member companies in 2003 to the world’s leading free zone in 2020 with over 18,000 member companies from 180 countries, employing over 60,000 people.
Tasked with enhancing commodity trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has introduced to the market a number of value-added products and services under Mr Bin Sulayem’s leadership. In 2020, DMCC has been named the ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record sixth consecutive year.
Mr Bin Sulayem oversaw the exponential growth of the DMCC Free Zone master development in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), a 200-hectare business and residential community in Dubai of over 100,000 people living and working across 87 towers. Mr Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project; the much-anticipated Uptown Dubai district.
Mr Bin Sulayem currently serves as the Chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX).
The Kimberley Process officially appointed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first and only Arab country to Chair the Kimberley Process in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2016.
President, Paris Peace Forum
Former Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO)
Chair of Europe - Brunswick Group
President - The UN UNWTO Ethics Of Tourism Committee
President - The French Committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PEEC)
Pascal Lamy is the President of the Paris Peace Forum and Brunswick Europe Chair. He is special advisor to the European Commission.
He shares his other activities between the Jacques Delors think tanks (Paris, Berlin, Brussels), the presidency of the UNWTO ethics of tourism committee, the French Committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PEEC), and the Musiciens du Louvre orchestra (Marc Minkowski).
He also holds positions in various French, European, and global boards or advisory boards (Mo Ibrahim Foundation, IFPRI, CERRE, TMEA, Transparency International, Alpbach Forum, Beijing Forum, World Trade Forum, WEF global risks, Europaeum, Collegium international). He is affiliate Professor at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), Shanghai, and at HEC (Paris).
From 2005 to 2013, Pascal Lamy served for two terms as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). He previously was European Commissioner for Trade (1999-2004), CEO of Crédit Lyonnais (1994-1999), Chief of Staff to the President of the European Commission Jacques Delors and his G7 Sherpa (1985-1994), Deputy Chief of Staff to the French Prime Minister (1983-1985) and to the French Minister for Economy and Finance (1981-1983).
Latest publications: “Strange new world” (Odile Jacob 2020, “Où va le monde ? » (Odile Jacob 2018).
Chief Operating Officer
DMCC
Feryal Ahmadi is the Chief Operating Officer of DMCC, and has been instrumental in securing DMCC’s reputation as the leading authority on international commodities trade and enterprise.
Overseeing its long-term strategic growth plan, Feryal has shaped the corporate governance structure in DMCC, and created marketplaces that increase global trade flows through Dubai.
Feryal manages the wider operations team tasked with developing the Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) business district, and implementing the innovative DMCC Smart and Sustainable District Strategy.
As an official spokesperson, Feryal frequently engages with local and international media on a variety of topics to raise awareness of DMCC, and promote the commercial appeal of Dubai around the world.
As a committee member of Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) – established by UN Global Compact and UN Women – Feryal leads DMCC’s comprehensive sustainability programme. She also sits of the board of a number of semi-governmental entities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Feryal earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the American University in Sharjah, and an Executive MBA from Harvard University.
Chief Executive
Asia House
Michael Lawrence was appointed Chief Executive of Asia House in September 2012 following a career in journalism that took him to the highest levels of international media.
Michael was Global Editor of Reuters from 2006 to 2012, leading a team of 3,000 journalists covering news in text, video and pictures from almost 200 bureaux around the world. Michael was part of the editorial team that delivered Reuters’ much-praised coverage of the Iraq war, and he ran the region through the turbulent years that followed. He has an in-depth knowledge of the Asian geopolitical landscape and economic affairs in the region.
UK Head of International Trade
Pernod Ricard
As Head of International Trade for Pernod Ricard’s three UK-based businesses, Jonathan works to open markets for Pernod Ricard’s world-leading wine and spirit brands, including Scotch whiskies such as Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s and The Glenlivet, and Beefeater Gin. Prior to taking up his position in May 2021, Jonathan was Head of International Trade with the Confederation of British Industry in London. He worked previously in the UK’s Foreign Office, serving in Moscow, Berlin, and Brussels, and was UK Ambassador to Belgium between 2010 and 2014.
Senior Advisor Digital Assets
Oliver Wyman
James Emmett is Managing Director of Phialas LLC which develops complex fintech initiatives, and a Senior Advisor with Oliver Wyman focused on Digital Assets and Financial Services.
He was previously CEO & MD of Diem Networks LLC, the Swiss operating company of Diem Payments Network (formerly Libra), an innovative blockchain-based payments initiative.
Before joining Diem in 2020, James was with HSBC for 25 years, most recently as Chief Executive of HSBC Bank plc & Europe, where he ran HSBC’s Wholesale Bank in the UK and the business across Continental Europe. Prior to this, he held various positions across Asia-Pacific, EMEA, and the Americas including COO HSBC Europe, CEO HSBC Turkey and Global Head of Trade & Receivables Finance.
Chief Digital Officer
Hitachi Europe
Ram Ramachander joined Hitachi in 2017 in the joint roles of Chief Commercial Officer for Social Innovation Business and Chief Digital Officer for Hitachi Europe, following a 25-year career both as an entrepreneur and a corporate executive in digital and green sectors, where he successfully built new businesses in new markets.
During the last surge in interest in climate change from big business and investors, Ram was a pioneer in building 3 digitally-enabled green ventures both in Europe and Silicon Valley, working to accelerate the transition. Now in his current role, he continues to incubate and build new ventures inside Hitachi focused on climate change.
Ram has successfully raised 3 rounds of funding and incubated and launched several businesses in Hitachi from renewable energy to e-mobility, and most recently was responsible for launching a multi-billion EV-as-a-Service.
HEAD OF TRADE & WORKING CAPITAL, EUROPE
Standard Chartered Bank
Victoria joined Standard Chartered in Singapore in 2012 and has held various product management roles in Documentary Trade as well as Open Account. Victoria led the transformation of the bank’s Supply Chain Finance offering as well as collaborations with prominent third-party platforms. Since May 2021, Victoria leads the bank’s Trade Finance & Working Capital business in Europe.
Prior to joining Standard Chartered, Victoria worked for 6 years at Deutsche Bank’s Global Markets and Transaction Banking divisions in both the UK and Germany.
Victoria holds an honours degree in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires and a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from INSEAD
