Syed Jafri
Partner, Bahrain Office Leader
 // . //  Our People //  Syed Jafri

Syed is a partner in Oliver Wyman's Financial Services Practice and the leader of the Bahrain office. He is based in Dubai, where he moved after a few years to our London office. Here in the Middle East, he advises clients in both the public and private sectors.

On the public side, Syed supports regional finance ministries with delivering their fiscal programs: both diversifying government revenues and streamlining expenses. The progress of these fiscal programs has been particularly hard hit by recent macroeconomic headwinds, and the work Syed and his team are doing has already started contributing to improving clients’ fiscal positions, setting them on the right course in what will be an uphill journey.

On the private side, Syed supports regional insurers and reinsurers on topics including strategy design and digital transformation. 

The insurance sector faces numerous interesting challenges, pushing for growth in a low penetration market, and importantly innovating to succeed in an increasingly disrupted ecosystem

Syed’s advice for people entering consulting is to find their North Star early on in their careers, but also to be ready and open for change. Much like the businesses Oliver Wyman works with, the nature of consulting evolves quickly, constantly bringing to the forefront new industries, topics, and skillsets. Always keeping a learning mindset and the ability to adapt in line with clients’ needs is critical in achieving success.

Syed graduated with honors from the London School of Economics, and joined Oliver Wyman after several years in investment banking.

Outside work, he spends most of his time with his family, and enjoys playing cricket in Dubai’s desert heat.