Who We AreSomerset House is a Dubai-based Consultancy offering Human Capital-related solutions to a broad spectrum of organizations operating

throughout the Middle East and North Africa regions. We work with clients in the Manufacturing, FMCG, Construction, Real Estate

Development, Oil and Gas, Automotive and Healthcare sectors.

The company is a business built around the principles of providing the utmost levels of transparency and professionalism when both

representing and advising our clients, which are a blend of Multinational Companies, Government, Semi-government and Family

Conglomerates. We provide the following services:

Why Our Clients Use UsThe company’s goal is to offer an exceptional level of service to our clients whilst providing efficiency, effectiveness and commercial value

with the approach of never over promise and under deliver. We truly respect the trust that is placed in us and guarantee all parties the

most professional of representation coupled with the utmost transparency at all times.

Our Geographical CoverageRegionally based in Dubai, our research led approach enables us to work with clients located anywhere in the world. Our clients utilize our

service whether looking for talent located in the regional or international market place and often act us to search across the global talent

pool within their respective sectors. As we are providing a pro-active headhunting service, there are literally no boundaries to our reach.

Nationalization

Competitor Analysis

Executive Search and Selection

Formation of Large-scale Project Teams

Territorial Analysis

Executive Coaching and

Mentoring

Our Services

Executive Search and SelectionIdentifying, approach and introducing high performing talent to

our clients based on the individual specifications of each

assignment. Our research team will identify all relevant individuals

within a pre-determined target list of companies. Each individual

is then approached, suitability is assessed and informal references

taken prior to a shortlist being compiled. Our clients receive

weekly updates as to the progress of the assignment and are

presented with full documentation at the end of the process. This

enables our clients to view the depth of our work as well as to

learn invaluable business intelligence. Our standard time frame

for assignment execution is five weeks.

Formation of Large-scale Project TeamsThis is a service that is often utilized by clients in the Oil and Gas

and Construction sectors. Upon successfully securing a contract to

deliver a major project, our clients will need to very quickly

mobilize a project team, often in a traditionally challenging

location. The Somerset House team will agree a timescale of

delivery and will proactively source and select the required

number of skilled individuals who will be both highly capable and

highly motivated. Interviews will commence and Somerset house

will assist in the management of this process.

NationalizationWe have ongoing partnerships with government and semi-

government organizations and have successfully delivered a

number of project related to both nationalization. Example of a

recent Emiratization project was been the creation of a 100

person assessment centre designed to identify and secure future

leaders of this well - known organization. In addition to managing

the identification and attraction process, our team also oversaw

the assessment centre itself. Our client was subsequently able to

appoint the required numbers of individuals into the leadership

training programme.

This experience also extends to working with a government entity

in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on a large scale Saudization

mandate. In this instance our client was looking to appoint a large

number of individuals from a particular sector discipline into

leadership roles within this restructured organization. This was

successfully managed by our team and we are still working with

this organization to date.

Our Services

Competitor AnalysisUsed to understand the strengths and weaknesses of potential

competitors as well as to understand where our client sits within

its market place in terms of issues relating, for example, to staff

retention.Our Partners will meet with our client in order to

establish a full project brief. Our highly skilled research team will

then use a variety of techniques in order to compile an extremely

thorough report which is subsequently presented to our client.

Our client then takes ownership of this data. The timeframes

involved in such projects can vary however our standard time

frame for completion is four weeks.

Executive Coaching and MentoringPartnering with a well known UK based organization who are

market leaders in this field, we provide our clients with a broad

range of services designed to facilitate the personal and

professional development of its executives. This is used

particularly used with regard to long term succession planning as

any gaps in an individuals skill set are identified and worked with

in advance of an anticipated change in responsibility levels.

Territorial AnalysisA very similar offering to that of Competitor Analysis where

similar techniques are used to achieve the desired result. Our

clients use this service primarily, but not limited to, when

considering entering a geography currently unfamiliar to them.

Somerset House will then provide our client with high level

business intelligence which will enable our client to enter this

market in as informed a manner as possible.

Our Selection ProcessAt Somerset House, our main objective is not to generate short term solutions but to bridge the demand-supply gap whilst creating long

term relationships with our clients. Our selection processes are designed to make sure we're delivering the best talent to your organization.

The precise details of each stage will vary according to the nature of work, but the focus throughout will be on maintaining a stringent

process at all times.

Our process can be summarized as follows:

Research

Initial approaches

First stage interviewing

Second interview of long listed candidates (competency and character based)

Informal references and background checks

Short-listing

Submittal

Arranging Interviews

Offer management and negotiation (where required)

Screening out of unsuccessful interviewees

Our Team

Having relocated to Dubai from the United Kingdom in 2006 where he held senior positions across several

industry leading companies, Matthew has worked successfully for international executive search

organizations prior to forming Somerset House Consulting in 2014.

Since 2006, Matthew has successfully partnered with many of the most high profile and recognizable brands

in the region whether Multi – National, Government, Semi Government, Family Groups as well as a large

number of emerging organizations.

His sector experience is significant, having worked within the Construction, Real Estate Development,

Automotive, Manufacturing, Retail, Oil and Gas and Energy sectors throughout the Middle East and North

Africa.

Our partners and consultants possess a combination of 20 years of experience in the MENA region and during this time have gained a

thorough understanding of the intricacies of working within this region as well as establishing enviable track record of successfully providing

consultancy services to many of the regions’ leading organizations, both public and private sector.

As well as being responsible for growing Somerset House Consulting into a trusted and market leading brand, Matthew will continue to

closely manage a range of assignments as well as to work closely with clients in order to build and maintain long lasting partnerships.

Matthew Potts

Partner

Our Team

Shameem Baghdadi

Principal – Construction

Hanka Karwinski

Principal – Industrial / ChemicalShameem leads the Oil & Gas and Construction practices. He has

previously held both consulting and management roles with a

leading Oil & Gas company in Saudi Arabia, a leading Construction

company in UAE & KSA and with a top tier Executive Search firm

in the USA.

He has a successful track record consisting

of eight years managing complex and

often confidential Executive Search and

Selection assignments for organizations

both within the US and internationally.

Having relocated to the Middle East in

2008, Shameem has developed an extremely thorough

understanding of his chosen sectors as well as rare regional

insight. This, coupled with his client-side and consulting

experience, is something which has added significant value to

numerous organizations throughout the Middle East.

Shameem is a qualified Engineer and currently studying to achieve

his Master’s degree in Management from the University of

Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Hanka has seven years of international

experience, having worked on high level

Executive Search assignments across the

GCC, Africa, Asia and Europe.

As Principal for Somerset House Consulting, Hanka leads the

Industrial and Chemical practices. Prior to Somerset House

Consulting, Hanka held various positions within Executive Search

in Dubai and London across multiple sectors, including the

Industrial, Oil & Gas, Chemical, Telecom, Financial Services and

Manufacturing industries.

Having relocated to Dubai in 2012 she has established a proven

track record with large multinational organizations, semi-

governmental organizations, family groups & start-ups across the

region.

Hanka holds a BA in International Affairs from the American

University of Paris and is fluent in French, English, Polish and

Norwegian.

Our TeamRiad Mekouar

Principal – Energy, Environment & Renewables

Katinka Fekete

AssociateHaving relocated to Dubai from Morocco in 1999, Riad spent the

last 14 years based in UAE working for large Multinationals,

Government organizations and Executive Search Firms, across

multiple sectors, including Education, Healthcare, Oil & Gas,

Energy, Media, Venture Capital & Investment Banking, Real Estate

and Construction, prior to Joining Somerset House in 2014.

His expertise includes HR Management, Talent Acquisition,

Manpower Planning, Employee Relations,

Training and Career Development,

Compensation and Benefits, Succession

Planning, Emiratization, Organizational

development, Performance management,

Psychometrics, Employment and Labor Law.

Riad completed his studies in Experimental

Sciences, Marketing & International Commerce and is a Qualified

Recruitment Professional from REC, Employment & Recruitment

Confederation the Institute of Recruitment Professionals in the

UK. He is also a Certified Psychometric Assessor and is Fluent in

French, Arabic and English.

As Associate, Katinka is involved in all aspects of the business from

meeting new & existing clients to providing research support on

current mandates through to conducting due diligence exercises

prior to Somerset House Consulting entering new markets.

To date Katinka has successfully completed mandates in the

Manufacturing, Automotive, Construction and Oil and Gas

sectors.

Born and raised in Romania, Katinka completed her studies in

Hungary as Philologist in Eastern Languages and Cultures. The

majority of her qualification was based on Arabian Studies which

included gaining a strong understanding of written and some

spoken Arabic as well a broad knowledge from a cultural

perspective.

Prior to relocating to Dubai in 2014 Katinka

was based in Hungary and had forged a

successful career working with global

leaders within the Telecommunications

sector. These roles provided Katinka with

the opportunity to deliver assignments on

behalf of clients located in North America,

South America and Asia.

Our TeamPrachi Nanda

Associate

Andrae Owuh

AssociateAs Associate, Andrae is responsible for all aspects of supporting

the Construction and Real Estate Development practice.

Andrae relocated to Dubai in 2013 to pursue a Masters degree at

Hult International Business School. During these studies, she was

able to further develop her business acumen and complete

extensive client relations projects with leading entrepreneurs

from around the world via Startup Grind powered by Google for

Entrepreneurs, and via Hult Prize, the world’s largest multi-million

dollar seed accelerator for social good.

With a current focus on the GCC Construction and Real Estate

market, Andrae brings a wealth of talent, expertise and global

business knowledge to the Somerset House Consulting team.

Possessing several years’ experience in

executive search, Andrae is experienced in

delivering a wide range of search solutions

from Chief-level hiring through to large-

scale government nationalization projects.

As Associate, Prachi is responsible for all aspects of supporting the

Energy division within Somerset House Consulting.

Possessing several years of experience in talent acquisition,

Prachi's expertise lies in executive search and selection across

multiple verticals. She has also been instrumental in managing the

entire resourcing function for large scale nationalization projects

as well as graduate training schemes on behalf of clients across

the MENA region.

Prachi relocated to Dubai in 2010 to

pursue her Master’s degree in Human

Resource Management from Institute of

Management Technology. During her

master's program she participated in an

exchange program to Burgundy School of

Business which further broadened her

In addition to being an integral part of the SHC team, Prachiis also currently pursuing her Masters in Human ResourceManagement - CIPD accredited from Middlesex University.

knowledge and understanding within Human Resources across

both Middle East and European markets.

Our TeamGregory Wright

Principal – Manufacturing

Leong Cheah

AssociateAs Principal for Somerset House Consulting Gregory leads the

Manufacturing Practice.

Gregory has built sound technical knowledge and a strong global

network in the Manufacturing space having partnered with

leading organizations in the FMCG, Food, Beverage, Dairy,

Automotive and Paper Industries both regionally and

internationally.

Gregory has experience in MENA, Australia

/ New Zealand and European markets and

his expertise extends across include Plant,

Maintenance, Quality, Operational

Excellence, Technical and Engineering

within his clients’ businesses. In addition,

Gregory has acted as a key strategic advisor

to clients looking to develop greenfield site

as well as providing executive search support in the sourcing of

business leaders. Gregory’s expertise lies in executive search and

selection, workforce planning, organizational structuring,

recruitment of large-scale project teams, on-site talent

management, salary benchmarking and competitor analysis.

As Associate for Somerset House Consulting, Leong is responsible

for all aspects of supporting the Energy, Environment and

Renewable Practices.

Prior to moving to Dubai in 2008, Leong

was based in Australia and had forged a

successful career working with global

leaders within the Banking and Finance

sector, as well as the Health and Fitness

sector.

Since being in Dubai, Leong has been employed by a large MiddleEastern Airline – Emirates.

Leongs’ employment to date has provided him with the

opportunity to deliver assignments on behalf of clients in

management, leadership training & development as well as the

creation of talent acquisition strategies. This has given him a wide

range of skills suited to helping clients attract, retain and develop

its executive talent.

Leong brings a wealth of drive, expertise and global business

knowledge to the Somerset House Consulting team.

For additional information, please visit www.somersethouse.aeAlternatively, you can call us: +971 (0) 4 399 5653

Or email: info@somersethouse.ae