Oxford Business Group announces new Director for Ras Al Khaimah

The role marks an upward move for Toon who has enjoyed a series of successes during her career at OBG, primarily due to the sterling research work she carried out for the Group's operations in Jordan and Brunei Darussalam.

In her new post, Toon will oversee all aspects of The Report: Ras Al Khaimah 2010, OBG's eagerly-anticipated forthcoming annual business report on the Emirate's economy.

Toon said that her appointment as Country Director came at a pivotal juncture in Ras Al Khaimah's economic development, which undoubtedly gave her new challenge an edge.

"As the government pushes ahead with its plans for diversification, it is clear that core areas of business, including industry, investment and tourism, are being primed for a new economic era," she said. "I look forward to fulfilling my role by ensuring that these changes, and their implications for investors, are well documented in OBG's new report."

She added, "Ras Al Khaimah's ability to attract world-class events such as the Americas Cup is just one example of the amazing dynamism of the emirate."

Elizabeth Boissevain, OBG's Director of Field Operations, said that Toon brought several assets to the role of Country Director, most notably an in-depth understanding of doing business on the international stage and a genuine interest in embracing new cultures.

"Natalie's career and love of travel have taken her across Europe, the Middle East, South East Asia and South America, giving her the opportunity to network with high-profile personalities from both the business and political spheres," she said. "I am confident that her experience and enthusiasm will be hugely valuable to our operations in Ras Al Khaimah during this exciting period of change."

Toon holds a Summa Cum Laude degree in Mass Communications and Journalism from the University of Central Arkansas Honors College. She also studied journalism at the Federal University of Goiás in Goiânia, Brazil, and speaks English and Portuguese fluently. Before joining OBG, Toon enjoyed a diverse career in the media and arts which encompassed television work, freelance writing and even a spell in acting for film.

The Report: Ras Al Khaimah 2010 will be a vital guide to the many facets of the Emirate, including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, political landscape, banking and sectoral developments. Written by a team of analysts from OBG who are based on the ground for six months, it is set to be the premier guide for foreign direct investment into Ras Al Khaimah's economy.

Available in print form and online, The Report: Ras Al Khaimah 2010 will form part of the range of OBG's publications renowned as leading sources of information on developing and emerging economies around the world.