The Board delegates responsibility for formulating and, after approval, implementing the Group’s strategic plan and for management of the day-to-day operation of the Group to the Chief Executive Officer. The Group Executive Committee supports the Chief Executive Officer in carrying out their role and manages the day-to-day operation of the Group’s businesses.
The Group Executive Committee comprises the Executives and Senior Directors.
Mr. Haitham Shalabi is the Interim Chief Executive Officer & the Chief Financial Officer of Sultan Group and joined the organization in 2004 and moved from Group Finance Director to CFO in 2019.Mr. Shalabi has a combined experience of more than 20 years in Banking & Retail sectors managing Treasury and Finance Divisions of The Sultan Group. Prior to joining The Sultan Group, Mr. Shalabi was part of the Corporate Banking group with National Bank of Kuwait a leading financial service provider in the region, and responsible for the credit operations of corporate clients.Mr. Shalabi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Certified Treasury Professional from The Association of Financial Professionals (AFP) and Pre-EMBA from London Business School.
Mr. Toni Ibrahim is the Chief Information Officer of the Sultan Group and joined the organization in 1999 and moved from ITG (a Sultan Division) IT director to CIO in 2016. Mr. Ibrahim has a combined experience of more than 29 years in Information Technology & Retail sectors managing IT departments of the Sultan Group. Prior to joining The Sultan Group, Mr. Ibrahim was part of MIS, a leading IT service provider in the region as the IT Manager. Mr. Ibrahim holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, a member of The Lebanese Orders of Engineers, a certified IT professional in many technology fields.
Mr. Hassan Ahmed is the Group Financial Controller of The Sultan Group and joined the organization in 2019. Mr. Ahmed brings over 15 years of diversified experience across the retail and audit sectors, overseeing the Group’s finance operations in Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, and Bahrain, and leading key functions including financial planning, treasury, and control to support strategic decision-making and sustainable growth. Prior to joining The Sultan Group, Mr. Ahmed was part of RSM International – Al Bazie & Co. in Kuwait, where he led advisory and audit engagements across multiple industries, providing clients with strategic guidance on financial performance improvement, risk management, and compliance. He also played a pivotal role in implementing global audit methodologies, strengthening reporting quality and governance standards. Mr. Ahmed holds a Master of Business Administration from The University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed by the Guam Board of Accountancy, United States.
Mr. Ayman Al Basha is the Group Commercial Director at Sultan. He is a seasoned retail professional with over 20 years of experience across the GCC, including Kuwait, Qatar, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He rejoined Sultan in January 2024, bringing with him a wealth of expertise in retail operations, commercial strategy, and category management. Mr. Al Basha originally joined Sultan in 2004, where he played an integral role across several key departments, contributing to the company’s growth in the region. Prior to rejoining Sultan, he spent three years leading the Electronics Division at Excite Al Ghaim, overseeing business operations in both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Al Basha is a graduate of the C&E American University Institute in Beirut. His extensive regional experience and deep industry knowledge continue to support Sultan’s strategic retail initiatives and operational excellence across its markets.
Mrs. Marianna Oneissi is the HR Director of Sultan Group and joined the organization in 2009 and was assigned the HR Director in April 2020. Mrs. Oneissi has a combined experience of more than 18 years in Human Resources, Business and Project Management, Corporate Governance, Strategic Planning, and Investments. Prior to joining The Sultan Group, Ms. Oneissi was part of the MIS team with Lebanon & Gulf Bank, one the leading banks in Lebanon. Mrs. Oneissi holds an MBA in Banking and Finance from Notre Dame University – Louaize (NDU) and a Bachelor of Science Degree in computer Science from the American University of Beirut (AUB).
Our business is driven and managed by a high standard of corporate leadership, business integrity and professionalism in all departments and business dealings. The TSC Group pioneered the adoption of a comprehensive corporate governance model prior to the introduction of regulations by the Capital Markets Authority.
We have set an efficient culture of business management for our group through a diverse representation across our board of directors, and through active board committees and mindful engagement and involvement of our associates.
Our board of directors comprises a blend of executive and non-executive positions, all of whom bring to the table a wide range of skills and experiences.
Mr. Abdullah Waleed Sultan Ben Essa serves as the chairman of The Sultan Center Group and is the Chief Executive Officer of Natureland, a leading regional brand specializing in natural and organic retail. With a background spanning both institutional finance and retail operations, Mr. Al-Essa combines financial discipline with strategic entrepreneurship to drive sustainable growth and operational excellence across the GCC. Mr. Al-Essa began his career at the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), where he focused on European equities and developed extensive expertise in investment analysis and portfolio strategy. In 2015, he joined Natureland to spearhead the company’s first international expansion into Saudi Arabia, later assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, Natureland has grown into a regional operation with a fully integrated distribution network and nearly 20 stores across Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Al-Essa also serves as Chairman of Majd Food Company and sits on the Boards of Sultan Real Estate Company and Massaleh Real Estate Company. His leadership reflects a strong focus on operational transformation, market expansion, and the creation of long-term enterprise value. Mr. Al-Essa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Business Economics from the University of San Diego, USA.
Mr. Essam Al-Rifai has occupied different positions across his 30 years of experience that extend into Legal Affairs, Public and Governmental Relations. These notable and prominent roles were serving the Free Trade Zone for over 10 years as General Manager of the Free Trade Zone under NREC and was one of the founding committee members of mediation for the Free Trade Zone where he established several commercial project frameworks during his tenure. He served in several government bodies that include the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Commerce. Mr. Al-Rifai was a board member of Agility, and a former Chairman and board member of Gulf Real Estate. Mr. Al Rifai holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Kuwait University and a Law license from the University of Alexandria, Egypt.
Mr. Tareq Sultan serves as a Board Member of The Sultan Center Group and is the Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Agility, one of the world’s leading providers of integrated logistics. Mr. Sultan’s experiences span over 30 years in managing a multitude of companies. Mr. Sultan has also previously served as advisor to the Singapore Economic Development Board, sat on Wharton’s International Advisory Council, and served as a member of the Board of Directors of Gulf Bank and Burgan Bank. Mr. Sultan is an active supporter of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and is a member of the WEF’s International Business Council, which brings together 120 business leaders to represent global business from all industries. He is also a Steward of the WEF’s Stewardship Board of the Platform on Shaping the Future of Mobility and a Governor of the World Economic Forum’s Supply Chain & Transport Industry Community. Most recently Mr. Sultan was named one of the Top 100 CEO in Forbes Middle East 2022. Mr. Sultan holds a Master of Business Administration from Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s Degree from William’s College, USA.
Mr. Fawzi Al-Essa holds an impressive portfolio of positions that span over 40 years in experience. The most notable positions Mr. Al-Essa has held over his career extend as the Managing Director of the Bank of Kuwait and the Middle East, (now Al Ahli United). Mr. Al-Essa was also Executive Director of the World Bank in Washington, and the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the General Secretary of the Development and Reform Committee led by the Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait. Mr. Al-Essa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the American University of Beirut and a Master’s in Finance and Global Management from Yale University, USA.
Mr. Ahmed Al-Arabi is a seasoned retail and hospitality executive with over 35 years of solid experience across retail, investments and real estate industries and a proven track record of successfully developing and growing organizations internationally. Mr. Al Arabi previously served as a CEO of Alshaya Group for more than a decade, played a key role in growing and diversifying its business portfolio and placed it amongst one of the leading international franchise groups. He also served till end of 2019 as a Board Member of several Real Estate companies, including Mabanee Co. SAK and Shumool Real Estate Co. in Saudi Arabia. Mr. Al-Arabi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from The University of Arkansas, USA.