LEADERSHIP STRATEGY
From fighter pilot to fashion house financier , Mohammed Alardhi has followed a path less travelled to becoming Executive Chairman of US $ 50 billion global investor Investcorp .
Once the youngest and longest serving Commander of Oman ’ s Royal Air Force with zero experience of running a hedge fund or private equity firm , Alardhi has propelled Bahrain-headquartered Investcorp from a US $ 10 billion alternative asset management firm to one looking towards US $ 100 billion .
Now he is sharing the secrets of his success via new book Connecting To The Future where he combines business chops from a Master ’ s at Harvard with what he calls ‘ cockpit culture ’.
“ The popular assumption is that both flying and investing satisfy an appetite for risk . I don ’ t think that ’ s quite right ,” says Alardhi . “ I think they require fortitude in the face of risk . The secret to survival and success is acknowledging the full range of risks and calculating how to mitigate them long before you push the throttle forward or sign off on an action plan .
“ And then there ’ s the excitement , the sense of accomplishment and , yes , the wonder , whether I ’ m in a cockpit or ‘ flying a desk ’ at Investcorp .”
Alardhi retired after 25 years in the Royal Air Force of Oman with the rank of Air Vice
Marshal , and was awarded the Order of Oman – the country ’ s highest honour – by the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al-Said .
Taking the helm of a struggling Investcorp , with a portfolio including luxury brands such as Tiffany and Gucci could not have been further from that military world .
However , Alardhi used his leadership experience to transform Investcorp from a US $ 10 billion assets under management business to beyond US $ 25 billion within just two years .
Founded in Bahrain in 1982 as a pioneer in private equity , acting as a bridge between the Gulf and the rest of the world , Investcorp has grown to be a global investment manager , with 14 offices worldwide , from the US to UAE , India to China , and managing U $ 50 billion in assets .
Investcorp specialises in alternative investments across private equity , real estate , credit , absolute return strategies , GP stakes , infrastructure , and insurance asset management .
“ We ’ re no longer the boutique investment firm we were when I became Executive
STAGNATION SPAWN SILOS , AND SILOS I REINFORCE STAGNA
46 January 2024