Committee Objectives
Leading high-level dialogues with senior leaders in a safe environment, resulting in recommendations to help transform the business landscape. Creating a culture for dynamic leadership and shared knowledge.
Committee members
Jan played an instrumental role in the founding of the UAE’s two financial hubs; He spearheaded the launch of Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM) and co-led the establishment of the DIFC as the founding Chief Operating Officer of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). Previously, Jan spent nine years with PwC based in both Geneva and Dubai and carries a wealth of experience in Corporate Leadership across the MENA Region. Raised across the region as a child, Jan’s spouse is an Arab and his children speak Arabic at home. Fluent in English, French and Spanish, Jan obtained an MBA (Summa Cum Laude) from Lausanne and holds both British and Swiss Nationalities.
Jan qualified as the 1st accredited Non-Executive Board Member with the Institute of Directors in Dubai, attended Harvard Business School’s “Making Corporate Boards More Effective” and is an accredited global “Trainer of Trainers” in the Corporate Governance Board Leadership Program of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and World Bank.
Recognised as a thought leader in Corporate Governance, he now sits on numerous Boards, including assuming the roles of Chairman of a FinTech, a Non-Executive Director of a Swiss Assets Management Firm and a NRC Board Committee Member of a leading Private Equity Firm in KSA.
Matthew Lewis, is Managing Director and Head of the Middle East office for Russell Reynolds Associates. He is trusted board advisor and thought leader with 25 years global talent & executive coaching expertise. Interviewed and assessed over 6,000+ C level executives worldwide. Hired into 45 countries across EMEA, Asia & US for over 600 leading private, listed and government organisations and an expert on leadership in emerging markets. Resident in Dubai since 2007.
Graduated in law from the University of Rome, Italy, (La Sapienza) in 1994 after having prepared his final dissertation in comparative law at Yale Law School (Connecticut, USA) as a visiting scholar. Registered with the Bar Council of Rome, he began his practice at Studio Legale Paoletti in Rome as a Partner in 1997. He became experienced in assisting clients to both domestic litigation cases and international cases in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Oman. In 2006 he obtained Magna cum Laude in Master in Public Affairs, Lobbying and Institutional Relations from the University of Rome (LUMSA). In 2008 he moved to Dubai and joined Al Bahar & Associates as a legal consultant, and he has acquired specific expertise in the Gulf States, assisting Italian companies in terms of overseas investment and internationalisation in the Middle East, offering legal support, commercial contracts, corporate law and as well as in real estate. 2014 - Established his practice Law Firm, and today he is the Managing Partner of Paoletti Legal Consultants LLP registered in ADGM, with offices in Dubai, Rome and Shanghai, assisting domestic and international companies in cross boarding business transactions. Board Member and President of the Italian Business Council of Dubai & Northern Emirates and Vice President of Italian Social Club of Dubai.
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