Prior to his current role Mikael established and ran his own executive search business focused on "C-suite appointments with a Middle East focus. Although a sector generalist, Mikael's core experience is regional, and he had a twenty year career in corporate and retail banking in the Middle East and North Africa prior to entering the search world. Since 2002, Mikael has worked on search and leadership assessment mandates in retail, commercial and investment banking, Islamic banking. asset management, infrastructure, private equity, Sovereign Wealth Funds, international financial institutions, insurance, pension funds and real estate for some of the region's most vibrant brands. Other areas of expertise include FMCG, transportation, technology and fintech businesses. Mikael's experience of the wider Middle East environment in the banking, industrial and trading industries in the region have proved invaluable to clients who are active in or entering these markets. Mikael holds a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and an MBA from INSEAD.