Dr. Ahmed Heikal is the Chairman and Founder of Qalaa Holdings, a leader in the infrastructure industry with subsidiaries in energy, cement, agribusiness, mining, transportation, and logistics. Prior to founding Qalaa Holdings, Ahmed was an Executive Board Member and Managing Director of EFG Hermes Holding, which he helped transform from a small financial consultancy into the leading investment bank in the Arab world. EFG Hermes today holds the title of the second-largest full-service investment bank in global emerging markets. Dr. Heikal has spearheaded highly successful private equity investments, one of which led to the creation of one of Egypt’s major IT companies, Raya Holding, and another which resulted in the nation’s largest natural gas distribution company, Genco. Ahmed Heikal has also raised three rounds of finance for regional mobile telecommunications operator Orascom Telecom and has led the IPOs of Orascom Construction Industries and Orascom Hotels to success. Ahmed holds a Master’s degree and a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management from Stanford University.