Feb 2020 – Jan 2024 · 3 yrs 11 mos · United Arab Emirates · Hybrid

• Turn the fun on! Codati is a B2B and B2C e-commerce platform specializing in digital gift cards. We cover all types of gift cards such as iTunes, Google Play, PlayStation, and more. Established in 2020. The headquarters is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

May 2012 – Present · 14 yrs · United Arab Emirates, KSA, Jordan, Egypt

• Oversee one of the region’s richest portfolios of Arabic-language digital brands—built to inform, entertain, and inspire the youth across the Middle East.
• I lead a diverse media ecosystem spanning lifestyle, news, entertainment, automotive, fashion, travel, food, influencer marketing, services, and research & insights. Our focus: scalable impact, meaningful storytelling, and technology-powered growth.
• Key Highlights:
• Driving strategy, organizational leadership, and full business turnaround to sustained profitability.
• Managing a 160-member organization across the UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
• Hands-on operational leadership of a fast-growing portfolio reaching 15M+ monthly visitors and 100M+ social followers across global platforms.
• Overseeing proprietary tech platforms including a custom-built CMS, UGC ecosystem, influencer & creator marketplace, and surveys & insights engine.
• Building and scaling diverse revenue streams: traditional advertising, branded content, video production, social & digital marketing, and content syndication.

Mar 2010 – May 2012 · 2 yrs 2 mos · United Arab Emirates & India

• Drove product alignment and integration of the largest Arabic language portal (Maktoob) with Yahoo!
• Launched several localized web and mobile solutions targeting the Middle East (Arabic) and created case studies for Emerging Markets
• Innovative solutions including, Video on Demand, media and celebrity site, internet safety for children, teachers and parents
• Fostered a winning team across geographies and cultures and nourished diversity and respect in the workplace

Jan 2007 – May 2009 · 2 yrs 4 mos

• A key contributor to the "blueprint" of Microsoft's Internet Sharing program. This included, strategic vision and goals, segmentation, principles, value proposition, business models, marketing, public relations and execution.
• Conceived and shaped the first Microsoft internet sharing solution for Emerging Markets covering APAC, MEA, CEE, India and China
• Developed key partnerships with public and private sectors to fund and operate sharing connectivity concepts across multiple emerging markets

Jan 2005 – Jan 2007 · 2 yrs

• Developed and delivered a global strategy for Emerging Markets enabling the more than 100 languages to be part of Microsoft's Localization Reach
• On boarded government backing and private sector to create technology solutions in local language for more than 50 countries
• Created a "cookbook" on how to enter new markets, on board key partners, drive timelines and deliver best in class solutions

Jan 1996 – Jan 2004 · 8 yrs

• Evangelized Microsoft’s Local Language Program to international government clients through extensive public relations; interviews, press releases and seminars for government entities and academia.
• Instituted the framework for Office language development and localization while creating a network for effective cross group collaboration and leading a team focused on prototyping and piloting international features.

May 1990 – Feb 2010 · 19 yrs 9 mos

• Developed strategy to engage and create value propositions for the top 50 websites worldwide using Microsoft latest technologies (Azure)
• Developed an All Up Top Site Program Pipeline which included high priority sites, partners, ISVs and business development opportunities.
• Developed a workbook for Microsoft field operations to create case studies to local clients