Laith Dajani, ACA

(MANAGING PARTNER)

Laith is a fully qualified chartered accountant with over 14 years’ experience working in financial consultancy. He started his career with Zolfo Cooper in the UK where he worked for 7 years in a corporate restructuring role. Following his time at Zolfo Cooper, Laith relocated to Qatar as a Director in Ernst & Young’s (“EY”) transactions team. Having successfully led EY’s transactions team for over 5 years, Laith established Qatar’s first boutique corporate finance consultancy company – Consulting HAUS. Over his career, Laith has led a large number of detailed business reviews, investment appraisals (through the development of financial feasibility studies), synergistic analysis assessments and formal business valuations in a variety of sectors including banking, construction, retail and manufacturing.

Key skills: M&A, valuations, business plans, feasibility studies, investment appraisal, market assessments & restructuring

Seif Hourani, M.A

( PARTNER)

Seif joins Consulting HAUS with almost 20 years of experience with his most recent position being a Director at Ernst & Young (EY) where he was responsible for leading the Strategy and Transactions service line for the Qatar, Kuwait and Oman markets. Prior to his time at EY, Seif was a Senior Director with Alpen Capital Investment Bank (Qatar and UAE) where he was responsible for co-leading the M&A and advisory practice. Throughout his career, Seif delivered a number of large strategy projects including assisting a regional regulator in enhancing competitiveness of locally manufactured products, reviewing SME development strategies for a European SME development bank and benchmarking SME products and services for a regional SME development bank. Seif has also worked on a number of valuation and market and financial feasibility studies in the region across various sectors such as construction, manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture and hospitality. Furthermore, he was involved in various regional M&A transactions, including sell-side advisory of a packaging company, electronics retailer, financial and non-banking financial institutions. Seif holds a BA in Finance and a Masters (Hons) in International Economics and Finance from University of Toulouse, France.

Skills: M&A, strategy development, valuations, business plans, feasibility studies, portfolio optimization, market assessments & restructuring

Abdulrahman Totonji

( PARTNER)

Abdulrahman Totonji began his career in real estate development in the US, mastering property development and project finance. He oversaw numerous transactions across the country and used his extensive GCC network to raise capital for projects. In 2014, Abdulrahman relocated to Qatar, establishing several private businesses, including a specialized contracting company. He was also entrusted by leading Qatari business groups to identify global investments, manage existing ones, and raise capital. Abdulrahman managed a multibillion-riyal investment portfolio for six years and served as CEO of a listed investment bank in Qatar for three years, where he restructured and turned around the bank's performance. He then joined Consulting HAUS as our deal leader, uniquely positioned to support clients in cross-border transactions, capital raising, and transaction support.

Kushagra Poddar

( PARTNER)

Kushagra joined Consulting HAUS LLC from Bain & Company (BCN) where he held a senior position in the Private Equity Growth advisory group. Kushagra has over 15 years of consulting experience across strategy, corporate finance, deals, and capital markets. He has worked for over a decade in the GCC with EY and D&B, serving both public and private sector clients across education, healthcare, industrials, and manufacturing. At EY, Kushagra was a part of the Strategy & Transactions team focused on delivering strategic market research, feasibility study & business plan development, and valuation services to clients across Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. At D&B, Kushagra was an Engagement Leader in the Research & Advisory vertical. He joined D&B in Bahrain in 2010 and was responsible for establishing the D&B Qatar office in 2014.
He has also worked as an Investment Manager for a leading Private family office in Qatar, where he managed a sizable multi-asset portfolio, including alternative investments.
Kushagra is an expert in SME advisory and has worked extensively with public sector entities, focusing on SME Development and Private Sector support in the region.
Kushagra holds an MBA in Finance from SP Jain School of Global Management (Dubai/Singapore). He is also a CAIA (USA) Charter Holder and CFA from ICFAI India.

Ashish Mishra

(DIRECTOR)

Ashish has close to 17 years of rich experience in management consulting, research, and advisory across the global markets, including the US, Europe, and the MENA region. Before becoming a Director at Consulting HAUS, Ashish spent ten years at Sutherland Global Services and played an instrumental role in building and developing their business research and consulting practice.

Ashish has worked on several significant implementation projects and advised various clients on setting up businesses, optimizing their operations, and assessing diversification strategies across industry segments, including BFSI, infrastructure, healthcare, retail, consumer products, chemical, education, telecom, F&B, steel, construction, mining, and industrials. His specialties include business advisory, corporate strategy, market research & analytics, digital future casting, opportunity assessment, commercial due diligence, and feasibility studies.

Ashish has an MBA in International Business from the Institute of Management Studies, Ghaziabad, India, and a science degree specializing in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from Awadh University of Ayodhya, India.

Gurpreet Singh

(DIRECTOR)

Gurpreet is a seasoned financial advisory professional with over 14 years of experience across strategy, business valuation, intangible asset valuation, private equity, and feasibility studies. A CPA charter holder accredited by AICPA (USA), he also holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Delhi and an Advanced Diploma in Management from ICFAI University.
His career spans global consulting firms, including EY and Deloitte, where he led advisory mandates for clients in sectors such as FMCG, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and technology. He has contributed to high-value transactions and strategic initiatives totaling several billion dollars across MENA, South Asia, and international markets.

Gurpreet is recognized for blending technical rigor with industry context to deliver commercially relevant insights for mergers and acquisitions, investment evaluations, and regulatory matters. His strong grounding in both global standards and regional market dynamics adds significant value to clients navigating complex strategic decisions.

Deepanshu Agrawal

( SENIOR MANAGER)

Deepanshu Agrawal is a seasoned Strategy and Management professional with over 14 years of distinguished, cross-functional experience across the EMEA and APAC region. He brings a powerful blend of strategic vision and financial acumen, holding an MBA in Finance and an M.Com. Deepanshu is recognized for his expertise in advising C-suite executives and board members through complex strategic decisions, driving operational excellence, and delivering measurable, high-impact business outcomes. Before joining Consulting HAUS, Deepanshu held pivotal roles at leading global organizations, driving strategy and financial excellence. His recent experience was with Qatar’s leading retailer Al Meera Consumer Goods, where he led strategic business planning and multi-million-dollar strategic government projects, advised key executive on various investments, drove cost optimization initiatives, performance management, market research and competition analysis. As a Management Consultant at KPMG, he developed future-ready operating models and digital transformation strategies for financial services clients. During his tenure at HSBC, he revolutionized financial planning by implementing advanced Tableau dashboards and achieving significant efficiency gains through transformation, while at BlackRock, he provided crucial data-driven insights and sales forecasting to C-level executives for the EMEA region. His foundational experience at Tesco honed his skills in performance analysis, budgeting, and establishing robust FP&A processes across international markets.

Melvin Mathew

( MANAGER)

Melvin has over 12 years of diversified experience in multiple industries in Qatar, including Information Technology, Construction, and Consulting. His areas of expertise include Financial Modeling, Business Modeling, Financial Analysis, Business Valuation, and Market Assessment. He evaluates the business ideas and assesses the viability of the project idea, and provides recommendations to the entrepreneurs. He also conducts strategic audits for SME clients and supports them in enhancing their business capabilities to be competitive in the market.

Melvin holds a Bachelor Degree in Engineering, a Master’s degree in International Business and Management with a specialization in Entrepreneurship from the School of Management- Bradford University, UK.

Prior to joining Consulting HAUS, he worked with Morison Menon Chartered Accountants and Partners, where he was responsible for growing the business and managing and executing various services such as feasibility studies, business plans, investment appraisals, financial modeling, due diligence, business valuations, strategy development, and strategy audit.

Over his career, he has conducted multiple feasibility studies in various sectors for both entrepreneurs and banks, completed business valuations in multiple sectors, including IT, finance, construction, trading, etc., and supported clients in preparing detailed market assessments. He has also provided strategic audits for a range of clients and supports enhancing their business capabilities to be competitive in the market.

Key skills: Business valuations, Business modelling, Investment Appraisals, Due diligence, Business Transformations, Strategy development and Compliance Audit

Nabih Jaroudy

( MANAGER)

Nabih is a MSc graduate from the University of Newcastle in the U.K. in International Economics and Finance. Prior to pursuing the graduate degree, Nabih has a BBA in Accounting and Finance and started his career working as a receivables officer in Intercontinental Group Phoenicia hotel, one of the leading hotels in Beirut, Lebanon. Following that endeavor, Nabih relocated to Qatar and spent two year with The Commercial Bank of Qatar (“CBQ”), where he undertook the role of relationship officer helping individual and corporate clients with their banking need as well as enlarging CBQ’s portfolio of clients and companies.

During his MSc, Nabih gained knowledge about the international economics and the financial markets’ dynamics. In fact, his thesis entitled: “Brexit’s Take on Market Efficiency” awarded him a Merit and it tackled the effects that the announcement of Brexit, and subsequently the results, had on the efficiency of the FTSE100. Doing so required Nabih to analyze and model the bid-ask spread from the 100 most valuable companies in the U.K. and using the results in a regression with market liquidity and volatility to determine and compare the effects of each in 3 different time frames: before the announcement of Brexit (efficient conditions), after the announcement until the referendum results, and after the referendum results.

Key skills: Economic and financial modeling and analysis, portfolio management, equity market research, econometrics, relationship and communication, fluency in 3 languages: French, English, and Arabic.

Sreejith T, MA

( ASSISTANT MANAGER)

Sreejith has more than 6 years of experience in specialized financial modelling and valuations.

Sreejith holds a bachelor degree in commerce and a masters degree in business administration with specilization in finance and marketing.

Prior joining to Consulting HAUS, Sreejith worked with Macquarie where he was responsible for quarterly valuation of Macquarie assets. Prior to that he worked with KPMG and EY for almost 6 years where he was responsible for building financial models, review of financial models, project management and research. Over his career, he has built multiple financial models for feasibility studies, project finance and valuations.

Racem Mallek, ACCA

(ASSISTANT MANAGER)

Racem is a financial advisory professional specializing in financial due diligence, corporate valuation, and transaction support, with over four years of experience across M&A, feasibility assessments, and investment appraisal. He is an ACCA member and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting and Finance.

Before joining Consulting HAUS, Racem was part of the Transactions and Corporate Finance team at EY Tunisia, where he supported cross-border M&A deals and strategic engagements spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. His exposure to diverse regulatory environments and investment contexts has equipped him with a robust understanding of financial dynamics in emerging and frontier markets.

Racem’s early grounding in audit and financial reporting has contributed to his analytical precision and attention to financial integrity. He brings a data-driven, detail-oriented approach to every engagement, helping clients navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence.

Mohammed Abughali, CFA

(ASSISTANT MANAGER)

Mohammed is a research and investment professional with strong experience in financial analysis, market research, and data-driven decision support within financial and development institutions. Before joining Consulting HAUS, he worked at the Qatar Development Bank (QDB), where he conducted in-depth economic and sector research, supported investor initiatives, and analytical reports for senior management.

He brings a blend of technical expertise and strategic insight, combining financial and economic analysis with operational reporting and stakeholder coordination. Mohammed also contributed to international reports such as the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and Startup Genome, helping enhance Qatar’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. A CFA Charterholder with a Master’s in Development Economics, Mohammed’s areas of expertise include financial modelling, market research, and economic policy analysis. He is passionate about transforming complex data into actionable insights that drive impactful business and policy decisions.

Uhood Ismail

(ASSISTANT MANAGER)

Uhood is a ASSISTANT MANAGER with a proven track record of delivering tailored financial and strategic solutions across diverse industries. With a Bachelor of Commerce in Accountancy from the University of Wollongong in Australia, she combines a strong academic foundation with practical expertise to drive impactful results for her clients.

Her career began at Ernst & Young Qatar, where she worked as an external auditor, gaining invaluable experience in analyzing financial data and transactions to identify irregularities, preparing financial statements in line with IFRS guidelines, and collaborating with senior staff to achieve audit objectives. This role sharpened her attention to detail and time management skills as she efficiently supported multiple concurrent assignments.
At Consulting HAUS, Uhood has expanded her expertise to include financial modeling, market analysis, and feasibility studies. She has played a key role in successful mergers and acquisitions, capital market listings, and strategic planning. Her work also includes conducting due diligence, business valuations, sourcing capital for projects, and evaluating investment opportunities. Uhood is passionate about empowering businesses through precise financial analysis, innovative problem-solving, and strategic foresight.

Key skills: Strategic financial planning, advanced financial modeling, business valuations, market analysis, feasibility studies, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, investment analysis, and financial reporting.

Melissa Wakim, MS

(ASSISTANT MANAGER)

Melissa Wakim holds a Master’s in Finance from the American University of Beirut. She also holds a Bachelor’s in Banking and Finance from the University of Balamand, where she graduated on the Dean’s Honors List. She joined Consulting HAUS, where she applies her skills in financial analysis, market research, and investment appraisal.

Prior to joining Consulting HAUS, Melissa was a Financial Analyst at Melanion Capital, an independent investment management company. In this role, she specialized in analyzing financial statements and earnings reports to assess company health and performed valuations of derivatives. She processed fund transactions, managed trade settlements, and ensured accuracy in subscription and redemption workflows. Melissa also played a key role in liquidity management and collaborated with fund administrators to establish a new fund for the company. Her experience at Melanion sharpened her technical skills and her ability to support strategic trading decisions through data integrity and post-trade analysis.

Key Skills: Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Investment Analysis, Market Research, Fund Administration, Trade Lifecycle Management, Subscription and Redemption Processing

Sakshi Poddar, BBA Finance

( Consultant)

Sakshi Poddar holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, India. She is a master Neuro Linguistic Practioner, using her skills to draw conclusions between language, behavior and results. She is currently enhancing her skills in economic decision-making, financial modelling, and AI, recognizing their pivotal role in effective strategic planning and execution, through Wharton, University of Pennsylvania. Prior to her current endeavors, Sakshi interned at Goldman Sachs as an Operations Analyst. She is also an author and has published biographical collective of professionals from various fields.

Key Skills: NLP, Financial Markets and Portfolio Management

Nour Salem

( ANALYST)

Nour Salem holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Finance from Queen Mary University of London. She has passed CFA Level I and completed the CFA Institute’s Practical Skills Module in Financial Modelling, equipping her with a solid foundation in investment analysis and corporate valuation. Nour is currently expanding her expertise in economic analysis and corporate finance, with a growing interest in strategy and risk consulting. Prior to joining Consulting Haus full-time, Nour interned with the firm’s Qatar office, where she played a key role in supporting client engagements through robust financial modelling, in-depth market research, and the development of scalable, data-driven strategies. She also gained audit experience through an internship with PwC Qatar, where she conducted credit reviews for major financial institutions and contributed to audit processes by interpreting financial statements and assessing client risk profiles. In parallel with her academic studies, Nour served as a research assistant in a cross-university project with Queen Mary and Oxford University, examining the gender gap in financial literacy through econometric modelling and survey-based analysis. She also held a financial analyst position, gaining hands-on experience with Bloomberg Terminal and equity analysis.

Wadih Canaan

( PARTNER)

Wadih joins Consulting HAUS with almost 30 years of experience, his most recent position being a Director at Deloitte Riyadh, where he was responsible for leading the Investment & Performance service line for the GCC, with a special focus on KSA. In his more than 5 years at Deloitte, Wadih led numerous projects in Corporate Governance, Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, Investment Lifecycle Process Analysis, Investment Target Operating Models, Internal Audits, and General Risk Advisory.

Wadih also acted as a senior Investment Subject Matter Specialist. Before Deloitte, Wadih worked for nearly 25 years in London, mostly at global Investment Banks and Wealth Management firms, most notably Citigroup and Credit Suisse. In London, Wadih also worked in wealth management covering the Middle East and real estate in London. Wadih holds a BA in Economics (Hons) from Harvard University.

Skills: Investment Management, Wealth Management, Corporate Governance, Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, Portfolio Optimization, Target Operating Models, Investment Lifecycle Processes.

Jessica Pandya, ACA, MBA

( Associate Partner)

Jessica joins Consulting HAUS with 12+ years’ experience in consulting and business advisory. She leads our Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) services, and Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) advisory services, as part of overall GRC. Jessica was a part of Ernst & Young’s (Mumbai, India) risk advisory services of the healthcare and life sciences sector where she led critical engagements with leading listed companies. Later she moved to Doha, Qatar to join Protiviti’s internal audit and financial advisory services, to support on multi-faceted projects within diverse sectors.

Jessica has a unique blend of industry and advisory experience, whereby she has seamlessly managed multiple projects within corporate governance, risk management, compliance management, IPO/listing readiness assessment, and ESG advisory, delivering tangible outcomes in complex operating set-ups, with customized solutions catering to the client priorities. Her sector exposure encompasses Banks and Financial Institutions, Healthcare and Life sciences, Pharmaceuticals, Real Estate, Hospitality, E-Commerce, Retail and FMCG, Diversified Conglomerates, Technology Solutions and Telecoms.

Jessica is a qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA) from ICAI and Management Graduate with specialization in Finance and Human Resources from leading B-schools in India.

Expertise : Corporate governance, enterprise risk management, compliance management, internal audits, business / management consulting

George Abraham

( Associate Partner)

George is a Chartered Accountant with 19 years of post-qualification experience and he is also a qualified Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) from ISACA, USA. During his 19-year career, George spent 15 years at EY and 4 years at Deloitte. Throughout his career, George has led a wide range of projects, including internal control over financial reporting, policy and procedure development, corporate governance, organizational realignment, carve-outs, as well as internal and external audits for clients in diverse sectors such as Oil & Gas, Banking, Real Estate, Agriculture, and Manufacturing.

Imed Benlaharche

( MANAGER)

Imed is a finance and audit professional with over 14 years of experience in internal audits, advisory, and consulting, having delivered projects for top organizations across Qatar and the GCC. He holds a Master's degree in Consulting and Business Diagnosis from the University of Grenoble Alpes (France) and a Bachelor's in Finance and Budget (Algeria), along with a certification in Sustainability Effectiveness.

Imed has led internal audit functions for prominent companies in diverse sectors, including water and wastewater management, cement manufacturing, and airport operations, where he served as a trusted advisor to Boards, Audit Committees, and senior management. He has also contributed to an IT governance transformation for a multinational automotive company in France and executed strategy consulting projects involving financial analysis and modeling for companies in Algeria.

At CH, Imed oversees audit and risk management activities for leading firms in FMCG, IT services, hospitality, and logistics, managing annual internal audit plans, risk monitoring, and reporting to senior management and the Board.

Skills: Internal audit, corporate governance, risk management compliance, review and development of policies and procedures, Fluency in English, Arabic and French.

Appu Philiph, CA

( SENIOR CONSULTANT)

Appu is a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 5 years of experience in assurance and internal audits. He specializes in IFRS compliance, internal controls, and financial statement preparation. Appu has successfully implemented internal control frameworks and helped develop governance structures for several regional organizations. He has worked with clients across diverse industries, including FMCG, hypermarkets, food, warehousing, real estate, and IT, offering strategic financial analysis and recommendations. His meticulous approach to statutory audits and internal controls has ensured strong financial reporting and regulatory compliance.

At CH, Appu has played a key role in implementing enterprise risk management frameworks, contributing to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) research, and conducting internal audits for various clients. He is also experienced in leading reviews of financial reporting controls and has a solid understanding of regulatory compliance, ensuring accurate and ethical financial reporting.

Skills: Statutory Audit, Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Management Audit, Financial Analysis, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Compliance.

Izazali Paramban, ACCA, AAT

( Consultant)

Izazali is a qualified ACCA with over 4 years of experience in assurance and internal audits. He is also a certified member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (UK) and has completed his internship in audit and assurance at EY Qatar. Additionally, he has worked as an associate at Forvis Mazars Qatar.
Izaz has played a key role in implementing IFRS 16, IFRS 15, and IFRS 9 for leading organizations, facilitating efficient financial reporting in complex business environments. He has also assisted clients with internal controls over financial reporting and improving accounting processes, ensuring ethical practices and regulatory compliance.
At CH, Izaz supports the execution of internal audits, enterprise risk management, and internal controls, while identifying opportunities for improvement to strengthen controls and ensure compliance with local laws and regulations.

Skills: International financial reporting standards (IFRS), statutory audits, internal controls over financial reporting, internal audits, risk management, local taxation laws.

Muhammed Sahal, ACCA, AAT

( Consultant)

Muhammed Sahal is a qualified ACCA with over 3 years of professional experience in assurance and internal audits. He is an active member of the Institute of Public Accountants (Australia) and the Institute of Financial Accountants (UK). Muhammed completed his internship in audit and assurance at Forvis Mazars Qatar and later worked as an associate at both Forvis Mazars Qatar and Russell Bedford Qatar.
Muhammed has contributed to the successful implementation of IFRS 9 and IFRS 16 for leading organizations, improving financial reporting in complex business environments. He has also performed Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUPs) for prominent companies in Qatar, conducting specific tests to ensure a strong compliance framework aligned with local laws and regulations.
At CH, Muhammed supports the development of internal audit, enterprise risk management, and compliance management frameworks, while identifying opportunities for improvement and enhancing the control environment.

Skills: International financial reporting standards (IFRS), statutory audits, performing Agreed upon procedures (AUPs), internal controls over financial reporting, internal audits, risk management, local taxation laws.

Mohammad Basil, CPA

( Consultant)

Mohammed Basil is a qualified Certified Public Accountant (CPA-USA) with over 4 years of professional experience in audit and assurance, specializing in internal audits, financial analysis, and compliance. His areas of expertise include International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), financial reporting, internal controls over financial reporting, local taxation laws, and risk management. Mohammed has a strong track record of delivering audit solutions across various sectors, ensuring compliance with global accounting standards and enhancing internal control frameworks. Prior to CH, Basil was part of EY Qatar’s audit team, where he conducted audits for multiple medium-to-large enterprises, including listed entities. In addition to his audit responsibilities, he actively participated in risk assessments and the development of audit plans, performing detailed financial analyses, and supporting financial statement preparation in accordance with IFRS and local tax regulations. Basil has also been instrumental in assisting clients with the implementation of policies and related controls to enhance governance.

Key skills include Internal audit, External audit, Internal Controls over Financial Reporting, Financial Analysis, Risk Management, Regulatory compliance and Qatar Taxation Laws.

Farah Bashiti

( Quality & Compliance Officer)

Mrs. Farah Bashiti is a senior consultant translator with 7+ years of experience in translation and proofreading at the Big Four (PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Ernst & Young (EY)), specializing in financial, legal, and tax document translation. Proficient in SDL Trados and Cleverso, with a track record of delivering accurate translations under tight deadlines. Passionate about teamwork, mentoring junior colleagues, and optimizing processes for efficiency.
Her career began at PwC Jordan as a Translator, where she specialized in translating financial statements and legal contracts using SDL Trados. Her role required close collaboration with auditors to ensure full compliance with client-specific terminology and reporting standards. She also reviewed translated technical documents to verify terminology accuracy, proper formatting, and adherence to client requirements.
After transitioning to EY, Mrs. Farah took on broader responsibilities that involved translating high-stakes tax documents and conducting meticulous reviews of team deliverables to ensure accuracy and consistency. In this role, she mentored more than three junior translators, enhancing overall team efficiency through structured training and continuous guidance. Farah became known for consistently meeting tight deadlines without compromising quality. Additionally, she ensured strict adherence to confidentiality requirements and rigorous quality control standards. Her role further included supporting the development of language guidelines, glossaries, and best practices across the organization.