The Judges | The Association of Corporate Treasurers

The Judges

Our esteemed panel of judges for the ACT Middle East Treasury Awards 2021

Head judge: Matthew Hurn, Chief Financial Officer, Alternative Investments & Infrastructure, Mubadala Investment Company

Matthew joined Mubadala over 10 years ago and is currently the Chief Financial Officer for the Alternative Investments & Infrastructure platform having joined initially as the Group Treasurer. The Platform has assets of approx.$45bn in sectors such as real estate, infrastructure, healthcare and financial investments via the Mubadala Capital platform, which includes the Groups investment in Softbank.

Prior to joining the Company, Matthew was the Group Treasurer of DSG International plc. (formerly Dixons Group), where he developed the company’s treasury framework and strategy to accommodate the Group's overseas expansion. Matthew has worked in the finance & treasury industry for over 25 years in both the public and private sector. He is a qualified member and a Past President of the Association of Corporate Treasurers and was awarded Fellowship status in recognition of his contribution to the profession in 2009. He also holds Fellowship status with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and Chartered Group of Management Accountants and is also an elected specialist of the Institute of Risk Management.

In 2018, Matthew was awarded the John Grout award for his contribution to the treasury, risk and corporate finance profession by the Association becoming only the second-ever recipient. Matthew serves as a Board member on several of the Groups assets such as Falcon Private Bank, Anglo Gulf Trade Bank, Hakkasan and Porte Sudeste. Matthew is married and has two daughters who also live in Abu Dhabi.


James Adams FCT, Group Treasurer, Chalhoub Group

James Adams is the Group Treasurer at Chalhoub Group; a leading partner for luxury across the Middle East, an expert in retail, distribution and communication. He is responsible for all aspects of Treasury and has recently led several projects to establish the new function within the firm. Prior to joining Chalhoub in 2014, James was a Senior Manager in the Deloitte Treasury Advisory team based in London. He has worked with Group Treasurers and CFOs at a variety of companies in the UK, Europe, Middle East, North America, Russia and Asia. His particular areas of interest are Treasury Systems, Risk Management and Treasury Strategy. James is a Fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers and a Chartered Management Accountant. He studied at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he completed a BSc in Economics and MSc in Financial and Industrial Economics.


Laura Ford, Senior Treasury Manager, Majid Al Futtaim Holding

Laura Ford is Senior Treasury Manager at Majid Al Futtaim, one of the largest developers and operators of shopping malls and hypermarkets in the MENA region. She has led a number of financial system implementations and cash management initiatives and is currently responsible for funding. Prior to joining MAF in 2008, Laura was based in the UK, in the European Treasury Centre of Cargill Plc, a multinational producer of food and agricultural products. Laura has 14 years of Corporate Treasury experience. She holds a Certificate in International Treasury Management from the ACT.


Andrew McMichael FCT, Group Treasurer, Agility

Andrew is the Group Treasurer for Agility, a Kuwait-based, global logistics company with a turnover of around USD 5bn, operating in over 100 countries. After obtaining a degree in Chemistry and Business Administration in 1990 from Kingston University, he joined Unilever in the Treasury department and obtained his ACMA in 1994. He joined Ocean Group plc (later renamed Exel plc) in the treasury department in late 1994, and became Group Treasurer in 1998. He left Exel in 2004 and worked with a start-up company specialising in trade receivable financing, but has now returned to mainstream Treasury and has moved to Kuwait.

Andrew obtained his FCT in 1995, and is a founder member of ACT Middle East.

Download form

Please download your form below or contact:

Vicki Greenwood
Director of Global Events
deals@treasurers.org

Deadline: 26 July 2021

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