Ahmed Youssef is a senior partner at McKinsey and leads our Family-Owned Business Practice in the Middle East. He supports diversified family conglomerates and investment companies as they seek investment opportunities, restructure their portfolios, and institutionalize their operating and governance models.
Ahmed has served clients worldwide and brings a breadth of experience in investment and corporate strategy, finance, and corporate governance. His clients span many industries, including consumer goods, construction, energy, infrastructure, telecom and media, and real estate. Based in Dubai, he brings an insider’s deep knowledge and insight into regional dynamics and opportunities in the Middle East.
His recent work includes:
- advising on the financial restructuring of one of the largest investment companies in the region
- leading the transformation of strategy and operating models for several leading diversified family groups
- developing investment strategies for investment companies, family groups, private equity firms and sovereign wealth funds across sectors, including industrials, consumer, financial services, real estate and energy
Before joining McKinsey, Ahmed was a partner at Booz & Company, where he established and led the firm’s family business and investment company practice in the Middle East. He holds dual citizenship in Canada and Lebanon and speaks fluent Arabic, English, and French.
Published work
“Navigating a perfect storm in the Middle East’s consumer sector,” McKinsey & Company, May 2019
“Succession planning: a medicine for family-owned businesses' longevity,” The National, June 2018
“Accelerating entrepreneurship in the Arab world,” Booz & Company and World Economic Forum, October 2011
“Mideast private equity has room to run,” Bloomberg Businessweek, December 2010
Past experience
Booz & Company
Partner / Vice president
Cap Gemini Ernst & Young
Senior consultant
Nortel Networks
Education
INSEAD
MBA
Syracuse University
MSc
Concordia University, Canada
B. Comm