Tarek Sakka

CEO & Co-Founder

RESPONSIBILTIES: Tarek spends his time equally between business development and investment. He sits on all investment committees and chairs the executive committee.

BACKGROUND: Tarek Sakka has been investing in MENA since 1999, and internationally since 1995. Prior to founding Ajeej, Tarek was Group Vice President at The Olayan Group, responsible for the group’s multi-billion dollar portfolio of private investments across MENA. Earlier in his career, Tarek was head of private equity at the National Commercial Bank (now SNB), a manager in infrastructure development with ENRON Capital in Houston, and worked with Texaco in Delaware as a control engineer.

Tarek completed his MBA from Harvard Business School and his B.S. with Honors in Electrical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals.

Throughout his career, Tarek has been an active member of several boards throughout the region:

  • Saudi Hollandi Bank (a JV with ABN Amro)

  • Saudi Swiss Securities, (a JV with Credit Suisse)

  • Oasis Capital (a private equity firm with Najuib Sawiris and Majid Al Futaim and Olayan)

  • Al Farabi Investments (a Kuwaiti investment company) 

  • Suma Bay (an Egyptian real estate company)

  • MESC (Middle East Specialized Cables)

  • SEDCO Capital (a leading Saudi Investment Company)

  • Americana Group (MENA’s leading restuarant and food company)

  • Morgan Stanley Saudi Equity Fund

IN HIS SPARE TIME: Tarek has been a passionate photographer his whole life, receiving his first Polaroid as a young boy and never looking back. He appreciates how photography helps him look at matters from different perspectives. First and foremost, however, he enjoys capturing beautiful moments with his wife and three daughters.

Tarek is also one with nature, and you will often find him in the desert on horseback, sailing at sea, or skiing and hiking in the mountains. The combination of these pastimes means he also has an unhealthy obsession with backpacks.

QUOTE: “Man maintains his balance, poise, and sense of security only as he is moving forward.” - Maxwell Maltz