Speaker highlight: Ralph Khoury

With less than a week remaining before his appearance at World Finance Forum Dubai, Nissan United's Chief Financial Officer - AMIEO Region Ralph KHOURY sat down with us to share his unique perspective on finance leadership across diverse global landscapes. Known for his ability to navigate complex crises, Ralph reflects on his journey through major global disruptions—from the Asian Financial Crisis to COVID-19—and discusses his approach to transformation, AI implementation, and inflation management.

Looking ahead, he offers his seasoned insights on how finance leaders can prepare for the future amid ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you’ve ended up where you are today.?

That is not a straightforward question when you have lived and worked in 4 different continents, in amazing cities like Sydney, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Paris and Dubai, in Finance Leadership roles. In recent times, when I am asked this question, I answer by saying that I am an International Finance Executive.

Richard McBride, from CFO Magazine in Australia labelled me the “Crisis Financial Officer”, a as a pun on words. Ultimately, that was due to the number of “once in a lifetime” crisis that I have been up against.?

"From the Asian Financial Crisis, to SARS, the Global Financial Crisis and then COVID19, one thing for sure, the next crisis is most probably just around the corner."

Personally, I was born and educated in Australia. I Studied Accounting and Economics at night as I gained valuable hands-on experience in a Muti-national company in Australia was a leader in the Telecom Sector. In December 1999, I was appointed as the CFO in Indonesia, the youngest CFO at that time. I went on to hold CFO Roles in Malaysia, and across Asia Pacific, before moving to Paris to take on a Global CFO Role for Alcatel Lucent. In 2008 I was Headhunted into a Regional CFO Position in Dubai at TBWA\RAAD, a Creative Agency within the Omnicom Group. In 2017, my role expanded to cover our Media partner Omnicom Media Group in MENA.

In September 2023, I was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer for Nissan United across the AMIEO Region, a fully integrated Omnicom agency, dedicated solely to Nissan, handling all advertising, digital, experiential and retail through central and local TBWA\ offices across 30 countries covering Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania. Additionally, I am tasked with the corporate strategy, financial, legal and risk management responsibility for the worldwide TBWA Network, focused on the Strategic market of Saudi Arabia. In December 2023, I was appointed to CPA Australia’s Ethics and Professional Standards Centre of Excellence. As an active Public Speaker, and an advocate for the Finance Community Internationally, I speak at many forums on topics ranging from Ethics and Governance, Financial Management during crisis environments, the role and evolution to CFO and Effective Commercial Negotiation.

What’s the biggest challenge finance leaders are facing today?

I would say the biggest challenge is the need to constantly transform yourself, your team and the organisation that you manage.

"The endeavour to be 'best in class' should be the focus of all Finance leaders. In particular when it comes to the use of AI."

Finance Leaders should look to embrace this revolutionary technology, in order to make a giant leap forward and ultimately transform the role of finance leadership and the finance team, away from transactional finance and instead further up the value chain.

Whilst endeavouring to be transformative, they should not lose sight of the fundamentals – the need to adopt and not lose sight of the basics when it comes to Cash Management, Risk management, internal control,?

What are the most difficult decisions you’re making right now?

Determining how best to implement Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning across the Finance Function and the rest of the business. The decision of what to invest in, and the payback around it are key.

Can you reveal any inflation-coping strategies you’re employing?

When you procure, fix the cost of the product or service as long as possible. If you are selling products and services, look to index your price to inflation. In both cases, this is easier said than done.

What’s your main learning from the pandemic??

"Focus on what you can control, and don’t spend endless time on what you can’t control. Sounds simple but when adopted as a principle, it can make decision making a whole lot clearer."

Remain true to the key underlying business fundamentals that will deliver any business a healthy balance sheet – the focus on improving cashflow, and liquidity. Be sure, it will insulate the company against further crisis impacts, potential relapses and the road to crisis recovery.

?I have spent time listening to Nancy Koehn of Nancy Koehn, Historian and Leadership Expert at Harvard Business School who advocates to leaders in uncertainty to navigate point to point, whilst maintaining the ability to pivot, switch directions as needed, learn quickly, and move to the next point. There’s a lot in that, but it’s very symbolic of the challenge ahead.

What are your predictions for finance over the next 18 months?

I hate to sound pessimistic, but I would be surprised if we are not being challenged by another crisis. If you look at the geo-political tensions that are ongoing, the conflict in the Middle East, Russia & Ukraine, new leadership in the White House, we are embarking on a period of uncertainty.

The best way to prepare for this is to help insulate your business from the potential impact of a crisis.

Want to hear more from Ralph? He'll be taking the stage at World Finance Forum Dubai on November 6th sharing his insights on crisis management as a finance leader.

Register for your pass today and we'll be sure to save you a seat ??https://lnkd.in/e2_VfX9v