Our Team - Dubai
Phil Hobbs
Key skills: HR and business transformation; leadership training and development; project design, delivery and measurement; business analysis; strategy development, decision making and implementation; senior team guidance and support
Based in Dubai
Phil retired recently as Head of HR at Emirates Islamic (EI), where he was an Executive Committee (EXCO) member and reported directly to the CEO. EI is the fastest growing bank in the UAE. Phil led the people aspects of the transformation programme to deliver sustainable, profitable growth and the integration of Dubai Bank.
Phil is now taking his experience from business and consulting to help with leadership development in organisations that are looking for senior team guidance and support.
Before EI, Phil was with the HR team at Dubai Holding and worked across a number of businesses in their portfolio and leading transformation and restructuring. These businesses included: National Bonds Corporation (deposit and investment company); Dubai Group (investment management) and Sama Dubai (real estate development).
Prior to moving to Dubai, Phil was a Vice President with Cap Gemini Consulting, latterly as Delivery Director for a global post-merger integration project for a client in Switzerland. He was the global lead tutor at Cap Gemini’s University in Paris.
Before his career in management consulting, Phil set-up and directed an award winning international Research Institute at the University of Bristol. He also taught on various graduate and undergraduate programmes on business, economics and statistics. Phil has recently completed the British Psychological Society (BPS) Level A & B qualifications and is a trained assessor.
Key skills: HR and business transformation; leadership training and development; project design, delivery and measurement; business analysis; strategy development, decision making and implementation; senior team guidance and support
Based in Dubai
Phil retired recently as Head of HR at Emirates Islamic (EI), where he was an Executive Committee (EXCO) member and reported directly to the CEO. EI is the fastest growing bank in the UAE. Phil led the people aspects of the transformation programme to deliver sustainable, profitable growth and the integration of Dubai Bank.
Phil is now taking his experience from business and consulting to help with leadership development in organisations that are looking for senior team guidance and support.
Before EI, Phil was with the HR team at Dubai Holding and worked across a number of businesses in their portfolio and leading transformation and restructuring. These businesses included: National Bonds Corporation (deposit and investment company); Dubai Group (investment management) and Sama Dubai (real estate development).
Prior to moving to Dubai, Phil was a Vice President with Cap Gemini Consulting, latterly as Delivery Director for a global post-merger integration project for a client in Switzerland. He was the global lead tutor at Cap Gemini’s University in Paris.
Before his career in management consulting, Phil set-up and directed an award winning international Research Institute at the University of Bristol. He also taught on various graduate and undergraduate programmes on business, economics and statistics. Phil has recently completed the British Psychological Society (BPS) Level A & B qualifications and is a trained assessor.
Andreas Kaufmann
Key skills: executive coaching; change management; leadership development; team alignment; intercultural co-operation and communication - fluent in french and german
Based in Hamburg / regularly in UAE
Andreas has been operating internationally as a management consultant, trainer and coach since 2000, and spent his first five years in this capacity working for an international consulting company in Paris. His role here involved conducting in-company surveys and 360° assessments, accompanying strategic change and transformation programmes, developing and leading management and leadership development initiatives, and providing executive staff with individual coaching measures. In 2005, he co-founded the Europe-wide TV channel ikono TV, and was its Managing Director until 2008.
Andreas specializes in executive coaching, consulting and training, and in team alignments, intercultural co-operation and communication. He accompanies individual and company-wide cultural change processes and supports companies in implementing service and customer-focused strategies by promoting their organisational, competence, and leadership development. Andreas works in German, French, and English.
Andreas was born in Austria and studied International Business, Psychology, and Adult Education in Innsbruck and in Spain. He completed two degree theses over the course of his studies, one on the subject of micropolitics in internationalization processes, and one on the provision of intercultural support during the process of expatriation and repatriation. Andreas is a certified Repertory Grid Analyst.
Key skills: executive coaching; change management; leadership development; team alignment; intercultural co-operation and communication - fluent in french and german
Based in Hamburg / regularly in UAE
Andreas has been operating internationally as a management consultant, trainer and coach since 2000, and spent his first five years in this capacity working for an international consulting company in Paris. His role here involved conducting in-company surveys and 360° assessments, accompanying strategic change and transformation programmes, developing and leading management and leadership development initiatives, and providing executive staff with individual coaching measures. In 2005, he co-founded the Europe-wide TV channel ikono TV, and was its Managing Director until 2008.
Andreas specializes in executive coaching, consulting and training, and in team alignments, intercultural co-operation and communication. He accompanies individual and company-wide cultural change processes and supports companies in implementing service and customer-focused strategies by promoting their organisational, competence, and leadership development. Andreas works in German, French, and English.
Andreas was born in Austria and studied International Business, Psychology, and Adult Education in Innsbruck and in Spain. He completed two degree theses over the course of his studies, one on the subject of micropolitics in internationalization processes, and one on the provision of intercultural support during the process of expatriation and repatriation. Andreas is a certified Repertory Grid Analyst.
James Mayhew
Key skills: pitch and presentation coaching; personal narrative development; interview preparation; business development, sales and negotiation training
Based in Dubai and London
James specialises in business development, negotiation, pitch/presentation, interview coaching and media training. He delivers courses and seminars across Europe and Middle East for companies, governments, institutions and business schools. He has delivered management training courses for over 15 years and been working in UAE since 2008.
After four years military service in the British Army during the mid-1990s, James started his training career with Kingstree Group, delivering negotiation and pitch/presentation training for most of the City of London’s financial and professional service firms. This included work on board-level presentations, AGMs and IPO roadshow presentations.
In 2007 James co-founded Cadogan Consulting. During this time he also served in the Media Operations Group, British Army Reserve Forces, where his role included instructing commanders on media interview techniques, messaging and media handling.
James has delivered hundreds of workshops and seminars, has worked with thousands of companies and individuals on how they develop business, pitch, negotiate, present and interview, and has a keen interest in how people tell stories. Clients have included: Citi, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Investcorp, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Orange/France Telecom, and Cass, Imperial College, London and Warwick Business Schools.
James holds a Batchelor's degree from Brown University (USA) and afterwards attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (UK) prior to starting his military and professional career. He qualified as a Registered Representative with the SFA.
Key skills: pitch and presentation coaching; personal narrative development; interview preparation; business development, sales and negotiation training
Based in Dubai and London
James specialises in business development, negotiation, pitch/presentation, interview coaching and media training. He delivers courses and seminars across Europe and Middle East for companies, governments, institutions and business schools. He has delivered management training courses for over 15 years and been working in UAE since 2008.
After four years military service in the British Army during the mid-1990s, James started his training career with Kingstree Group, delivering negotiation and pitch/presentation training for most of the City of London’s financial and professional service firms. This included work on board-level presentations, AGMs and IPO roadshow presentations.
In 2007 James co-founded Cadogan Consulting. During this time he also served in the Media Operations Group, British Army Reserve Forces, where his role included instructing commanders on media interview techniques, messaging and media handling.
James has delivered hundreds of workshops and seminars, has worked with thousands of companies and individuals on how they develop business, pitch, negotiate, present and interview, and has a keen interest in how people tell stories. Clients have included: Citi, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Investcorp, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Orange/France Telecom, and Cass, Imperial College, London and Warwick Business Schools.
James holds a Batchelor's degree from Brown University (USA) and afterwards attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (UK) prior to starting his military and professional career. He qualified as a Registered Representative with the SFA.
Valerie McCabe
Key skills: senior executive coach; talent and performance management; succession planning; training delivery; corporate university programme design and management
Based in Dubai
Val is a senior executive coach, assessor and trainer. She has supported numerous C-suite and senior management teams in global and GCC-based companies through one-on-one coaching engagements, as well as led assessment and development centres for major corporations and governmental bodies in the UAE and MENA.
Val is also a seasoned executive trainer with deep experience in delivering advanced professional and consultancy skills such as – strategic thinking, change management, communications and performance management. She has led numerous bespoke workshops for senior and mid-level management teams that are designed to improve leadership performance, enhance behavioral and emotional intelligence awareness. Uniquely, Val has developed innovative training and coaching modules blending business methodologies with psychometrics such as the MBTI, EQi and the FIRO. MENA clients have included: Mastercard, HSBC, Nestle, Novartis, Ooredoo, Emaar, Jumeriah, Rotana, Hikma, NBAD, Dubai Government, ADNOC, ADGAS, ADCO, Dubai Airports and International Cricket Council.
Prior to coming to the UAE, Val was Global Director of Talent Management and Management Trainee Programmes for CapGemini Consulting, from 2001-2009. She led all aspects of the Talent Development and a 12 month Management Trainee program for CapGemini ‘s 120,000 person global consulting and IT services practice. She designed and led management trainee programmes focused on competency development in strategic thinking and analysis, project planning & delivery and executive-client account management. Programme graduates were assigned to advanced level strategy consulting engagements in customer needs analysis and segmentation, industry competitive positioning, and mergers and acquisitions. The programme selected high potential talent for intensive development and behavioural coaching in executive-level consulting and board-level presentation skills.
Before specialising in learning and development, Val was a senior managing consultant in CapGemini’s Strategy Consulting global 10,000 person practice from 1996 to 2001. She led numerous executive teams on strategic business engagements focused on new market entry, customer segmentation, M&A, balanced score-card, change management, leadership transformation. Val’s clients included: Visa, Merck, American Express, J&J, P&G, Merrill Lynch, GM, Pfizer, Walmart and Bank of America.
Key skills: senior executive coach; talent and performance management; succession planning; training delivery; corporate university programme design and management
Based in Dubai
Val is a senior executive coach, assessor and trainer. She has supported numerous C-suite and senior management teams in global and GCC-based companies through one-on-one coaching engagements, as well as led assessment and development centres for major corporations and governmental bodies in the UAE and MENA.
Val is also a seasoned executive trainer with deep experience in delivering advanced professional and consultancy skills such as – strategic thinking, change management, communications and performance management. She has led numerous bespoke workshops for senior and mid-level management teams that are designed to improve leadership performance, enhance behavioral and emotional intelligence awareness. Uniquely, Val has developed innovative training and coaching modules blending business methodologies with psychometrics such as the MBTI, EQi and the FIRO. MENA clients have included: Mastercard, HSBC, Nestle, Novartis, Ooredoo, Emaar, Jumeriah, Rotana, Hikma, NBAD, Dubai Government, ADNOC, ADGAS, ADCO, Dubai Airports and International Cricket Council.
Prior to coming to the UAE, Val was Global Director of Talent Management and Management Trainee Programmes for CapGemini Consulting, from 2001-2009. She led all aspects of the Talent Development and a 12 month Management Trainee program for CapGemini ‘s 120,000 person global consulting and IT services practice. She designed and led management trainee programmes focused on competency development in strategic thinking and analysis, project planning & delivery and executive-client account management. Programme graduates were assigned to advanced level strategy consulting engagements in customer needs analysis and segmentation, industry competitive positioning, and mergers and acquisitions. The programme selected high potential talent for intensive development and behavioural coaching in executive-level consulting and board-level presentation skills.
Before specialising in learning and development, Val was a senior managing consultant in CapGemini’s Strategy Consulting global 10,000 person practice from 1996 to 2001. She led numerous executive teams on strategic business engagements focused on new market entry, customer segmentation, M&A, balanced score-card, change management, leadership transformation. Val’s clients included: Visa, Merck, American Express, J&J, P&G, Merrill Lynch, GM, Pfizer, Walmart and Bank of America.
Nessrine Salah
Key skills: strategy consulting; executive search; executive and life coaching - fluent arabic speaker
Based in Dubai
Nessrine has over 15 years of research, consulting, executive search and coaching experience with International firms in the UK and the Middle East. She spent eight years with McKinsey & Company in London and Dubai, where she set up the firm’s knowledge management and information capabilities, and was one of the few employees who started the McKinsey operations in the region.
To further broaden her scope and skill set, Nessrine moved to the executive search industry where she spent two and a half years with Korn Ferry International in Dubai, covering Investment Banking and Private Equity institutions. She assumed a leadership role at Strategic Partners in 2010, building the firm's consulting and coaching capabilities. She has a proven track record in the placement of senior banking and functional executives across the MENA region.
Nessrine's passion is in coaching. She is a Certified Coach (CPCC) qualified to offer executive, career, leadership and life coaching, and has attended the Anatomy of Peace programme at the Arbinger Institute, which focuses on decision making cycles and outcomes - a powerful tool for individuals and businesses. Nessrine is also a co-founder of Coach4Good, a coaching platform focused on youth, women and entrepreneurs in the Gulf region and beyond.
Nessrine has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo. She enjoys fitness, meditation, salsa dancing, the arts and spending time with her children. Nessrine is a fluent English and Arabic speaker.
Key skills: strategy consulting; executive search; executive and life coaching - fluent arabic speaker
Based in Dubai
Nessrine has over 15 years of research, consulting, executive search and coaching experience with International firms in the UK and the Middle East. She spent eight years with McKinsey & Company in London and Dubai, where she set up the firm’s knowledge management and information capabilities, and was one of the few employees who started the McKinsey operations in the region.
To further broaden her scope and skill set, Nessrine moved to the executive search industry where she spent two and a half years with Korn Ferry International in Dubai, covering Investment Banking and Private Equity institutions. She assumed a leadership role at Strategic Partners in 2010, building the firm's consulting and coaching capabilities. She has a proven track record in the placement of senior banking and functional executives across the MENA region.
Nessrine's passion is in coaching. She is a Certified Coach (CPCC) qualified to offer executive, career, leadership and life coaching, and has attended the Anatomy of Peace programme at the Arbinger Institute, which focuses on decision making cycles and outcomes - a powerful tool for individuals and businesses. Nessrine is also a co-founder of Coach4Good, a coaching platform focused on youth, women and entrepreneurs in the Gulf region and beyond.
Nessrine has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo. She enjoys fitness, meditation, salsa dancing, the arts and spending time with her children. Nessrine is a fluent English and Arabic speaker.
James Veysey
Key skills: human resource and change management; leadership development; executive search; coaching; skills training - business french and spanish speaker
Based in Dubai
James is a human resources and executive search specialist focused on emerging markets. He was HR Director for two highly entrepreneurial companies specialised in risk prevention across the MENA region and was latterly responsible for the P&L of a large medical services company operating in high-risk locations. He was a member of the executive committee for a large British private security company and was instrumental in supporting large-scale growth and business optimisation.
James has designed and delivered numerous leadership development and coaching programmes across multiple sectors (pharmaceutical, infrastructure, security and defence, healthcare). He also specialises in working with businesses and individuals through periods of change; developing bespoke leadership initiatives; and one-to-one coaching.
James has spent 15 years working overseas and has high sensitivity to the success factors involved in working as an expatriate with multiple-cultures and operating in high-risk environments. He has had significant exposure to all elements of the human capital cycle, ranging from managing large-scale growth, to handling significant change and downsizing. He is commercially-minded and driven by making a meaningful difference to individuals' careers and influencing business outcomes.
He has strong communication and people skills, and works in English, French and Spanish. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages and a Masters in International Relations. He is an active MBTI practitioner in his coaching technique. He has been based in Dubai since 2007.
Key skills: human resource and change management; leadership development; executive search; coaching; skills training - business french and spanish speaker
Based in Dubai
James is a human resources and executive search specialist focused on emerging markets. He was HR Director for two highly entrepreneurial companies specialised in risk prevention across the MENA region and was latterly responsible for the P&L of a large medical services company operating in high-risk locations. He was a member of the executive committee for a large British private security company and was instrumental in supporting large-scale growth and business optimisation.
James has designed and delivered numerous leadership development and coaching programmes across multiple sectors (pharmaceutical, infrastructure, security and defence, healthcare). He also specialises in working with businesses and individuals through periods of change; developing bespoke leadership initiatives; and one-to-one coaching.
James has spent 15 years working overseas and has high sensitivity to the success factors involved in working as an expatriate with multiple-cultures and operating in high-risk environments. He has had significant exposure to all elements of the human capital cycle, ranging from managing large-scale growth, to handling significant change and downsizing. He is commercially-minded and driven by making a meaningful difference to individuals' careers and influencing business outcomes.
He has strong communication and people skills, and works in English, French and Spanish. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages and a Masters in International Relations. He is an active MBTI practitioner in his coaching technique. He has been based in Dubai since 2007.
