Tarek Nassar

Tinker, sailor, problem solver!

Currently at Amazon.com

Whether leading development of a strategy ensuring Egypt’s food security (directly with the minister of Agriculture, see publication link below) or working on a Sovereign Wealth Fund’s Oil & Gas acquisition strategy, Tarek likes to strive towards making the world a better place, one project at a time.

Graduating from Harvard Business School on a full scholarship in 2006, Tarek was passionate about giving back to the Middle East, so he joined the regional Booz & Co. office (subsequently Strategy&) where he spent the first 18 months working with the energy/utilities practice. In 2008 he jumped on the opportunity to help establish the Cairo office and grow its client base.

In 2012, after working with Tech. Incubators and Telco’s, he became hooked by technology’s potential for growth development and transformation. While total Arab internet users, GDP and population average 4-5% of the world, Arabic online content constitutes only ~1.5% of global total. With 90m internet users, Tarek saw the market potential and was determined to do something about lagging Arabic online content and help regional SME’s get plugged in. He co-founded AraCloud which developed an SaaS platform enabling regional Arab/English speaking SME’s to harness the cloud to develop and compete. The first of its kind in the ME and one of the few platforms globally adressing multilingual cultures.

Around the same time Tarek was approached by a group interested in re-invigorating Early Child Education in Egypt. Realizing this would provide deep insight into what SME’s need to thrive and how they can be supported in the digital age, he invested and became a key cheerleader, strategic enabler and mentor. This gave him a deep perspective into SME’s; what is needed, what works and, more importantly, what does not work.

Tarek started his career with ExxonMobil Egypt, joining the downstream tech support team helping clients solve their energy needs. He then joined Dow Chemicals, first in R&D, in Italy, developing innovative materials for the auto industry, and then in bus. development, travelling throughout Europe and the ME, managing commercial channels and helping auto parts producers meet tightening specs and improve operations.

Tarek is an avid sailor. This year he competed with a team (of amateurs) in the Rolex Giraglia Cup, sailing from St. Tropez to Monaco. A lifechanging experience.