The program of the forum

Education

KIMEP University
BA. business administration and finance

Past experience

3M Kazakhstan
Finance director

Sun Drilling
Head of economic and budget-planning department

P&G Central Asia
Financial-analysis manager

About Dulatbek

Dulatbek is our Central Asian office manager. Since joining the firm, Dulatbek has supported public institutions and private-sector clients in the oil and gas, banking, and telecommunications sectors in different geographies on a wide range of issues.

With public-sector clients in central Asian and Middle East regions, Dulatbek has worked on a number of issues, including economic development of industrial, agricultural, and other sectors; supporting a tax-policy review; developing a fiscal consolidation program; helping to identify government medium-term priorities; and launching a delivery unit focused on improved implementation efficiency.

Dulatbek has served many private-sector clients in the banking, telecommunications, construction, and oil and gas sectors on a wide range of issues, including international expansion-strategy development, merger management, the full-scale transformation of a collections function, trading and risk-management strategy development, and investment-strategy development.

Before joining McKinsey, Dulatbek worked for 10 years in finance roles in several companies in the oil and gas and fast-moving-consumer-goods sectors.

A native Kazakh, Dulatbek is fluent in English and Russian.

He started his career in 2003 as a manager of the Customer Relations Department of Petrocommerce Bank of the Russian Federation.

In 2006-2008 he worked as a specialist in the Finance Department of the investment bank "City" in London (UK), in Prague (Czech Republic). In 2008-2014, he was a senior analyst, assistant to the Vice President, Vice President of the Regional Division for work on the stock Market of the investment Bank "City" (Great Britain). From 2014 to 2015, he held the position of Vice President of the Regional Strategic Planning Group

and analysis on Europe, the Middle East and Africa of the investment bank "City" of Great Britain. In 2015-2017, he was Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, Senior Vice President of Citibank of Kazakhstan. From 2017 to 2020, he worked as Chief Financial Officer for Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, Senior Vice President of Citibank of the Russian Federation. In 2020, he was appointed Regional Director for Strategy, Planning and Analysis in the emerging markets of Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe of the investment bank City (UAE).

Since February 2022 – Chairman of the Management Board of JSC "National Managing Holding "Baiterek".

On September 4, 2023, he was appointed Minister of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

General information, education

Born in Atyrau city on November 14, 1983

Education

2000 – 2006, Tomsk State University, Finance and Credit, Linguistics and Intercultural Communication

2008 – 2010, University of Michigan, Master in Applied Economics

Holder of the Presidential Bolashak International Scholarship

A member of the Presidential Youth Personnel Reserve 1.0.

Language proficiency

Kazakh, English, Spanish, German and Russian

Acquired certificates and awards

DipIFR (IFRS) by ACCA, Professional Accountant

“Eren enbegi ushin” (for outstanding service) and several jubilee medals

Career
CAREER BACKGROUND

September 2005 – February 2006, Leading Specialist of the Department of Internal Administration Department, and the Department of International Relations, Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning, Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2007 completed an internship at the Ministry of Finance, Japan.

February 2006 – October 2010, Expert, chief expert of the Investment Policy and Planning Department, Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Republic of Kazakhstan.

November 2010 - Head of the Strategic Development Division of the Strategic Planning and Analysis Department, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Republic of Kazakhstan.

November 2010 – February 2013, Deputy Director of the Department of Budget Policy and Planning, Ministry of Finance, Republic of Kazakhstan.

February – June 2013, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Geology and Subsoil Use, Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, Republic of Kazakhstan.

June 2013 – April 2019, Deputy Head of the Center for Strategic Research and Analysis and Deputy Head of the Department of Socio-Economic Monitoring, Executive Office of the President, Republic of Kazakhstan.

April 2019 – February 2021, Deputy Head of the Division, Office of the First President – Elbasy, Republic of Kazakhstan.

In February 2021, he became Vice-Minister of National Economy, and from January 2022 to February 2024 - Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Other positions:
- Member of the Board of Directors of JSC National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna (11.01.2022 - 06.02.2024).
- Member of the Board of Directors of JSC National Management Holding Baiterek (04.02.2022 - 06.02.2024).
- Member of the Management Council of the International Financial Center Astana (11.01.2022 - 06.02.2024);
- Member of the Board of Directors of JSC National Company KAZAKH INVEST (11.01.2022 - 06.02.2024).
– Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Economic Research Institute (ERI) (11.01.2022 – 06.02.2024).

Before his appointment as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, from April 2024 he was the General Director of the KAZENERGY Association.

Mr. He Zhenwei is the President of the China Overseas Development Association (CODA) and a Senior Economist. He graduated from Harbin Institute of Technology in 1986 and obtained his Master's Degree from the same institute in 1990. Mr. He began his diplomatic career since 1996 and completed his mission in 2003. He then returned to the Department of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investment of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) as a researcher. In 2007, Mr. He was transferred to CODA, which is directly under the NDRC, and assumed the position of Deputy Secretary -General. He was promoted to Secretary-General in 2016. Since September 2021, he has served as the President of CODA.
With his background as a former diplomat and extensive experience at the NDRC, Mr. He Zhenwei is well-versed in Chinese overseas investment policy. He has accumulated a wealth of experience through his involvement in numerous investment projects. In 2009, Mr. He took the lead in establishing the China Overseas Investment Fair (COIFAIR), which has been successfully held for 13 consecutive years and has had a significant impact both domestically and internationally.
In 2018, representing CODA, Mr. He successfully initiated the Regional Cooperation and Development Investment Fund, which was announced by President Xi Jinping at the 4th
Eastern Economic Forum.
In recent years, Mr. He Zhenwei has been invited to speak at various international events and has participated in programs such as the Dialogue program on CCTV-finance news and CGTV. He has also been interviewed by mainstream media outlets such as Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, and Phoenix TV.

Education: graduated from Gannon University, has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and Katz School of Business University of Pittsburgh, has MBA in Finance.

Work experience:

Gokhan joined GE Infrastructure - Transportation as a Renewal Parts Account Manager in 1997 and has been serving in Erie in different assignments. He worked as International NPI Marketing Manager and Locomotive Modernization Marketing Manager from 1998 to 2001. In 2001 he moved to the finance team as the Finance Manager for Service Proposals and Business Development. In 2003 he was appointed to Commercial Finance Manager for New Locomotive & Modernization Proposals. Starting in 2004 he moved to the Strategic Marketing Group and held several positions within this group including Strategic Pricing Leader for GE Transportation and the Strategic Marketing Manager for Global Locomotives Operation. He was named as Regional Sales Leader for Russia CIS and Southeast Europe in August 2007 and relocated to Istanbul, Turkey. In December 2009 he was named the General Manager of Russia, CIS, and South East Europe and in December 2012 his region was expanded to cover Europe, the Middle East, and Europe. After the February 2019 Wabtec Corporation acquisition of GE Transportation, he was named the regional leader for the same territory for Wabtec Corporation. He is currently a Senior Vice President - Russia/CIS, Europe, and Africa.

Guilhem Granier is the General Manager of Vaccines for the Sanofi's Eurasia which  encompasses 15 countries.

Guilhem Granier, who holds a degree in pharmacy, has over 20 years of experience in the biopharma field. Throughout his career at Sanofi, Granier has worked across various regions including Europe, Asia, China, and Africa, covering units such as Specialty Care, General Medicines, Consumer Healthcare, and Generics. He has previously worked in various roles as General Manager in Tunisia and Libya until 2012 and, Country Chair and Pharma General Manager in Ukraine until 2019 and Head of Commercial Excellence in the People's Republic of China until 2022.

Most recently, Guilhem Granier was the Global Market Lead Transplant in France. As of July 2024, he has commenced his role as the General Manager of Vaccines for Sanofi Eurasia Region.

Spoken languages

English, French, Arabic

Edgard leads the operations of Schneider Electric in the Central Asia and Caucasus region, covering 7 countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Georgia.

Located in Almaty, at Central Asia proximity hub, he is responsible for developing and strengthening our footprint in the region, implementing an operational system that serves our customers and partners with efficiency and satisfaction, and promoting our innovative digital solutions to help our customers make their operations efficient and sustainable.

He started his career as a financial controller in the Middle East Zone, working his way up to CFO for the Middle East and Africa zones. After various roles in finance, audit, company acquisitions, divestments, and integration, Edgard was appointed as Country President for Schneider Electric operations in Iran, then as General Manager for Algeria & Tunisia until February 2022. From March 2022, he was appointed as General Manager for Central Asian countries, located in Baku, Azerbaijan. Then, starting from July 2023 onwards, he has been appointed as General Manager for Central Asia and Caucasus, located in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Born in 1978, he graduated from USEK Business School in Lebanon, and subsequently completed his Executive MBA from ESSEC Business School in France and Mannheim Business School in Germany in 2010.

Mr Nibladze is Managing Director of Cerberus frontier market investment platform. He joined Cerberus in 2018 when the company acquired SGI Frontier Capital to strategically advance its investment activities in emerging and frontier markets.

Mr Nibladze has more than two decades of experience in the financial services and energy industries and has held various senior management positions with companies in Georgia.

Prior to joining SGI Frontier in 2014, Mr Nibladze co-founded JSC TbilUniversalBank, a Georgian full-service banking institution, on whose supervisory board he later served. Mr Nibladze held management and advisory positions at CanArgo Energy Corporation, one of the largest foreign energy companies in Georgia, whose core business is oil and gas exploration. At CanArgo, he was the company's country representative and a member of the company's board of directors.

Mr Nibladze graduated from Tbilisi State University. He also pursued further studies in finance and accounting at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Canada and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the CWC School of Energy in the United Kingdom.

 

Yerzhan Elekeev was born in 1986 and is a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He graduated from the Kazakh-British Technical University with a degree in Management and the University of Glasgow with a Master of Arts in Financial Economics.

He started his career 2007 as an analyst at the Investor Relations Department at “KazMunaiGas Exploration Production” JSC. 

From 2012 to 2019, he held various positions at “Samruk-Kazyna” JSC. 

From 2019 to 2020, he worked as the head of the project management department at the international company “Boston Consulting Group” in Azerbaijan. 

From 2020 to 2021, Mr. Yelekeyev worked as Deputy Head of the analytical group of the Center for Socio-Economic Reforms under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

In 2021, he joined “Alfa-Bank Kazakhstan” JSC as the Director of the Project Office. 

Since November 2022, he has been Managing Director for Asset Management and Project Management at JSC “NUH “Baiterek”.

On March 7, 2024, he was appointed Chairman of the Management  Board of "NC "KAZAKH INVEST" JSC

He was born on 8 January 1969 in Almaty.

In 1993 graduated from the Kazakh State Academy of Management (Economic and Social Planning Faculty).

From 1993 to 1994, he was an economist at Edem Ltd LLP.

From 1994 to 1997, he was Assistant to the Akim of Almaty city.

In 1997, he was the Director of Economic Affairs of "Almaz and Company" LLP.

In 1997, he was Head of the Regional Policy Department of the Ministry of Economy and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From 1997 to 1998, he was Head of the Consolidated Financial Department, Vice President for Economic Affairs of the closed joint stock company National Oil Transportation Company KazTransOil.

In 1998-2000, he was Director of the Oil and Gas Department of the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2000, he was Vice Minister of Energy, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2001, he was First Vice-President of KEGOC.

From 2001 to 2007, he was President of KEGOC.

From 2003 to 2007, he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kazakhstan Electric Power Association.

In 2007, he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of AirAstana JSC.

From 2007 to 2008, he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC.

In 2008, he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of NC KazMunayGas JSC.

From 2007 to 2008, he was Chairman of the Management Board of JSC Kazakhstan Holding for Management of State Assets Samruk.

From 2008 to 2009, he was Chairman of the Management Board of KEGOC.

From 2009 to 2013, he was the Akim of Zhambyl region.

From 2013 to 2016, he was the Akim of Pavlodar Region.

Since March 2016 he was Minister of Energy (reappointed on 13.09.2016).

On 25 February 2019, he was reappointed Minister of Energy by Presidential Decree.

Awarded the Order "Kurmet", Honoured Power Engineer of the CIS.

In the framework of job responsibilities, he coordinates the following issues:

• regional policy;
• development of housing and communal services;
• water resources and irrigation;
• prevention and elimination of emergency situations.

He graduated from the Kazakh State Law University in 2002, the Kazakhstan-Russia University in 2007, and the University of Birmingham.

He began his career in 1999 as a legal assistant at Eurasia Consulting LLP. From 2002 to 2010, he held various positions in the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and in the Office of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Parliament. From 2010 to 2019, he served as Deputy Akim (Mayor) of the city of Ekibastuz and the West Kazakhstan region, as well as holding leadership positions in the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2019, he was the secretary of the “NurOtan” party. From 2019 to 2020, he worked as Vice Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and from 2021 to 2024, he held positions as State Inspector, Deputy Head, and Head of the Department of State Control and Organizational-Territorial Work in the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From 2023 to 2024, he served as the First Deputy Head of the Government Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Before being appointed Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, he served as Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Expert Principal Investor and Private Equity

Profile summary

Markus Massi has been working with >50 principal investors and private equity companies globally for the last 35 years. He has led BCG's global Principal Investor/Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) team offering advise to government-owned investment vehicles in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

He is also a core members of BCG’s Corporate Development Practice which focuses on investment strategies, portfolio strategies, M&A, private equity/corporate finance and due diligences. Mr. Massi has co-authored several publications on Sovereign and Principal Investors and has been reference in Financial Times, REUTERS, NBC and various newspapers.

Relevant experience (selected examples only)

• Conducted a global investment strategy for a Sovereign investors ranging from emerging markets to global matured markets across asset classes
• Developed a global, theme-based investment strategy in the aftermath of the financial crisis based on data and analytics leveraging macro-economic trends
• Developed a global investment strategy for a leading Principal investors ranging from equity, private equity to fixed income across regions
• Developed a thesis for an investment strategy for a private equity company after the fund had raised several Billions of fresh money to be invested
• Reviewed the portfolio of a principal investor with a focus on resilience to anticipate shocks and changes and evaluate the impact on the portfolio
• Developed a PE/direct investment strategy for a GCC SWF
• Conducted a market screen for direct investments for an Asian SWF
• Developed a direct investment strategy for a Middle East SWF
• Set-up more than 15 different investment vehicles for government, families including investment vision, strategy , operating model, organization etc.
• Conducted more than 100+ due diligences for private equity companies and principal investors across different industry sectors and in all five main continents

Prior experience and education

Prior to joining BCG, Mr. Massi worked at Deutsche Bank (Corporate Finance/M&A)

as a project leader for several years. He also worked for Merrill Lynch and Bankgesellschaft Berlin in New York, London and Luxemburg. He holds a diploma in Economic Science of the Freie Universität Berlin (Germany).

Born September 06, 1983

Citizenship: Republic of Kazakhstan

Education:

1. Rustam Karagoishin earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Corporate Management and Master’s degree in Corporate Management from the International Academy of Business in 2008.
2. In 2004, he graduated from the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics, and Forecasting (KIMEP University), specializing in Accounting.

Professional Experience:

• Development Bank of Kazakhstan JSC (June 2004 – June 2006):

Manager, General Manager of Department #1, and Head of Department #2 within the Project Analysis Department.

• DBK-Leasing JSC (June 2006 – August 2011):

Initially served as the Head of the Department of Leasing Operations and Project Analysis, later promoted to Managing Director and Member of the Board.

• Petroleum Operating LLP (September 2011 – December 2011):

Head of the Foreign Economic Activity Department within the Oil and Petroleum Products Marketing Department.

• Credit Systems LLP (January 2012 – September 2012):

Acted as Chairman of the Board.

• Sberbank Leasing Kazakhstan LLP (September 2012 – November 2015):

Started as Deputy General Director and advanced to the position of General Director.

• KazAgroFinance JSC (November 2015 – December 2018):

Served as Deputy Chairman of the Board.

• Grain Consortium of Kazakhstan LLP (February 2019 – May 2019):

Initially appointed CEO.

• Baiterek National Management Holding JSC (May 2019 – May 2021):

Held the position of Deputy Chairman of the Board.

• Grain Consortium of Kazakhstan LLP (May 2021 – February 2024):

Acted as Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director.

• Baiterek National Management Holding JSC (February 2024 – April 2024):

Served as Acting Chairman of the Board.

By the decision of the Sole Shareholder of Baiterek Holding dated April 4, 2024, Rustam Karagoishin was appointed Chairman of the Board of Baiterek Holding.

By the decision of the Sole Shareholder, as confirmed by the order of the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan #105 dated April 5, 2024, he was elected a member of the Board of Directors of Baiterek Holding.

Marco Sorge graduated with a degree in Economics and Finance from Stanford University under the guidance of Joe Stiglitz and Anne Krueger. He began his career as an economist at the Bank for International Settlements in Basel. He contributed to the background research for the Basel II regulatory framework. His main research and policy analysis focused on international finance, credit risk measurement, prudential regulation, stress-testing, and financial sector stability. He also analyzed the political and economic implications of the European Monetary Union, particularly focusing on fiscal-monetary policy coordination problems. A list of his key publications in international refereed journals is attached.

With the IMF, Sorge designed and delivered a course on stress-testing methodologies intended for central bankers and supervisors from the Central and Eastern European region.

While continuing academic research, about 20 years ago, Marco Sorge joined IFC as an investment professional, specializing in providing financing and advisory solutions for urban infrastructure. Over time, he has led business development, credit appraisal, and portfolio management activities in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Turkey, the Middle East, and North Africa. Sorge has led the origination of almost $1 billion of IFC’s Subnational business globally, focusing on development impact and financial sustainability.

His key achievements include:

            •          the first IFC investment in a state-owned water utility in Peru;

            •          developing an innovative risk-sharing product with a leading European bank and sourcing several subnational infrastructure deals in Peru, including the Lima Bus Rapid Transport system;

            •          starting IFC’s urban transport engagement with the City of Bogota;

            •          successfully managing IFC’s exit from an investment in a Moroccan utility;

            •          the first investment in a Moroccan subnational government without a sovereign guarantee to support the Casablanca tramway expansion and a regional rural roads program;

            •          pioneering IFC’s approach to municipal bonds (Bucharest, Novi Sad) and currently developing the first green bond issuance by a municipality in Central Asia, including advising the government on the necessary regulatory amendments;

            •          co-financing European funds for the Podgorica road bypass and infrastructure improvements in Timisoara;

            •          developing several investments in the cities of Izmir, Istanbul, Antalya, and Ankara, focusing on urban transport and wastewater treatment;

            •          pioneering support to the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Zaporizhzhia for urban transport and smart cities applications.

Mr. Geng is the General Manager and a Director on the Board of China Huadian Overseas Investment Co., Ltd. He was born in Shandong Province, China, in 1977.

Educational Background:

1997 - 2001: Graduated from North China Electric Power University, majoring in Thermal Engineering.
2001 - 2004: Completed a Master's program at the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, majoring in Civil Engineering.
2009 - 2012: Completed a Master's degree in Applied Finance at Macquarie University.

Career:

2005-2007: Project Manager at China Huadian Engineering Co., Ltd.
2007-2013: Project Director and Senior Project Director at China Huadian Hong Kong Co., Ltd.
2013-2019: Director and Chairman of the Board of China Huadian (Indonesia) Bukit Asam Power.
2019-2021: Vice President of China Huadian Hong Kong Co., Ltd.
2021-2024: Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department at China Huadian Corporation Ltd.
2024 - Present: President and Member of the Board of Directors of China Huadian Overseas Investment Co., Ltd.

Education:

In 2010, she graduated from the University of Cambrigde with a degree in Computer Science (bachelor's degree).

In 2014, she received a master's degree in Computer Science, University of Cambrigde.

In 2016, she graduated with an MBA in Executive Management, Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Information on the completion of seminars and advanced training courses over the past three years:

MIT Sloan School of Management - Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy, 2020. Fintech Development Course, University of Oxford, Said Business School, 20І8.

Work experience:

From 2010 to 2014 - Head of Information Technology Security of the ENRC PLC Group, London;

From 2014 to 2015 – Deputy Director of the Information Technology Department of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

From 2016 to 2017 – Chairman of the Board of the National Infocommunication Holding "Zerde";

From 2017 to 2020 – Managing Director for Digital Technologies (CDO) of the Astana International Financial Center;

From 2020 to 2022 – Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

From October 3, 2022 to the present – ​​Chairman of the Board of Kazpost JSC and member of the Board of Directors of “Kazpost” JSC.

Ryan Chilcote – Renowned Journalist, Moderator, and Host

Recipient of the 2023 DuPont Award and an Emmy Award nominee.

Ryan Chilcote has over 25 years of experience as an independent global commentator on international affairs and economics, as well as an international correspondent and host for Bloomberg TV, CNN, CBS, and PBS NewsHour. He is an expert in international financial markets, business, economics, trade, industry, energy, and natural resources.

Ryan Chilcote has interviewed numerous world leaders, from Vladimir Putin to the current UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

In addition to his reporting, Ryan has moderated at the most prestigious global conferences, including the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, and others.

Ramez AlKhayyat is a Qatari entrepreneur, President, and Group CEO of Power International Holding (PIH), a global multi-billion-dollar conglomerate operating in the fields of Oil and Gas, Energy and Utilities, Contracting, Real Estate, Healthcare, Agriculture and Food Industries, Hospitality, and Entertainment. A graduate of the University of the West of Scotland, Ramez has leveraged his education and entrepreneurial acumen to drive the growth and success of PIH. Power International Holding (PIH) is ranked 12th in the Top 100 Arab Family Businesses and operates in 19 different countries.

Ramez Al Khayyat is actively involved in the executive management of all the companies of the group in his capacity as President & Managing Director. He leads the group’s operations:

UCC Holding: Energy Concessions & Construction (privately owned)  

• Ranked 42nd International Contractor, 10th in the Power Sector, and 112th in Buildings by ENR - USA  
• 15 major multi-billion projects in Oil & Gas and Energy  
• 1200 projects delivered globally in infrastructure and general contracting  
• Footprint in 19 countries  

Estithmar Holding: Healthcare, Services, Real Estate, and Specialized Contracting (a listed company on the Qatar Stock market)  

• 8 Hospitals with international affiliations  
• Large-scale facilities management and catering group  
• 150,000 sqm of factories  
• 6 major touristic projects  
• 12 specialized contracting companies  

Baladna: Agriculture Food Industries Dairy Manufacturer (a listed company on the Qatar Stock market and a major player in the food security area)  

• 70% market share in Juice  
• 25,000 cows herd, 270 products  
• Baladna holds a 20% stake in Juhayna Food Industries, a key player in Egypt’s dairy and beverage market.  

Baladna Algeria 

• 117,000 hectares project area, 270,000 cows head, and 1.7 billion liters of milk annually  

Assets: Real Estate Developer and Hospitality (privately owned)  

• 56 properties globally  
• 5000+ hotel and resorts room keys  
• Malls and retail businesses  

Aura: Lifestyle Restaurants and Entertainment Theme Parks (privately owned)  

• 120 restaurants  
• 5 major entertainment theme parks  

Through his entrepreneurial prowess, strategic vision, and philanthropic endeavors, Ramez AlKhayyat has solidified his position as a respected global entrepreneur. His contributions to various sectors, commitment to innovation, and dedication to societal welfare have made a significant impact, shaped the business landscape, and improved the lives of many.

Date of Birth: May 1955.

Education: Bachelor’s degree;

• Major in Industrial Fermentation, Qilu Polytechnic University (1982).

Work Experience:

1982 – 1984 - Technical specialist at the wine factory in Ji’nan County;

1984 – 1985 - Deputy Director of the wine factory in Ji’nan County;

1985 – 1996 - Director of the wine factory in Ji’nan County;

1996 – 1999 - General Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shandong Furui Group;

June 1999 to present - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fufeng Group.

Marco Arcelli is the Chief Executive Officer responsible for overseeing the strategy and operations of ACWA Power's growing global presence and ensuring its continued growth and success worldwide.

He is an experienced senior executive with over 20 years of international experience in energy and infrastructure, retail, and digital innovation. He has played a crucial role in the strategic positioning and growth of multinational companies. Marco has held various senior positions as an energy expert, including CEO of Enel Trade, EVP Upstream Gas, CEO of Enel's North American divisions, and Chairman of the Board of EP New Energy.

Marco also has in-depth knowledge of reorganization and operations, having led two corporate transformations highlighted in case studies by IESE and Harvard Business School. He is also a reviewer for the International Energy Agency.

He has also significantly contributed to public affairs and government relations by leading political negotiations at the country and EU levels. He is a staunch advocate of environmental, social, and governance issues (ESG) and has served as a member of the Audit and Human Resources Management Committee for companies listed on the stock exchange in Germany and Russia.

An active member of numerous board directors, Marco is also a mentor to organizations supporting women in business and young talent.

He received a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Genoa (Università degli Studi di Genova) in Italy and graduated from the Harvard Advanced Management Program.

On his position at AstraZeneca, Mr. Kapoor serves as:

• Vice President of Biopharmaceuticals for International and Border Markets, overseeing an extensive and dynamic portfolio of products and initiatives.
• Chairman of AstraZeneca in Vietnam, managing the strategic direction and facilitating the growth of the company's activities.
• A key participant in various international business forums and chambers, contributing to the development and protection of international trade relations.

Mr. Kapoor's leadership has played a vital role in fostering strategic alliances and overseeing the distribution of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccines throughout the international region, ensuring equitable access to essential treatments. This key role has earned him international recognition and prestigious awards for his contributions to public health and strengthening international ties. In total, AstraZeneca has distributed 3 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine worldwide, with 86% (equivalent to 2.5 billion doses) delivered to 105 countries in the company’s international region, where Mr. Kapoor serves as Vice President overseeing the vaccine initiative.

As a proponent of public-private partnerships, Mr. Kapoor advocates for collaboration that significantly impacts public health, particularly in combating non-communicable diseases and advancing sustainable development initiatives. His forward-thinking approach continues to position AstraZeneca as a leader in global health and innovation.

Date and Place of Birth: September 1968, Liaoning Province, China

Education：Master’s degree in engineering

Professional Career: Successively assumed office of General Manager of Shenhua Yulin Energy and Chemical Company, General Manager of Shenhua Baotou Coal Chemical Company, General Manager and later, Chairman of China Shenhua Coal to Liquid and Chemical Company, Deputy Chief Engineer and Chemical Department Director of CHN Energy Investment Group Company, and now, Deputy General Manager of the Group.

Awards: As the main contributor and project leader, “The development and application of modern large-scale integrated CTC/CTL technologies”won the First Prize of National Science and Technology Progress Award; “The development and application of integrated CTO technology in Shenhua Baotou demonstration project” was awarded the Special Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress of Petrochemical Federation. 

As a receiver of special government allowance of the State Council, Mr. Yan also obtained state-level honorary titles, such as Outstanding Contributor to the National Quality Engineering Award, and Leading Talent in Technological Innovation; and besides, he has compiled and published "Coal to Low-carbon Olefin Process and Engineering". 

Mr. Yan is also the Vice Chairman of the 40th and 41st Councils of the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China.

 

PERSONAL

Born 1966, wife and 3 children (17y, 21y, 26y)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Business leader with extensive international FMCG experience and strong track record from a variety of business challenges including partnerships and JV’s. Aggressively growing ‘sleepy’ businesses and making successful turnarounds. Ability to understand new and complex matters fast and moving quickly from strategy to execution.

Visionary with flair for innovative solutions. Good at creating clear direction with simple and impactful communication, building strong teams and an eye for talent. Strong and seasoned negotiator with core strength in sales and marketing.

EDUCATION

2015 London Business School, Corporate course CEO Development

2004 IMD Corporate course

1993-1994 Int. Advertising Association Diploma (IAA)

1990-1992 Copenhagen Business School, Master of Business Adm Int. Marketing (cand.merc.)

1991 London Business School, Int. Exchange Programme/MBA

1987-1990 Copenhagen Business School, Bachelor Business Adm. (HA)

WORK EXPERIENCE

2003- Carlsberg Group

EVP Central & Eastern Europe (Jan 2021-)

Member of Carlsberg Group’s Executive Committee (ExCom)

EVP Eastern Europe & President Baltika Breweries, Russia (May 2019-Dec 2020)

CEO Export, License & Duty Free (ExLiD, May 2008-Sep 2012)

Commercial VP Eastern Europe & BBH (April 2005-April 2008)

Commercial Dev. Director, Group Sales, Marketing & Innovation (April 2003-March 2005)

Manager for team of 10 Commercial Dev. Managers

2000-2003 Action Nordic (#1 ranked Direct Marketing agency in Nordics)

Business Unit Manager (July 2001-March 2003)

Tripled business in 3 years. Expanding with clients from Denmark to Nordic markets (SCA, Kraft) and then to Russia and Hungary

Manager for 6-8 several project managers / coordinators Project Manager (April 2000-June 2001)

Responsible for SCA (Libero, Libresse, Tena), Kraft Foods, Nestlé (baby food) and ECCO (shoes)

1992-2000 Unilever Danmark (Frisko Is)

Marketing Manager (Mar 1999-Mar 2000)

Key Account Manager (Jan 1998-Feb 1999)

Regional Sales Manager (Dec 1996-Dec 1997)

Brand Mgr. Out-of-Home Ice Cream e.g. Magnum, Cornetto, Solero (Dec 1994-Nov 1996)

Brand Mgr. In-Home Ice Cream e.g. Carte D’Or, Viennetta (June 1993-Nov 1994)

Management Trainee (Sep 1992-May 1993)

1996-1998 Niels Brock / Ishøj Handelsskole (business college)

1990-1992 Lyngby Storcenter (#1 shopping mall in DK)

Marketing Manager, temporary (Feb 1991-Aug 1991)

Finance Manager,
Lyngby Storcenter Konto (Jan 1990-Jan 1991)

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Master degree in Business Administration

Work experience:

September 2024 – up to date – Managing Director for Western and Central Asia at Alstom Kazakhstan

2023 – September 2024 – Director at Upsilink in France

2017 – 2022 – Chief Executive Officer at TMH AFRICA

2015 – 2017 – Business Development Director at General Electric in South Africa

2011 – 2015 – Country President at Alstom South Africa

2009 – 2011 – Country President at Alstom Lybia

2007 – 2008 – Chief Executive Officer at Alcatel Tunisia

1997 – 2006 – Global Contracts Manager at Alcatel in Algeria, Iran, Qatar, France

Jérôme Boyet, Managing Director of Alstom for Western and Central Asia, brings with him a wealth of experience from a diverse career in infrastructure and industrial projects. Jérôme is focused on fostering collaboration, enhancing client relationships, and driving sustainable growth in the cluster. His leadership will be instrumental in positioning Alstom as a leader in sustainable mobility and innovation, ensuring continued success in the years to come.

Before joining Alstom, Jérôme successfully created, developed, and structured initiatives across the telecom, energy generation, and rail technology sectors. He has effectively grown business both internally and externally — often through strategic partnerships — to deliver value to public clients and key industrial accounts across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He held significant leadership positions within renowned organizations such as General Electric (GE), Alstom, and TMH.

Throughout his career, Jérôme has led crucial project phases, including risk analysis, client engagement, tendering, and contract management, as well as deployment and operational monitoring. His expertise allows him to navigate technologically and culturally complex environments, delivering financial value even in volatile conditions.

Date and place of birth: 16.09.1967, Genova, Italy Education: Matteo holds an MBA from INSEAD and an MS degree cum laude in Mechanical Engineering from Genoa University. Work experience: Matteo Patrone, Vice President, Banking. In his role, Mr Patrone has an overall responsibility for the effective delivery of the Bank’s investment and advisory activities in the EBRD’s countries of operations, as well as contributing to the delivery of policy engagement activities. Prior to this, Matteo held the post of Managing Director, Eastern Europe and Caucasus. In this role, he has been responsible for the Bank’s operations and policy engagement initiatives in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and for spearheading the crisis response to the war on Ukraine. Mr. Patrone has a career spanning 30 years that includes senior management and leadership positions in merchant banking, private equity, management consulting and engineering. He joined the EBRD in 2008 as a senior banker within the Corporate Equity team. In 2012, he became Director for Serbia, based in Belgrade and in 2015, he moved to Bucharest as the Director, Regional Head for Romania and Bulgaria. In 2018, Matteo Patrone was appointed Managing Director, EEC. Prior to working at the EBRD, Matteo was Managing Director of the private equity arm of Finanziaria Internazionale, an Italian merchant bank, where he spent 10 years investing in a broad range of sectors. Before that he was Senior Manager at Accenture Strategic Services in Milan, Italy and held various positions in the Leonardo (formerly known as Finmeccanica) and ENI groups in the UK and Italy.

Education:

• L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian University (2000) — Translator of English
• Netherlands Institute of Public Administration (2009)
• Master's degree at Carnegie Mellon University (2009)
• Doctoral program at Kazakh-British Technical University — PhD in Management
• Internships and advanced training courses at the Netherlands Institute of Public Administration and the University of Cambridge

Job experience:

• Consultant, Head of Sector, Center for Strategic Research and Analysis, Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2009-2011)
• Vice President of the Chess Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2011-2014)
• Director of Department, JSC NC KazMunayGas
• Founder of CSI Group LLP (2016-2018)
• Managing Partner, Dasco Consulting Group (since 2018)
• Member of the Center for Analysis and Monitoring of Socio-Economic Reforms under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (since 2020)

Awards:

• Orders "Kurmet" (1998), "Parasat" (2012)
• Letter of thanks from the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev (2016)
• Five anniversary medals
• Laureate of the State Youth Prize "Daryn" (1999)
• Honorary badge "For services in the development of physical culture, sports and tourism" (2015)

Education:

• Kazakh State Academy of Management — Specialization: «Assessment of Subsoil Use Contracts», «Economics of Oil Production»

Job experience:

• Economist, Chief Economist of Alem Bank Kazakhstan (1994)
• Head of Department, Director of Department of the Central Asian Bank for Cooperation and Development (1995-1997)
• Senior Expert, Manager, Chief Manager, Deputy Director of Department of CJSC NOC Kazakhoil (1997-2001)
• Business Analyst, Manager, Financial Director of Commonwealth and British Services Ltd (2001-2003)
• Executive Director for Share Management of JV CJSC NOC KazMunayGas (2003-2006)
• Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2006-2008)
• General Director of PSA LLP (2010-2011)
• President of JSC National Company KazMunayGas (2011)
• General Director of Almex Petrochemical LLP (2014-2017)
• Minister of Energy RK (2022)
• Adviser to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (since 2023)

Education:

• MSc Petroleum Engineering, Heriot Watt University
• BSc Environmental Science, University of East Anglia
• Short Course: Business and Climate Change: Towards Net Zero Emissions, University of Cambridge

Job experience:

• Over 25 years of experience in the energy industry
• Joined Wood Mackenzie's E&P consultancy team in 2007
• Advised international clients including major companies, financial institutions, industry bodies
• Led the preparation of a key report on the North Sea energy transition for the Net Zero Technology Centre
• Regional experience: North Sea, Africa, Russia, Caspian, Middle East, Latin America

Education:

• Kazakh University of Economics, Finance and International Trade (2009) — Specialty: Finance
• University of Texas, Austin, USA (2010) — Specialty: «Oil and Gas Engineering»

Job experience:

• Research Engineer in Texas, USA (2008-2010)
• Drilling Engineer for ExxonMobil Corporation in the USA, Iraq and Russia (2010-2016)
• Head of Field Supervisors at Merlin ERD in Scotland (2016-2018)
• Management Consultant at McKinsey and Company (2018-2019)
• Vice Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2019-2020)
• Deputy General Director of Naftogaz UGV (2020-2022)
• Chairman of the Management Board of JSC NC QazaqGaz (since 2022)

Awards:

• World drilling record, oil well Z-40, Sakhalin Island, Russian Federation (2014)
• Award of the Union of New Leaders of America (2015)
• International "Award for Innovation" (2015)
• British title "Engineer-Professional / Chartered Engineer"
• Scholarship of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Bolashak" (2004)

Implementation of projects:

• Developed the current Development Strategy of JSC NC «KazMunayGas» for 2022-2031.
• Led the implementation of the corporate project management system at KMG, which had a significant impact on the effectiveness of strategic investment projects implementation.
• Held 2 conferences on project management at KMG.
• Led the creation of a project office for low-carbon development at KMG in 2021.
• ESG agenda of the company - annual reporting in the field of sustainable development, ESG rating of KMG.
• KMG Gender Initiatives - reception of the TechWoman delegation at KMG, KMG Women's Forum.

Activity:

• Expert of the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
• Ambassador of KMG in the initiative of the UN Global Compact “Business Accelerator SDG Ambition” to accelerate the integration of 17 Sustainable Development Goals into strategic and operational aspects of business for Central Asian countries.
• Certified IPMA level C Project Manager

Education:

• Karaganda State University named after E.A. Buketov (1998-2002) — Specialty "Jurisprudence"
• Kyzylorda State University named after Korkyt Ata (2009-2011) — Specialty "Electric Power Engineering"
• JSC "KIMEP University" (2009-2013) — MBA

Job experience:

• Deputy Director, Director of LLP "Karuglesbyt" (2003-2005)
• Director of LLP "Karaganda Regional Energy Company" (2005-2006)
• General Director of JSC "Kyzylorda Distribution Electricity Grid Company" (2008-2010)
• Chairman of the Board of JSC "Social and Entrepreneurial Corporation "Kyzylorda" (2011-2013)
• General Director of LLP "Settlement and Financial Center for Support of Renewable Energy Sources" (2013-2020)
• Vice Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2021-2023)
• General Director of the Association "KAZENERGY" (since 2024)

Education:

• CapeBreton University (Canada, 2009) - Specialty “Oil and Gas Engineering”, scholarship holder of “Bolashak” program

Job experience:

• Executive Director of Energy Monitor
• General Director of the Union of Oil Service Companies of Kazakhstan (February 2016 - July 2022)
• Chief Expert of the Oil Industry Development Department of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan (since December 2015)
• Director of the Local Content Development Department of the Center for Market Monitoring and Expertise LLP (since February 2015)
• Chief Manager of the Kazakh Content Development Department, Director of the Local Content Development Department of JSC “Oil and Gas Information and Analytical Center” (since June 2010)
• Chief Manager of the Department of Analysis and Strategic Development of Kazakhstan Contract Agency JSC (2009-2010)

Nazgul is actively involved in building the venture capital ecosystem at Astana Hub Ventures, where she plays a key role in developing the fund's investment strategies and processes. With over eight years of Big4 experience, an MBA in Finance, and compliance certifications, she specializes in venture capital support and private placement investments. Prior to this, Nazgul worked at AIFC VC Hub for three years, where she gained extensive experience in venture capital operations. She advises startups, VC funds, and individual investors on fundraising, business growth, and investor relations, while also contributing to venture capital publications and research.

Entrepreneur with 14+ years of experience in the IT business. Ambassador of Techstars and Seedstars.

Has 10 years of experience in investment, business consulting, startup ecosystem development, and venture capital.

Ruslan Rakymbay is the Investment Director at Quest Ventures, one of Asia’s leading venture capital firms headquartered in Singapore. In his role, Ruslan works closely with startups, driving their growth through specialized acceleration services and programs. He is also responsible for spearheading market access initiatives in Central Asia.

As a founding member of QazAngels, Kazakhstan’s pioneering angel investment network, Ruslan has played a key role in fostering the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Prior to this, he served as the regional CEO of Primus Power, a Silicon Valley-based clean energy company. His contributions to the energy sector have earned him prestigious accolades, including the Clean Tech Transformer award from the Islamic Development Bank and the New Energy Leader award from the Asian Development Bank. Ruslan is also an active member of the Project Management Institute in Kazakhstan.

Education:

• M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (2006-2008) — Economist (Master’s degree)
• M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (2002-2006) — Economist (Bachelor’s degree)

Work experience:

• Strategic Practice Partner, LLP «Dasco Consulting Group» (May 2019 – Present)
  Coordination and management of projects in the fields of strategic and organizational consulting, public administration, human capital development, and macroeconomics.
• Vice President, JSC «Workforce Development Center» (July 2015 – April 2019)
  Leadership of labor market research, development of employment service marketing strategies, and identification of workforce needs.
• Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, NCJSC “Кәсіпқор” Holding” (September 2011 – June 2015)
  Leadership in educational market research, promotion strategies for educational organizations, and attraction of strategic partners.
• Project Manager, JSC “National Analytical Center” (July 2008 – August 2011)
  Management of sectoral and macroeconomic research, including analytical and marketing studies.