Omar Kutayba Yusuf Alghanim serves as the Founder of YAKOA Services Limited. He has lived, studied and worked around the world including in the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. In a business career spanning over 20 years, beginning as an M&A Analyst with Morgan Stanley, Omar has brought a unique skillset to his role as CEO of Alghanim Industries and Chairman of Gulf Bank.
Omar’s efforts to build a meritocracy at Alghanim Industries have been recognized by Harvard Business School, where it is used as a case study for MBA students. His distinctive management style was also successful at Gulf Bank where he oversaw double-digit growth for seven years in a row, making the bank one of the fastest growing in the region.
Omar is a founding member and board member of INJAZ Al-Arab, and serves as the Chairman of INJAZ-Kuwait, part of the international non-profit NGO, Junior Achievement. He is also involved in promoting the economic development of the MENA region, having served as the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) Chair of the MENA Regional Business Council and Chair of the initiative, ‘A New Vision for Arab Employment’ (2014-2015). Additionally, Omar sits on Harvard Business School’s (HBS) Board of Dean’s Advisors, as well as the HBS MENA and Central Asia Advisory Board, developing and strengthening relationships with business and academic leaders in the region.
Omar received a BS of Science in Business from New York University’s Stern School of Business in 1997 and completed his MBA at Harvard Business School in 2002.