Furqan Athar

Experience

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  KPMG

  Mar 1999 - Jun 2001

  Assurance and Advisory Services

  KPMG is one of the oldest business assurance firms in the world and one of the Big 5, having a wide range of clients in various sectors. It also provides Management Consultancy, Corporate Finance, and other Advisory services.My responsibilities as a Senior Auditor required me to be involved in various assignments such as:- Planning, execution and review in accordance with International Standards on Auditing.- Assessing the key risks facing the business and ensuring that adequate procedures have been implemented by the management to mitigate these risks. The audit work also included ensuring compliance to policies and procedures and recommending improvements.- Advising clients on accounting and related matters and providing them assistance in the preparation of financial statements in the light of International Accounting Standards & Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.- Performed detailed review of the operations and internal control systems and provide recommendations.- Financial Management and Corporate Finance assignments relating to Investigations, Liquidation and FraudDetection, Feasibility Studies, Business Plans & Budgets reviews.- The types of businesses I have audited include Hospitality, Oil & Gas, Media and Broadcasting , Printing & Publishing, Construction & Contracting , Trading, Ship and container repair , Real Estate, and Investments. Show less

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  Majid Al Futtaim

  Jan 2001 - Dec 2006

  General Manager

  A Leading Group of Companies in the Middle East (>US$ 300 million revenue, >US$ 1 billion net assets)Majid Al Futtaim is a conglomerate of numerous business divisions spanning the Gulf Region involved in Real Estate, Shopping Centres, Amusement, Security, Hoteliering, Cinemas, Facility Management, Investment and IT, including:Mall of the Emirates & Deira City Centre. Among the biggest and most popular shopping malls in the world spanning 1.5m sqft and 2 m sqft each, having footfalls of between 25-30 million and both have a sales psf of over $800.Also includes Hotel & Residence complexes (Accor and Kempinski), Cinemas (JV with Greater Union Australia Pte), Energy and Facility Management (JV with Vivendi-France).Joined the Group as Management Accountant (July to Dec 2001) reporting to the Finance Manager. I was responsible for the day to day reporting of the Head Office Finance Function.Promoted to Finance Manager, Budgeting & Planning (Jan 2002 to Dec 2003), reporting to the CFO and was responsible for the Management reporting & financial decision making of the businesses.Promoted to Finance Manager, MIS & Operations (Jan 2004 to July 2005). In addition to retaining my previous responsibilities, I was now also involved in the decision making processes of the Group.Promoted to Deputy General Manager Finance – Operations (August 2005 to July 2006). In addition to the previous responsibilities, this included the operations in Egypt, Muscat, Bahrain, Ski Dubai, and other operating assets. Show less

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  McARTHUR + COMPANY

  Jun 2006 - now

  Managing Director

  Business Summary:Managing Director @ Spret Retail : A business that Retails 7 Brands across 50+ Retail Locations.Partner/Director @ McARTHUR + COMPANY; Shopping Centre SpecialistsA diverse career that has spanned over 25 years with several blue chip org like PWC, KPMG, MAF Group, Al Futtaim Group, Furqan is an FCA and an FCMA (UK). He has had a long assoc with the growing retail and real estate scenario in developing economies, spanning across industry segments like retail, residential, commercial, hospitality, infrastructure, master planned cities as well as IT. 1.Retail leasing, Shopping centers and Mall management: Having worked with the MAF group, Furqan has been closely involved with successful projects like Deira City Center, Mall of Emirates & Dubai Festival City, just to name a few. 2.Res & Comm – Strategic and on-ground involvement in commercial projects of over four million sq.ft. and several residential projects.3.Hospitality – Being responsible for the owner’s perspective and interest in prestigious hotel projects such as Kempinski, Sofitel, Hyatt Regency, Marriott, Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza and Four seasons.4.Infrastructure – Instrumental in helping set up one of the biggest privately owned and managed township with live operations worth AED 4 billion.5.Assessing financial feasibilities – He has spent 15 years in Finance & Investment divisions in various senior roles. He was also an Investment Consultant for Ivanhoe Cambridge (a Shopping Centre Investment company). He has extensive experience in handling all the above portfolios from Green field investment planning to divestment and exit strategies.Furqan now owns and runs his own Shopping Centre Consultancy and Retail business for over a decade. Show less

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  DFC

  Jul 2006 - Dec 2010

  Dep Managing Director

  A diverse career that has spanned nearly 20 years with several blue chip org like PWC, KPMG, MAF Group, Al Futtaim Group, Furqan is an FCA and an FCMA (UK). He has had a long assoc with the growing retail and real estate scenario in developing countires, spanning across industry segments like retail, residential, commercial, hospitality, infrastructure, master planned cities as well as IT. He has also been a consultant to various multinational companies. Furqan loves to share the wealth of knowledge he has acquired over the years with young minds as a lecturer at the JTR School of Education, a part of the ICSC.Furqan’s expertise lie in the following:1.Retail leasing, Shopping centers and Mall management: Having worked with Developers, Furqan has been closely involved with successful projects like Diera City Center, Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Festival City, just to name a few. 2.Residential & Commercial – Strategic and on-ground involvement in commercial projects of over four million sq. ft. and several residential community projects.3.Hospitality – Being responsible for the owner’s perspective and interest in prestigious hotel projects such as Kempinski, Sofitel, Hyatt Regency, Marriott, Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza and Four seasons.4.Infrastructure – Instrumental in helping set up one of the biggest privately owned and managed township with live operations worth AED 4 billion.5.Assessing fin feasibilities – He has spent 15 years in Finance & Investment divisions in various senior roles. He was also an Investment Consultant for Ivanhoe Cambridge. He has extensive experience in handling all the above portfolios from Green field investment planning to divestment and exit strategies.Since 2006, Furqan has ventured on his own and set up Retail Solutions, a group of companies which is Retail centric and focuses on Consulting, Retail, Trading, Design & Fabrication, Media & Marketing as well as Education Show less

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  ZOIME

  Jun 2023 - now

  Founder & CEO

  Business Summary:Founder & CEO @ ZOIME: An upcoming longevity clinic with a data-driven, informed, monitored and measured approach to health, leveraging the latest technology & AI. ZOIME will encompass everything from diagnostics to lifestyle coaching, sleep, nutrition, fitness and stem cell therapies whilst targeting the gut, skin, genes and brain (to name a few) - covering all aspects of physical and mental health.A diverse career that has spanned over 25 years with several blue chip org like PWC, KPMG, MAF Group, Al Futtaim Group, Furqan is an FCA and an FCMA (UK). forward-thinking leader and entrepreneur committed to redefining the landscape of health and wellness. With a keen eye for opportunities, Furqan discovered his passion for longevity and well-being, igniting a transformative journey that led him to invest in the groundbreaking project of ZOIME.Fueled with a desire to make a lasting impact on people's lives, Furqan is the driving force behind ZOIME. His leadership philosophy revolves around collaboration, innovation, and a dedication to setting new standards in the industry.As he guides the centre through its developmental stages, his vision for holistic well-being takes centre stage. His commitment to excellence and his hands-on approach ensure that the centre is positioned as a trailblazer in the evolving landscape of wellness. Show less