A successful career in investment banking and financial services, with a rare and award-winning expertise of the Middle East and North African economies, capital markets and political trends. Mr Blair has led teams and divisional operations at Barings and ABN AMRO in London and at Beltone Financial and Pharos Investments in Egypt. He led many of the major equity capital market (ECM) transactions which aided in the opening up of the MENA region’s capital markets, including the first GDR in Egypt (CIB) and the first fund to allow foreign investors into Saudi Arabia (the $250m SAIF Fund) amongst others, as well as the best rated research on the region and was rated “Emerging Markets Superstar” by Global Finance magazine. A proven builder of successful teams in several investment banks and other financial services groups, Mr Blair also advises direct and indirect investors on the issues affecting the MENA region, to aid investors make fully informed investment decisions for the short and long term.