Our Leadership
Our Management
Mr. Dallas is a senior advisor based in the Dubai and Singapore offices. Mr. Dallas joined Gulf Capital as a Managing Director in 2007 (Senior MD since 2009) and served until 2020 in the private equity team where he has been the Head of Investments leading investment screening and analysis, investment execution, post acquisition monitoring and exits. He has over 25 years of direct investment expertise in the GCC and is one of the most experienced private equity executives in the Middle East and Asia.
From 1999 to 2007, Mr. Dallas was the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Oryx Capital International, a Chicago, Illinois-based PE firm backed by prominent families from the region specialized in small-to-mid-cap buyouts and growth capital in the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Dallas received an AB degree from Stanford University in economics with honors, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California, graduating first in his class as a member of the Order of the Coif and an Executive Editor of the Southern California Law Review.
Mr. Dallas is a senior advisor based in the Dubai and Singapore offices. Mr. Dallas joined Gulf Capital as a Managing Director in 2007 (Senior MD since 2009) and served until 2020 in the private equity team where he has been the Head of Investments leading investment screening and analysis, investment execution, post acquisition monitoring and exits. He has over 25 years of direct investment expertise in the GCC and is one of the most experienced private equity executives in the Middle East and Asia.
From 1999 to 2007, Mr. Dallas was the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Oryx Capital International, a Chicago, Illinois-based PE firm backed by prominent families from the region specialized in small-to-mid-cap buyouts and growth capital in the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Dallas received an AB degree from Stanford University in economics with honors, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California, graduating first in his class as a member of the Order of the Coif and an Executive Editor of the Southern California Law Review.
Mr. Christopher Foll joined Gulf Capital in 2010 as Chief Financial Officer. Since the beginning of 2020, he has headed the Private Debt business and the management of the portfolio and team. In addition, Mr Foll sits on the Investment Committee of both Private Debt Funds. Mr. Foll has more than thirty years of experience having held a number of senior management positions in public companies across Southern Africa, Australia, India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Hong Kong. Mr. Foll joined Gulf Capital from Hong Kong based, New York listed Hutchison Telecommunications International, where he was Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Prior to that Mr. Foll was CFO of Australia’s largest cement producer, Adelaide Brighton Ltd, and Chief Executive Officer of the Australian operations of QNI Ltd, a listed specialist nickel and cobalt producer.
Mr. Foll holds a BCompt from the University of South Africa and is a Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Mr. Christopher Foll joined Gulf Capital in 2010 as Chief Financial Officer. Since the beginning of 2020, he has headed the Private Debt business and the management of the portfolio and team. In addition, Mr Foll sits on the Investment Committee of both Private Debt Funds. Mr. Foll has more than thirty years of experience having held a number of senior management positions in public companies across Southern Africa, Australia, India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Hong Kong. Mr. Foll joined Gulf Capital from Hong Kong based, New York listed Hutchison Telecommunications International, where he was Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Prior to that Mr. Foll was CFO of Australia’s largest cement producer, Adelaide Brighton Ltd, and Chief Executive Officer of the Australian operations of QNI Ltd, a listed specialist nickel and cobalt producer.
Mr. Foll holds a BCompt from the University of South Africa and is a Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.
He has over 10 years senior private equity experience with L Catterton Asia and has worked recently on several successful SPACs. His experience spans across the whole investment cycle including SPAC investments, origination, transaction execution, financing, syndication, consortium formation, post investment value creation, restructuring and divestment. His operational experience includes general management in the consumer industry at prestigious brands, locally and regionally. Prior to joining L Catterton Asia, Shantanu was an operating executive at LVMH Asia, Zegna and Nike.
He has over 10 years senior private equity experience with L Catterton Asia and has worked recently on several successful SPACs. His experience spans across the whole investment cycle including SPAC investments, origination, transaction execution, financing, syndication, consortium formation, post investment value creation, restructuring and divestment. His operational experience includes general management in the consumer industry at prestigious brands, locally and regionally. Prior to joining L Catterton Asia, Shantanu was an operating executive at LVMH Asia, Zegna and Nike.
Ms. Zaki is a Managing Director at Gulf Capital spending most of her time leading on sustainability and North African investments. Miray is also a leading global investor in food tech and food security directly and through Dismatrix, a fund that focuses on innovative yet sustainable trends in wellness, food security and plant-based food. Prior to that, she was the Chief Investment officer of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable & Humanitarian Foundation, after a decade as a senior investment professional with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). Managing investments totalling over US$18 billion over the last 15 years, she currently sits on the boards of Mathew Kenney Cuisine (US), The Vurger Co (UK), Beau’s Gelato (UK), and others.
Ms. Zaki has an MBA in Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science from the American University in Cairo, and she obtained her CFA Charter in 2010.
Ms. Zaki is a Managing Director at Gulf Capital spending most of her time leading on sustainability and North African investments. Miray is also a leading global investor in food tech and food security directly and through Dismatrix, a fund that focuses on innovative yet sustainable trends in wellness, food security and plant-based food. Prior to that, she was the Chief Investment officer of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable & Humanitarian Foundation, after a decade as a senior investment professional with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). Managing investments totalling over US$18 billion over the last 15 years, she currently sits on the boards of Mathew Kenney Cuisine (US), The Vurger Co (UK), Beau’s Gelato (UK), and others.
Ms. Zaki has an MBA in Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science from the American University in Cairo, and she obtained her CFA Charter in 2010.
Mr. Subramanian is a senior investor with 18 years of experience in finance, strategy and operations in the technology, financial services and energy sectors. He has investment experience across the transaction spectrum (early stage VC, growth equity, buyouts and M&A) in different geographies (India, SEA, MEA, U.S). However, he is most passionate about growth investing in fintech, e-commerce, logistics tech, edtech and enterprise/ Saas software. Over his career he has helped raise about US$5B of capital through equity, debt and M&A and deployed close to $500M as a principal investor.
In his most recent role, Mr. Subramanian was Managing Director at Stakeboat Capital, a growth equity fund with US$150M of assets across 2 vehicles focused on the healthcare, technology and manufacturing sectors. As a senior member of the fund he played key roles in fund-raise, investor relations, deal origination & execution, as well as portfolio management. Some of the transactions he drove include a Series A investment in LeadSquared (leading CRM SaaS player) and Series E infusion in Dvara (a fintech lender converting into a small finance bank).
Prior to this, Mr. Subramanian was Managing Director of Boson Ventures and part of the early management team at noon.com in Dubai (Digital commerce venture backed by Emaar Group and Sovereign Wealth Fund PIF of Saudi Arabia). He established and headed the strategic investments arm called Boson Ventures, a Cayman Islands based entity. In a short timeframe, Mr. Subramanian built out Boson Ventures into a prominent VC in the MENA digital ecosystem, sourcing more than 100 transactions in MENAT, India and the US. Boson consummated investments in Aramex Logistics and Diwan Videos while working on deals in Souq.com (e-commerce), Careem (ride sharing), Anghami (music app) and Modanisa (modest fashion).
Before Boson, he was Director and early member of the corporate development team at Walmart-owned Flipkart, India’s largest e-commerce company. He helped build out one of the leading corporate venture/ M&A groups in global tech, with over US$25 billion capital raised to-date and hundreds of millions of capital invested. In this role, he drove numerous investments and acquisitions across Fintech, e-commerce and logistics. He led many of Flipkart’s marquee transactions in Blackbuck, MayMyIndia, Delhivery, Grey Orange, Adiquity and FxMart (which later become the base for PhonePe) as well as the integration of Myntra.
Prior to Flipkart, Mr. Subramanian was investment manager at Peepul Capital, an India-focused private equity fund with US$700M AUM. Here he managed investment in retail, logistics and healthcare sectors. He led a US$20M majority investment in Ecom Express, the second largest E-commerce logistics firm in India, eventually exiting to Warburg Pincus with a multi-bagger return in 12 months. He also worked on investments in Motherhood (maternity care), and Komli (adtech).
Mr. Subramanian started his business career at Goldman Sachs as an investment banker on Wall Street helping banks, insurance and fintech companies navigate the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Before his foray into business, Mr. Subramanian spent 5 years in operations at Schlumberger (Europe and U.S.) building, testing and manufacturing hardware and software for oil & gas drilling environments.
Mr. Subramanian is a senior investor with 18 years of experience in finance, strategy and operations in the technology, financial services and energy sectors. He has investment experience across the transaction spectrum (early stage VC, growth equity, buyouts and M&A) in different geographies (India, SEA, MEA, U.S). However, he is most passionate about growth investing in fintech, e-commerce, logistics tech, edtech and enterprise/ Saas software. Over his career he has helped raise about US$5B of capital through equity, debt and M&A and deployed close to $500M as a principal investor.
In his most recent role, Mr. Subramanian was Managing Director at Stakeboat Capital, a growth equity fund with US$150M of assets across 2 vehicles focused on the healthcare, technology and manufacturing sectors. As a senior member of the fund he played key roles in fund-raise, investor relations, deal origination & execution, as well as portfolio management. Some of the transactions he drove include a Series A investment in LeadSquared (leading CRM SaaS player) and Series E infusion in Dvara (a fintech lender converting into a small finance bank).
Prior to this, Mr. Subramanian was Managing Director of Boson Ventures and part of the early management team at noon.com in Dubai (Digital commerce venture backed by Emaar Group and Sovereign Wealth Fund PIF of Saudi Arabia). He established and headed the strategic investments arm called Boson Ventures, a Cayman Islands based entity. In a short timeframe, Mr. Subramanian built out Boson Ventures into a prominent VC in the MENA digital ecosystem, sourcing more than 100 transactions in MENAT, India and the US. Boson consummated investments in Aramex Logistics and Diwan Videos while working on deals in Souq.com (e-commerce), Careem (ride sharing), Anghami (music app) and Modanisa (modest fashion).
Before Boson, he was Director and early member of the corporate development team at Walmart-owned Flipkart, India’s largest e-commerce company. He helped build out one of the leading corporate venture/ M&A groups in global tech, with over US$25 billion capital raised to-date and hundreds of millions of capital invested. In this role, he drove numerous investments and acquisitions across Fintech, e-commerce and logistics. He led many of Flipkart’s marquee transactions in Blackbuck, MayMyIndia, Delhivery, Grey Orange, Adiquity and FxMart (which later become the base for PhonePe) as well as the integration of Myntra.
Prior to Flipkart, Mr. Subramanian was investment manager at Peepul Capital, an India-focused private equity fund with US$700M AUM. Here he managed investment in retail, logistics and healthcare sectors. He led a US$20M majority investment in Ecom Express, the second largest E-commerce logistics firm in India, eventually exiting to Warburg Pincus with a multi-bagger return in 12 months. He also worked on investments in Motherhood (maternity care), and Komli (adtech).
Mr. Subramanian started his business career at Goldman Sachs as an investment banker on Wall Street helping banks, insurance and fintech companies navigate the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Before his foray into business, Mr. Subramanian spent 5 years in operations at Schlumberger (Europe and U.S.) building, testing and manufacturing hardware and software for oil & gas drilling environments.
Mr. Simon Gilbert is Head of Legal and Compliance at Gulf Capital. Mr. Gilbert has over 19 years of legal experience and has worked on a variety of complex, cross-border and large-scale corporate, finance, commercial and real estate transactions. Mr Gilbert’s responsibilities include managing the legal and compliance affairs of Gulf Capital, drafting and negotiating M&A, real estate and joint venture agreements; recommending and implementing equity and debt structures; establishing, launching and managing international funds.
Mr. Simon Gilbert is Head of Legal and Compliance at Gulf Capital. Mr. Gilbert has over 19 years of legal experience and has worked on a variety of complex, cross-border and large-scale corporate, finance, commercial and real estate transactions. Mr Gilbert’s responsibilities include managing the legal and compliance affairs of Gulf Capital, drafting and negotiating M&A, real estate and joint venture agreements; recommending and implementing equity and debt structures; establishing, launching and managing international funds.
Ms. Carmen Jreissati joined Gulf Capital in early 2012, with over 20 years of human capital management experience. She acts as a Strategic Advisor for the overall human resources function across the three businesses for Gulf Capital.
Prior to joining Gulf Capital, Ms. Jreissati spent approximately nine years as Head of Human Resources for Credit Suisse in the MENA region, where she was responsible for human capital management across Investment Banking, Private Banking and Asset Management. Prior to Credit Suisse, Ms. Jreissati headed the Human Resources and Culture department of the Dubai Government Strategy Office and successfully set up the department and its processes.
Ms. Jreissati received a B.A. major in French and Spanish from Monash University, and an M.B.A. from Leicester University with a concentration in Human Relations.
Ms. Carmen Jreissati joined Gulf Capital in early 2012, with over 20 years of human capital management experience. She acts as a Strategic Advisor for the overall human resources function across the three businesses for Gulf Capital.
Prior to joining Gulf Capital, Ms. Jreissati spent approximately nine years as Head of Human Resources for Credit Suisse in the MENA region, where she was responsible for human capital management across Investment Banking, Private Banking and Asset Management. Prior to Credit Suisse, Ms. Jreissati headed the Human Resources and Culture department of the Dubai Government Strategy Office and successfully set up the department and its processes.
Ms. Jreissati received a B.A. major in French and Spanish from Monash University, and an M.B.A. from Leicester University with a concentration in Human Relations.
As Gulf Capital’s Head of Information Technology, Fahim Halawa, with more than 18 years of professional experience encompassing a wide scope in the field of information technology. Fahim currently leads and manages Gulf Capital’s IT Department, Digital Transformation, Cloud Computing and Cyber Security. He joined Gulf Capital in 2006 and had established the IT department within the company, developing a knowledge & experience working on ambitious projects within the technology field throughout his career, where he was responsible for planning, leading, executing and monitoring major IT projects for the company.
Prior to joining Gulf Capital, Fahim worked as an IT Team Leader at National Bank of Kuwait (NBK). Prior to joining NBK, he was a Senior Systems Engineer at Orascom Telecom where he was responsible for the company’s e-payment systems and the IT infrastructure.
Fahim received a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Petra University and an Executive M.B.A. from Cass Business School along with other IT professional certifications.
As Gulf Capital’s Head of Information Technology, Fahim Halawa, with more than 18 years of professional experience encompassing a wide scope in the field of information technology. Fahim currently leads and manages Gulf Capital’s IT Department, Digital Transformation, Cloud Computing and Cyber Security. He joined Gulf Capital in 2006 and had established the IT department within the company, developing a knowledge & experience working on ambitious projects within the technology field throughout his career, where he was responsible for planning, leading, executing and monitoring major IT projects for the company.
Prior to joining Gulf Capital, Fahim worked as an IT Team Leader at National Bank of Kuwait (NBK). Prior to joining NBK, he was a Senior Systems Engineer at Orascom Telecom where he was responsible for the company’s e-payment systems and the IT infrastructure.
Fahim received a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Petra University and an Executive M.B.A. from Cass Business School along with other IT professional certifications.