ABOUT US
Focused, dedicated and committed to supporting our clients achieve their objectives
We provide independent advice to a variety of clients across the regions in which we operate. Whether you are seeking to expand organically or via a strategic acquisition, realize value through the sale of a business, a subsidiary, list on the stock exchange or require support with establishing or enhancing the governance framework of your business, the Consulting HAUS team is here to help.
Our team has extensive experience, global reach, cross-functional capabilities and combination of client service and middle market focus. We support a range of clients from across the globe including corporates, private equity, financial investors and governments to private companies, family-owned businesses, and entrepreneurs, with a view to realize strategic objectives and shape your future vision.
We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality services to businesses and their owners to support them in increasing and creating value. The team has a wealth of experience working alongside companies and entrepreneurs alike to create and execute various strategic initiatives to help ensure that future targets are met. We view ourselves as your partners, rather than service providers, and are here to support you throughout the business life-cycle.
OUR TEAM
Team Snapshot
corporate finance
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, CAIA, MBA
(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 15 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 Faizabad, India.
Sami Alsaleh
(SENIOR MANAGER)
Sami joined Consulting HAUS LLC from Deloitte Saudi Arabia, bringing over 12 years of advisory experience in M&A, corporate finance, deals, and capital markets. He has worked extensively in Saudi Arabia, advising both public and private sector clients across industries such as insurance, cement, industrials, and capital markets. At Deloitte, Sami was part of the M&A Transaction Services team, specializing in financial due diligence, IPO readiness, and capital increase strategies for clients in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
Sami also has experience as an Investment Manager for a prominent private family office in Saudi Arabia, where he managed a diverse multi-asset portfolio, including alternative investments.
With a strong focus on transaction advisory, Sami has worked closely with both private and public sector organizations. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and is a US CPA.
Skills: Financial due diligence, valuation, investment appraisal, feasibility assessment, M&A, Capital Markets Advisory
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
(ASSISTANT 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.
Uhood Ismail
(FINANCIAL ANALYST)
Uhood holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accountancy from the University of Wollongong in Australia. She is currently pursuing her ACCA professional qualification, with 4 papers remaining. Prior to joining Consulting HAUS, Uhood spent 15 months in Ernst & Young Qatar’s audit and assurance team. She has assisted in auditing entities across various sectors including financial services, automotive, real estate and hospitality.
During her audit experience, Uhood furthered her knowledge of accounting fundamentals including testing of internal controls to determine whether they are sufficient to avoid material misstatements. Since joining Consulting HAUS, Uhood has worked on multiple feasibility studies and business plans that required rigorous market research, in depth benchmarking and detailed financial analysis for various industries.
Key skills: Accounting, Business valuations, Business modelling and Investment Appraisals
Melissa Wakim
(SENIOR CONSULTANT)
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
(ANALYST)
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
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Jessica Pandya
(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
Nasser Barghouthi
(MANAGER)
Nasser joins Consulting HAUS with 8+ years’ experience in consulting and business advisory, to support our Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) services, and Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) advisory services, as part of overall GRC. Prior to joining CH, Nasser was a part of Deloitte and Ernst & Young’s risk advisory services where he has worked on several projects in diverse geographies of Jordan, UAE and KSA. Nasser has led many critical engagements consisting of internal audit reviews, risk assessment, designing risk framework, compliance reviews, corporate governance, quality assurance reviews and development of policies and procedures for multiple processes. His sector exposure comprises of Banks and Financial Institutions, E-Commerce, Retail and FMCG, Diversified Conglomerates, Technology Solutions, and Manufacturing and Production.
Nasser holds a MSc with specialization in Finance and BA in business administration.
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
(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.
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.
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.
Mohammad Basil
(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.
Mohammed Mufeed
(Senior Consultant)
Mufeed joins Consulting HAUS with 5+ years’ experience in consulting and business advisory, to support our Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) services. Prior to joining Consulting HAUS, Mufeed was a part of a leading audit firm in Doha, Qatar, where he supported on audit and advisory engagements. He has successfully executed multiple projects in various sectors serving large corporates and SMEs. Mufeed has also led the treasury team of a leading group in Doha, Qatar, with focus on improving the financial controls and overall process efficiency. His sector exposure comprises Technology Solutions, Retail and FMCG, Real Estate and Financial Services.
Mufeed holds a BSc with honors in applied accounting and is currently pursuing ACCA.
Expertise : Financial analysis, internal audits, risk management and financial reporting
Amna Hannachi
(Consultant)
Amna joins Consulting HAUS with 3+ years’ experience in consulting and business advisory, to support our Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) services. Prior to joining Consulting HAUS, Amna was a part of a leading consulting firm in Doha, Qatar, where she supported on governance, compliance and advisory engagements. She has supported clients in enhancing their internal control framework, assessing gaps within their governance structures and remediation where the entity is subject to legal and/or regulatory requirements. She has assisted on multiple projects encompassing ESG, ERM, and BCM, where she was involved from project initiation to closure. Her sector exposure comprises of Retail and FMCG, Research and Development, Manufacturing and Financial Services.
Anma is qualified Management Graduate from the American Business School of Paris.
Expertise : corporate governance, risk management, internal audits, compliance management, ESG
Gayatri Singh
(CONSULTANT)
Gayatri joins Consulting HAUS with 2+ years’ experience in consulting and business advisory, to support our Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) services. Prior to joining Consulting HAUS, Gayatri was a part of a leading consulting firm in Mumbai, India, where she supported on internal audit engagements. She has supported with assessment of investments risk, credit risk and treasury management for leading financial institutions. She has also assisted on projects with focus on enhancing the client’s internal controls and ensuring ongoing regulatory compliance. Her sector exposure comprises of Retail and FMCG, E-Commerce, Banking and Financial Institutions.
Gayatri is a qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA) from ICAI and is currently pursuing her PhD in Economics.
Expertise : risk management, internal audits, compliance management
