Ramy Zaki is the Government Relations & Public Policy regional leader for P&G in the Indian Sub-continent, Middle East & Africa (IMEA), and he also leads the company’s Global International Trade Policy effort.
Between 2008 and 2013, Ramy worked with P&G’s Government Relations team in Brussels, where he oversaw the Company’s portfolio of International Trade & Tax Policy for Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) and coordinated the public policy portfolio for the Central Europe, Middle East and Africa region. In addition, he led the public policy and market access strategy of P&G growth plans in 18 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the strategic planning of a number of partnerships with governments in EMEA. He also led external efforts for P&G’s Middle East & North Africa environmental sustainability voluntary initiatives with regards to laundry detergents.
Prior to this assignment, Ramy served as External Relations Senior Manager at P&G Near East, with a scope of responsibility spanning the company’s business in Egypt, the Eastern Mediterranean region and Northeast African markets.
Between 1994 and 1998, he was a diplomat with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving in a variety of assignments including the Palestine Desk, Consular Affairs and the Ministry’s Databank. Prior to that, he worked for Bechtel as a Business Development Assistant Manager. Ramy took his first career step in 1992 as an engineer with the General Dynamics Company.
He received a B.Sc. Engineering from Cairo University in 1992 and an M.Sc. Environmental Science, Legislation and Management from Brunel University in the UK in 1996. In 1994, he attended the Cairo Diplomatic Institute and the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. He also took part to the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Program on “the Practice of Trade” in 2004.
Ramy is a the chairman of the Dubai-based Multinational Companies Business Group (MCBG). He is the co-founder and member of the board of an environmental NGO. He is also a member of the LIONS Clubs of France, the Order of Engineers, AmCham EU, the Harvard KSG Alumni Association, the Association for Graduates and Trainees from Britain and the Alumni Association of Jesuit Schools. He is fluent in Arabic, French and English and has some knowledge of Spanish and German.
Ramy enjoys cycling, hiking, cooking, interior design, music and travel.
Edgars is Head of Government Relations for the Gulf, Levant, Turkey, Russia & Ukraine for MetLife, one of the world’s leading financial services companies. Edgars is also a board member of AmCham Dubai in addition to his role with MetLife and the Multinational Companies Business Group (MCBG). Edgars joined MetLife in 2013 in London, and in 2015, he was relocated to Dubai to establish MetLife’s regional Government Relations team. Prior to MetLife, Edgars spent five years with Nomura’s Public Affairs team responsible for representing the global investment bank’s capital markets business interests in front of governments across Europe. He holds a Management Degree from Warwick Business School.
As the corporate and government affairs manager for the GCC and Pakistan, Cynthia Karam is responsible for Mondelez’ internal and external communications initiatives in the region.
Based out of the Mondelez regional head office in Dubai, Cynthia plays a key role in connecting the Middle East and Levant markets and in driving the strategy and direction for communications and government affairs for Mondelez and some of its iconic brands such as Oreo, belVita and LU biscuits, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Tang Powedered Beverage, and Kraft cheese.
A result-driven senior communications leader, Cynthia has established strong relations with key food & beverage stakeholders and safeguards Mondelez’ reputation and license to operate in a highly regulated industry.
Cynthia joined Mondelez Dubai office in late 2017. Prior to joining Mondelez, she spent five years with MARS GCC and held various roles in the Australian Embassy in Beirut and the Australian Consulate in Dubai.
Cynthia holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and a Masters in International Business from the Notre Dame University and the KEDGE Business School in France; and a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy.
Wael El Zanaty was appointed the Director of Government Relations and Public Policy for the Middle East and North Africa region in March 2017. He previously served as Manager of Government Relations and Public Policy for the Middle East, before incorporating North Africa into his scope in 2015.
In his role, El Zanaty is responsible for leading all aspects of government and policy strategy, including representation and compliance with CAFE, as well as other major policy issues within the extended region.
Prior to joining GM, he had a career in the pharmaceutical industry, including key roles at Sanofi and Eli Lilly, which spanned two decades and placements in multiple countries.
El Zanaty is a member of the Multinational Companies Business Group (MCBG) board, alongside other business associations in auto industry. He holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine from Cairo University.
Sandra leads government outreach and strategy for GE in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Yemen and Lebanon and drives partnership opportunities with government stakeholders. Her role also includes development and delivery of policy and regulatory advice.
Sandra joined GE in 2012 and quickly developed into a key player in the Government Affairs and Policy Department with her most recent role as a Director. Prior to joining GE, Sandra spent over two years at the Department of Finance, Government of Canada, in Ottawa during which she focused her efforts on the creation of tax policy for the financial institution industry in the country.
Sandra sits on the board of the Multinational Companies Business Group.
She has a master’s degree in Public Policy and Public Administration and holds a Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in Economics and Political Science from Montreal, Canada.
