Deals

Abu Dhabi hires ahead of first European office

Abu Dhabi Investment House, the state-sponsored investment vehicle, has made two senior hires to spearhead its push into Europe.

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The investment arm of the government of Abu Dhabi has made two senior appointments as it plans to open an office in Geneva.

Abu Dhabi Investment House has appointed Matthew James as chief operating officer and Mahmood Samy Naib as chief development officer.

A source close to the firm said: “It will hopefully have a subsidiary in Geneva soon.” 

Naib will take charge of the group’s real estate department’s functions and strategic planning for the development sector, while James will take on a more general role.

James was previous European controller at DB Zwirn, responsible for setting up and running the European Finance Division. He has held senior positions in various organisations including Schroders Ventures and DLJ Phoenix Private Equity.

Naib has worked in real estate development and programme management at Skidmore Owings & Merrill, McClier, Turner International and Parsons. He originally studied architecture.

Abu Dhabi Investment House’s Al Arabi Private Equity Fund is fully invested and targets an IRR of 20 percent over five years. The fund’s size is undisclosed.