Friday 2 October 2009

Charting Dubai World’s new course

When Dubai World appointed Jamal bin Thaniah as its first group chief executive, they chose an experienced insider who has shunned the spotlight while helping to write key chapters in Dubai’s commercial history.

As a 28-year veteran of its ports and maritime business, Mr bin Thaniah presided over Dubai’s first merger in 1991, its first overseas expansion in 1999, and its first major leveraged buyout in 2006 with the purchase of the UK’s Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O).

“He has played pivotal roles but keeps a very low profile,” says Mohammed Sharaf, who as chief executive of DP World, the ports operator, reports directly to Mr bin Thaniah. Mr Sharaf calls him the type of manager who will “sit with his team and patiently listen to everyone, and then guide you to make a decision so that you feel the decision is yours”.

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