CFO Appointment To Support IPO Readiness
About The Client:
Industry: Healthcare / Retail Pharma
The client is a fast-growing healthcare retail organisation operating across the UAE and wider regional markets. With an expanding network of pharmacies and wellness outlets, the business has built a strong consumer presence and a clear ambition to pursue a public listing. To support this next phase, the leadership team identified the need for an experienced Chief Financial Officer who could guide the organisation through IPO preparation while maintaining strong financial discipline.
Challenges Faced:
- The availability of CFOs with direct, hands-on IPO experience in the region, particularly within healthcare retail, was extremely limited
- The client required a finance leader who had successfully led an IPO process from early-stage preparation through to listing
- Identifying candidates with both sector knowledge and capital markets expertise proved challenging
- The role required a balance between operational financial leadership and strategic IPO readiness
- Cultural alignment was a key consideration, given the entrepreneurial environment and close collaboration with founder leadership
- Competition from larger organisations and well-funded growth-stage businesses added further pressure to the search
Strategy Used to Overcome the Challenges:
- A detailed mapping exercise was conducted across recent IPOs in the UAE and India over the past 5–7 years to identify finance leaders with direct IPO involvement
- Companies across healthcare, retail, FMCG and consumer sectors listed on DFM, ADX, NASDAQ Dubai, BSE and NSE were systematically reviewed
- Direct outreach was carried out with both active and passive CFO-level candidates to build a high-quality talent pool
- Engagement with investment banking and advisory networks helped validate candidates’ IPO experience and leadership capability
- Open and transparent discussions were maintained with the client regarding market conditions, candidate availability and compensation expectations
- The organisation’s growth plans, IPO ambition and working culture were positioned clearly and consistently throughout the process
- Shortlisted candidates were provided with detailed briefings to ensure alignment with the business context and expectations
- Multiple interaction rounds were facilitated to support informed decision-making and cultural fit
Outcome:
The search resulted in the successful appointment of a CFO with proven experience leading a full IPO lifecycle within a comparable industry. The appointed leader brought experience across both India and the UAE, with a strong track record in pre-IPO preparation, regulatory engagement, investor relations and post-listing compliance.
Since joining, the CFO has focused on strengthening financial controls, improving reporting and governance frameworks and supporting early engagement with regulators and advisors. Their ability to work closely with the founding team has helped ensure progress towards IPO readiness while maintaining operational stability and supporting ongoing business growth.
It’s rare to find a recruitment partner who combines professionalism with empathy, market expertise with humility, and speed with precision. The level of trust and collaboration we’ve built has made a real difference in our talent acquisition journey, especially for corporate critical senior roles.
I’m sincerely grateful for the partnership and looking forward to achieve more In Sha’a Allah
