The Twelfth WealthBriefing MENA Awards for Excellence 2025

Zeid Akkawi is a Partner and Global Head of Investment Management and Advisory, based in Dubai.

With two decades of industry experience, Zeid has established himself as an innovative and solution-driven advisor to single-family offices and entrepreneurs.

Having joined Azura at its inception, he leads the Investment Management and Advisory group delivering holistic investment solutions to key clients of the firm. Prior to Azura, he was the Head of Investment Partners for Key Clients emerging markets at Julius Baer providing advisory solutions for strategic clients of the firm.

Throughout his career, he has advised and managed investment portfolios and advised on private placement and M&A transactions. He started his career in wealth management at Morgan Stanley, before moving to Credit Suisse, where he covered international family offices focusing on the construction of asset allocation and management of investment portfolios across asset classes.

Zeid graduated from University College London, UCL with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

Masroor is the Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East at Banco Santander International SA. leading the Private Banking operations for the region and the Middle East teams based in Switzerland.

Masroor is a highly experienced professional in wealth management who has held a succession of leadership roles across the U.S., Asia and the Middles East.

Before joining Santander, Masroor led all BNP Paribas' Wealth Management operations and activities for the Middle East from Dubai, UAE. Prior to that, he was based in Singapore, where he was Managing Director and Head of International and Non-Resident India ("NRI") clients.

Masroor was also the Singapore and Malaysia Market Head for Merrill Lynch. Before this he spent 10 years as NRI Market Director for both Citibank and Merrill Lunch in new York before moving to India, where he led Merrill's onshore platform.

Masroor holds a MBA from Calcutta University.

Irina Belysheva is the Chief Executive Officer of Wilco Wealth Management, where she is leading the company’s transformation into a next-generation platform for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices in Armenia and international markets.

With over 15 years of experience in private banking, wealth strategy, and cross-border advisory, Irina brings together deep institutional expertise, a sharp strategic mindset and generational wealth planning.

At Wilco, she leads a multi-jurisdictional team focused on preserving wealth through legal clarity, next-gen financial education, and tech-enabled transparency.

Irina built her career at global financial institutions, managing multi-jurisdictional portfolios and launching service models for legacy planning. She later advised on family governance, succession structuring, and M&A readiness.

She holds a degree in World Economy and World Politics from the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, with further studies in Spain, the United States, Switzerland, and at Skolkovo Moscow School of Management.

Relocating to Armenia with her three children, Irina combines international expertise with deeply held family values, believing that true wealth is measured not only in capital, but in legacy and continuity across generations.

Laurence is the Regional Director, Client Solutions, EMEA for Asiaciti Trust in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He joined Asiaciti Trust in late 2012 and has over 35 years’ experience in the offshore finance industry. Based in the Middle East for the past 28 years he has particular skills and experience in cross border planning, the establishment of offshore trusts, foundations and company formation. Laurence also acts as a Non-executive Director for GSB Capital Ltd in the Dubai International Financial Centre. Before joining Asiaciti Trust he held a number of senior positions within the Trust & Fiduciary industry and more recently was Head of Fiduciary Services, MENAP for a major international financial institution in the Dubai International Financial Centre. In these roles he successfully serviced clients in the EMEA region with their international needs and works closely with other cross border specialists in the establishment of international trusts and a variety of investment structures. Laurence maintains a comprehensive knowledge of legislative changes and industry trends affecting cross-border issues. He is a full member of STEP Worldwide (Society of Trust and Estate Planners) and was the founding Chairman of STEP Arabia.

Patrick is currently an executive director at Banque Richelieu GCC after joining fromDeutsche Bank Wealth Management Dubai. His previous position was senior vice president at DBS Private Banking Dubai. Patrick aims to exploit his reputation as a trusted advisor with entrepreneurial families to help drive the bank’s growth in the ultra-high net worth NRI private client segments, principally in the ME and Africa. Patrick’s 20-plus years’ experience in the sector began at Allied Irish Banks where he rose through the ranks to head up its deposit-taking unit in Jersey. His subsequently moved to BNP Paribas, then Bank of Nova Scotia before joining ABN AMRO Jersey where he rose to become head of private banking and later its country head. He moved to Dubai to join Lombard Odier in 2012.

Samy Dwek is the Founder of the Family Office Doctor and White Knight Consulting. His most recent role was Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Florida.

Prior to this Samy created and headed J.P. Morgan Family Office Solutions, EMEA and was a member of the EMEA Management Committee for the J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Samy held other positions at J.P. Morgan including head of Emerging Europe, banker for the Turkey-Israel region. Samy concurrently worked for J.P. Morgan Asset Management covering institutional clients in Turkey and Israel until 2011. He joined J.P. Morgan Private Bank in 2000 as a senior portfolio manager for Italy.

Prior to J.P. Morgan, Samy worked at Republic National Bank of New York in Geneva, Switzerland and Milan, Italy. He held positions including head of fixed income and head of client trading and worked on the proprietary trading desk focusing on Italian fixed income, fixed income derivatives and foreign exchange.

Samy is actively involved in his local community, serving on numerous charitable boards including the Foundation Board of the Boca Raton Regional Hospital and the Miami - Dubai Chamber of Commerce. He also sits on investment committees for a few Single-Family Offices and serves as either trustee or protector. Samy is a graduate of the European Business School in London where he graduated with a BA (Hons) in European Business Administration in English, French and Italian. He is fluent in English, French and Italian and proficient in several other languages.

With over two decades of experience in private banking and multi-family offices, Suzanna Gobet is a seasoned wealth manager at Banque Eric Sturdza SA, a Swiss private bank renowned for bespoke wealth management solutions for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families.

Throughout his career, he has developed a holistic understanding of the UHNWI ecosystem, combining expertise in investment management, wealth structuring, and succession planning with a strong track record in client advisory and team leadership. Prior to joining Banque Eric Sturdza, he spent nearly 19 years in a Geneva-based multi-family office, where she led a team of 12 bankers and held senior positions including Co-Head of Wealth Management.

A graduate in Economics and Finance from Geneva University, and a full member of STEP, Suzanna Gobet  is recognized for his ability to design and implement tailored strategies that preserve and grow wealth across generations. She also holds a Certificate in Art History (Art Explora, validated by Sorbonne University, 2025), reflecting his personal interest in the arts and culture.

She is committed to excellence, innovation, and the highest standards of professionalism in serving clients and contributing to the wider wealth management community.

Experienced corporate lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in regulatory and compliance services spanning across the Caribbean, Cayman Islands and in the UAE. Strong knowledge of international business companies’ regulatory frameworks,
financial services (including FinTech as qualified under Oxford/Saïd Business School Fintech Programme) and financial products (particularly Funds). Extensive experience as well as specialized expertise as a certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and FATF trained Legal expert examiner and certified in FATCA & CRS reporting, ADGM OCAB regime.

Achievement: Awarded 2021 Leading Woman in Private Wealth Management by MENA Wealth Briefing Association.
Formerly: Legal Counsel at Cayman Islands Monetary Authority: 2008-2016;
Formerly: Head of Regulations and Operations for RAKICC (IBC Offshore & Free zone Registry): 2016-2017
Former: Prosecutor/ Regulator & Legislative Drafter

Hassen is a Senior Relationship Manager covering External Asset Managers at MCB (DIFC Branch). He relocated from MCB’s Head Office in July 2021 where he was previously responsible for coverage of EAMs and Multi Family Offices in Switzerland, Monaco, the UAE and in Mauritius. Prior to joining MCB, Hassen established the EAM Desk at Afrasia Bank, a boutique bank based in Mauritius. Hassen is an entrepreneurial and solution oriented banking professional with experience in multiple African, Middle Eastern and European jurisdictions who actively leverages on the entire MCB Group capabilities that also include corporate and investment banking, asset management and private equity. He holds a Master of Business Administration from HEC Paris and speaks fluently English and French.

Fella Khelifi-Arnulphy has more than two decades of experience in working with UHNW individuals, family offices and institutional clients around the globe. She currently serves as Head of Advisory Solutions Middle-East & Monaco at EFG International, where she leads teams of advisors in Geneva, Zurich, Dubai and Monaco. She is also Global Chair of the EFG Women Network, fostering female talent within the firm.

Fella joined EFG in London in 2015 to establish and grow the investment advisory activities of EFG Private Bank. Prior to that, she spent several years at Citi Private Bank and at Union Bancaire Privée in portfolio management and advisory roles.

In 2025, Fella was named one of the “Top Recommended” UNHW Wealth Managers in the Spear’s 500 rankings for the third consecutive year. She holds a BA in Political Science from Richmond American University London and an MBA from AIU London.

Jacques-Antoine Lecointre serves as the COO of Santander Private Banking International in the Middle East. He is based in Dubai from where he oversees the regional operations as well as the External Asset Managers platform. Before joining Santander, he had similar positions for BNP Paribas Wealth Management in the Region, for the Global South Asia and Middle East business of Bank of Singapore and for Barclays Wealth Management where he spent more than 10+ years across Europe and the Middle East. Jacques-Antoine brings over 20+ years of experience gained across multiple roles within the front, back and product office.

Yann is the Managing Partner of M/HQ. He chiefly focuses on private wealth and immigration practice. He has vast experience advising successful individuals and entrepreneurial families with Middle Eastern exposure on implementing inter-generational wealth transfer strategies and structuring their operational assets and global wealth. He is regularly involved in the ongoing management of such structures – as a board member, council member, guardian or protector. Yann is recommended by all of Chambers & Partners Private wealth, Legal Week’s Private Client Global Elite and Who’s who legal private client. He was the Chair of STEP Arabia from 2015 to 2018

Vijay is currently the Market Head for NRI EMEA, based in Dubai. In his capacity, Vijay oversees all the Non Resident India Clients based in the GCC and in Europe.

Vijay brings with him 30 years of international experience in Banking and Financial services in Consumer Banking, Product Management, Capital Markets, Private Banking and Wealth Management.

Before joining BNP Paribas Wealth Management in 2021, Vijay was in charge of the NRI team within CA Indosuez based in Dubai. Prior to that, he was the Head of their representative office in Dubai. Before CA Indosuez where he spent 17 years, Vijay worked for Standard Chartered and Citibank both in Bahrain and in Dubai.

Vijay holds a MBA in Finance from the Institute of Management Development & Research in Poona, India.

Yasmine is the Head of Family Office and Wealth Advisor for Dubai at the Bank of Singapore, working with global UHNW individuals and their advisors to protect and secure their wealth for future generations.

Prior to joining the Bank, Yasmine spent 13 years in Private Client Consulting with the Big 4, and headed a regional non-profit developed in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, working to improve corporate accountability and
transparency across the Private Sector in the Gulf Region.

Yasmine is particularly passionate about the role of Family Governance as a tool for wealth planning, as well as the value in engaging the next generation in family legacy discussions.

Aslam joined Fairway from EFG Fund Services and prior to that, he was at the Jersey Financial Services Commission.

Aslam has wealth of knowledge of the offshore funds industry having been involved in the finance industry for over 15 years; he is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and holds a diploma in Fund Administration. Aslam has a wide range of experience across financial services businesses, and his experience on the boards of various regulated entities and managed client entities puts him in good stead.

Prior to EFG, Aslam was a financial regulator within the funds supervision division of the Jersey Financial Services Commission before which he was responsible for a fund administration department at Dominion. Before moving into funds industry Aslam spent 7 years in audit with Deloitte and EY where he completed his training.

Mohamed Virani is a Partner and CEO of Azura Middle East, based in Dubai.

Mohamed is regarded as an industry-leading expert in Islamic Finance and has spent 20 years in managing and structuring cross-asset investment solutions and debt capital markets, notably at Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking ("SGCIB") in London, Paris, and Dubai.

Mohamed developed a number of financial innovations, particularly in the Islamic Finance space, that contributed to SGCIB's position as a global leader in Shariah compliant investments.

Prior to Azura, Mohamed was a Managing Director at Bank Julius Baer and part of the managing committee and risk committee for Bank Julius Baer Middle East. Mohamed holds a BSc in Economics and an MSc in Financial Engineering & Mathematical Trading from Cass Business School. He is also an accomplished lecturer in capital markets at various business schools in London, Paris & Dubai.

Throughout his extensive banking career, Mohamed has cultivated specialized knowledge in strategic regional investments for institutional clients. His expertise and broad network make him an invaluable addition, not as a service provider, but as a true expert whose insights and connections enrich the dialogue and collaboration among attendees.

Bruce is a chartered accountant with over 37 years financial services experience, previously a partner in PwC, latterly as Global leader of their Wealth Management practice and the key driver of their bi-annual Wealth Management Report. Bruce is now CEO of Weatherill Consulting providing advice on client centricity and wider strategic matters to wealth managers. He is the author of The Value of Trust: the quest by Wealth Managers for Trusted Advisor status and a number of other thought leadership reports. Bruce is chairman of ClearView Financial Media and a non-executive of a number of companies including Fidelity Holdings UK, The Wisdom Council, ComPeer, JDX Consulting and Ten Group.