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Joe Abi Akl
Partner, IMEA Head of Retail and Consumer Goods
 // . //  Our People //  Joe Abi Akl

Joe is a partner and the head of our Retail and Consumer Practice for India, the Middle East, and Africa (IMEA), operating out of Dubai.

He brings a diverse range of experience in management consulting, corporate development, investment and portfolio management, business building, digital and data capability building, customer value management and business management to the firm and has played a pivotal role in shaping the turnaround and growth strategy, digital transformation, and business development of leading consumer organizations across the region.

As the chief corporate development officer of one of the largest lifestyle conglomerates in MENA, Joe was instrumental in the group’s transformation. This transformation was anchored in growing adjacencies and expanding into new geographies, driving operational excellence, embedding data and analytics, and developing seamless digital and cutting-edge capabilities. These capabilities include retail media solutions, loyalty, fintech, and disruptive technologies, all aimed at delivering an integrated ecosystem experience.

While establishing a winning ecosystem is often associated with tech giants, I believe that implementing this approach and its core principles can have an even greater impact on well-established regional companies in the retail and consumer sectors

Joe has provided strategic advice to several leading private sector organizations and government-related entities in the GCC, Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa, guiding them through large-scale transformations from strategy to execution. With a diverse range of expertise across technology, telecom, media, consumer, and real estate industries, Joe is a commercially driven thought leader. He is deeply committed to the economic growth and prosperity of the IMEA region. His profound knowledge, strategic insights, and strong regional relationships make him an invaluable asset for organizations seeking transformation and growth.

Joe is a sports enthusiast with a competitive spirit, always ready to try adrenaline-charged activities like car racing or other daring pursuits. He enjoys the dynamic nature of interactive entertainment and is a movie enthusiast.

He holds a multidisciplinary engineering degree from Telecom Paris Tech, an MBA from INSEAD, and is a certified director from the IOD. Beyond his academic achievements, Joe serves on the board of leading startups, several World Economic Forum councils, and on the Advisory Council of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.