Ziad Makkawi

Makkawi is a serial entrepreneur in the Financial Services sector. Makkawi is the Founder & CEO of EQUIAM a Private Tech asset manager focused on late-stage/pre-IPO Unicorn. Prior to EQUIAM, Makkawi pioneered in the Middle East and North Africa investment banking, asset management and private equity markets. He has served as Chief Investment Officer; Chief Executive Officer; Board Member and Chairman in numerous organizations on a global basis. His last position was as Chief Executive Officer at Qatar First Bank ("QFB") a Shari'a compliant bank headquartered in Doha with an established track record in Private Equity and offering best in class private banking, corporate, and institutional banking services.

Makkawi began his career with JP Morgan on Wall Street in 1986.[1] He later joined Elf Aquitaine in Geneva before moving to the Middle East to co-found Lebanon Invest later sold to Bank Audi,[2] and then Middle East Capital Group as Managing Director responsible for Capital Markets. In 2000, Makkawi moved to Dubai to build and run Shuaa Capital’s financial Services business including asset management, proprietary trading, capital markets, research and brokerage activities.[3] In 2004 he was appointed CEO of Dubai Bank[4] and in 2006 he founded and ran as Chairman and CEO Algebra Capital[5] a MENA focused Asset Management firm he later sold to Global Asset Manager Franklin Templeton in 2010.[6] Makkawi has been a pioneer in the development of both the investment banking and asset management industries in the region. In 2013 he was appointed CEO of Istithmar World the PE investment arm of Dubai World,[7] a multi-billion global portfolio across multiple sectors including hospitality, financial services, retail, logistics, wellness, and real estate.

Makkawi served as director on numerous boards including MECG (Beirut); National Bonds (UAE); Amwal (Qatar); Franklin Templeton International ME (UAE); Jadara Capital (UAE); International Hotel Resorts (Malta); Gulf Africa Bank (Kenya); Blue Gate Capital Partners (BVI); Pension Insurance Corporation (UK); Istithmar P&O Estates (UK); Art Sawa (UAE); Algebra Capital (UAE); Capital Management House (Bahrain); Tigris Enterprises (Iraq). He also oversaw Istithmar’s investments on the boards of Barneys (NYC); Cirque du Soleil (Canada), as well as dozens of funds.

Makkawi has been a frequent speaker at events and conferences. He served on and acted as Chairman of the Young President Organization's Emirates Chapter and Chaired the YPO Global Art Network Committee.[8]

Makkawi holds a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University in NY; An MBA in Finance from New York University’s Stern School; and a BA in Economics from Rice University in Houston.

Makkawi has promoted and invested in young entrepreneurs in the digital space in the MENA region.

Makkawi is a promoter and collector of Arab Contemporary Art and is a sponsor of Art Sawa one of the region’s leading art galleries promoting Emerging and established talent from the Middle East.

His childhood was spent in New York City, Washington, D.C., Beirut, Berlin, and London. Makkawi is married with three children. He speaks five languages.