Peter Beynon appointed as Middle East Regional Director

Heading up the Dubai office, Peter will be supporting the accountancy profession in the UAE and ICAEW members on the ground, whilst raising awareness of accountancy as a career choice. Peter is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant and a seasoned finance professional.

He joins ICAEW from HBG Holdings, where he has spent the last four years as an operating director focusing on MENA and South Asia. In his new role he will be leading the Middle East regional team; as well as members and enhancing the profession in the UAE this will include working with the government on accountancy and finance matters, such as helping Emiratis gain professional qualifications and enter the private sector, and continuing to partner with the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to convene regular discussions on regulatory matters.

Commenting on his appointment, Peter said: "This is a very exciting time to be taking on this role. The accountancy profession in the UAE is constantly evolving and finance professionals are increasingly being recognised not just as bookkeepers but as business leaders as well. The success of last years' Middle East Accountancy and Finance Excellence Awards showed the tremendous respect the profession has gained for the work it does to underpin business confidence and economic growth right across the region.

"I am also looking forward to helping support the government's Emiratisation initiative. Building a pool of qualified, talented young people is going to be fundamental to encouraging Emiratis into rewarding careers in the private sector. Internationally-recognised professional qualifications like ICAEW's renowned ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant) are a great way of demonstrating knowledge of international business practices and standards, as well as the highest professional and ethical standards. Schemes like ICAEW's Emiratisation Scholarship Scheme (IESS) are a fantastic way to achieving this and I am keen to start working with accounting practice firms, businesses, universities, members, students and other stakeholders."

Vernon Soare, ICAEW executive director, said: "We are pleased to welcome Peter Beynon to our Dubai office as the new director for ICAEW's Middle East region. With 30 years' experience as a chartered accountant and an international finance professional, Peter brings with him a solid base of expertise, as well as a good knowledge of the region. He will focus on building on the successes ICAEW has achieved in the Middle East, as well as pursuing additional initiatives to support our members and the profession."

Peter qualified with Price Waterhouse and spent 20 years working for Jardine Matheson in a number of senior finance and management roles in Asia and the Middle East. He has also worked as the Finance Director of several listed companies prior to becoming a business consultant. From 2005 to 2008 he was the first non-family Managing Director of the esteemed Al Fahim Group.