MOHAMMED AFKHAMI
Mohammed is currently the Managing Partner of MA Partners DMCC, a Mideast based commodities derivatives consultancy and serves as an advisor to several of the largest global alternative investment firms on positioning their firms in the GCC region. In addition, Mohammed is senior Middle East Advisor to Mitsui Energy Risk Management, the energy derivatives arm of Mitsui Bussan Commodities, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., the world's largest trading company.
Mohammed Started his career in 1996 at O'Connor & Associates, a derivatives trading house, based in Chicago where he traded currency and commodity options on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He remained with O'Connor & Associates as it was acquired by Swiss Bank Corporation and subsequently merged within UBS Warburg. He held various positions within the currency and commodities risk management groups covering corporate, hedge funds and sovereign institutions. In 2000, Mohammed founded Silk Road Ventures, the first Turkey & Middle East focused technology incubator fund. In 2001, Mohammed joined Standard Chartered as MENA Regional Head of Energy derivatives where he served until 2005 and was on the founder's committee of the GCC Energy Fund, one of the first private equity funds focusing on the Gulf Region.
Mohammed obtained his Bachelors degree in Economics with a concentration in finance from the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania and has also pursued post graduate studies in near eastern politics at the University of London's School of Oriental and African studies. Mohammed is a founder member of the British Museum's Middle East and North African art acquisition committee.