Tarek Abbas

TAREK ABBAS
UAE | 📞 +971 50 5525406, |

EGP | 📞 +971 50 5525406 📧

[email protected] | LinkedIn Languages: English, Arabic, German

Group Chief People Officer | HR Strategy & Transformation Leader | Global HR Director | Regional HR Director – MENAT

Public & Pre-IPO Environments | Culture Transformation | Digital HR | M&A | Total Rewards

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Seasoned HR Executive with 20+ years of global and regional experience leading end-to-end people strategies across MENA, APAC, and Europe. I bring a full-spectrum, 360° HR leadership approach, combining strategic insight with hands-on execution across culture, compliance, total rewards, HR technology, and organizational design to drive business transformation and sustainable growth.

A trusted partner to C-suites and boards in multinational, high-growth, and IPO-stage companies, including Warner Music Group, DP World, GEA GmbH, Schlumberger, and MetaWorld Group. Recognized for delivering large-scale HR transformations, leading post-merger integrations, scaling HR operations across 15+ countries, and driving performance through people analytics, HRMS implementation, and DEI frameworks.

Known for aligning people with business strategy, fostering high-performance cultures, and navigating complex, multicultural environments with integrity and impact. FCIPD Fellow. Fluent in Arabic, English, and conversational German.

Career Highlights & Achievements

·        Strategic HR Transformation & IPO Readiness;
Led HR transformation programs aligned with IPO and investor-readiness at MetaWorld, Dorra Group, and Emirates Steel, delivering global HR frameworks, policy harmonization, and audit compliance across tech and industrial sectors.

·        Culture & DEI Leadership;
Drove people and culture programs at Warner Music Group, GEA GmbH, DP World, and MetaWorld, boosting employee engagement and retention by up to 45%. Embedded DEI into talent strategies, creating inclusive and high-performance work environments.

·        Retention & Engagement Impact;

At DP World, improved employee engagement and retention by 15% across MENA terminals through proactive culture-building and workforce planning.
At GEA Group, retained critical engineering talent during the pandemic, chaired the Crisis Management Committee, and implemented market-aligned compensation strategies.
At Warner Music, led salary benchmarking and restructured recruitment to reduce turnover by 25% and elevate engagement by 45%.
At Emirates Steel, embedded digital collaboration and unified salary benchmarks, reducing attrition by 25% across fintech and AI verticals.
·        M&A & Post-Acquisition Integration;
Successfully led HR integration for 11+ acquisitions (including Warner MENA x4, GEA x6, and DP World x1), aligning compensation, culture, and HR tech across acquired entities.

·        Global HR Tech Champion;
Spearheaded HR digital transformation across global operations, implementing platforms such as Workday, Oracle Wolke, Yomly, and Lark, enhancing automation, reporting, and scalability.

·        Executive Partner & Governance Advisor;
Acted as a direct HR advisor to boards and C-level leaders across multiple sectors. Regularly presented workforce analytics, HR strategies, and culture transformation roadmaps at executive committee meetings.

·        Risk & Crisis Leadership;
Chaired or led risk management committees at GEA, Warner Music Group, and DP World, ensuring employee well-being and business continuity during organizational or external disruptions.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Group Chief People Officer – Interim Project (Reporting to Group CEO)

MetaWorld Group | 2025 – Present | UAE, Switzerland, Turkey, APAC

Emerging tech conglomerate in crypto, AI, and digital finance, operating across 7 countries

·        Served as Group CHRO at corporate level, directly advising the Group CEO and five subsidiary CEOs across fintech, crypto, AI, real estate, and blockchain, ensuring HR alignment with diverse business models and growth strategies.

·        Appointed to lead IPO-aligned HR transformation across fintech, blockchain, and AI verticals.

·        Developed HR strategy, governance frameworks, and culture programs for global investor readiness.

·        Introduced Yomly HRMS and Lark to digitize HR, boost collaboration, and enhance compliance.

·        Created scalable compensation models and global benchmarks (Hay, WTW) across subsidiaries.

·        Spearheaded leadership coaching, talent review, and people analytics tied to performance KPIs.

·        Built investor-grade policy frameworks, hiring standards, and DEI programs for audit alignment.

Regional People Partner Director – MENA & Turkey (Reporting to MD-MENA)

Warner Music Group | 2022 – 2025 | Dubai
Public music & entertainment company with global presence in 70+ countries

·        Led the organizational restructuring of a newly acquired distribution company, transforming it into a fully integrated global label entity. Built new departmental structures, introduced leadership roles, and transitioned reporting lines into a flat matrix aligned with Warner’s global label standards and IPO compliance frameworks.

·        Directed post-M&A integration of 4 acquired entities across MENA.

·        Drove DEI-centered transformation strategy; reduced turnover by 25%, boosted engagement by 45%.

·        Led full HR tech upgrade; implemented Workday and aligned talent programs to global L&D strategy.

·        Designed equity-based reward frameworks and executive compensation plans.

·        Partnered with regional MDs and C-suite to localize global people strategy.

Regional HR Director – MENA (reporting to Managing Director-MENA)

GEA Group GmbH | 2016 – 2022 | Dubai
Public industrial leader in mechanical engineering, operating in 50+ countries

·        Led HR strategy and operations across 9 countries, reporting directly to MD-MENA.

·        Managed post-acquisition HR integration of 6 companies; streamlined C&B, grading, HR integration and systems.

·        Migrated HR systems from Oracle Wolke to Workday for regional transformation.

·        Championed performance-based culture programs and pandemic crisis response teams.

·        Oversaw leadership succession, analytics-driven workforce planning, and policy audits.

Vice President – Human Capital (Reported to Vice Chairman)

Dorra Group | 2014 – 2016 | Qatar & MENA
Top-tier regional conglomerate in real estate and construction development

·        Built corporate HR from ground up across 3 countries.

·        Led internal governance, standardized policies, and DEI frameworks for ISO readiness.

·        Supported pre-IPO planning along with Deloitte audit process designed for HR.

·        Led HR strategy and operations for the organization, directly reporting to the Vice Chairman, and overseeing a growing workforce across multiple regions.

·        Drove talent management initiatives, improving recruitment, performance management, and leadership development to support the company’s expansion and business objectives.

·        Designed and implemented compensation and benefits structures that enhanced employee engagement and retention.

·        Spearheaded HR transformations, introducing streamlined processes and technology solutions to improve operational efficiency.

·        Managed complex employee relations issues for 3k HC assigned for the Vendom mall project(biggest mall in the world), fostering a positive organizational culture and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance across multiple markets.

Regional Human Capital Director – MENA & UAE (reporting to Global VP-HR)

DP World | 2007 – 2014 | Dubai
Global logistics conglomerate; operating in 75+ countries (Public company)

·        Led HR transformation across regional terminals during high-political volatility.

·        Rolled out Hay-based C&B strategy, reducing attrition by 10% and increasing engagement by 20%.

·        Implemented crisis comms and workforce continuity plans during Arab Spring.

·        Drove DEI framework, talent assessments, and org redesign.

·        Supported one M&A integration (Yemen Terminal), leading culture and structural alignment.

·        Enhanced employee engagement through the design and implementation of competitive compensation, benefits, and recognition programs.

·        Led HR process improvement initiatives, integrating technology to streamline HR operations and improve efficiency.

HR Director (reporting to Vice Chairman)

Schlumberger Partner (AIMS)| 2005 – 2007 | KSA

Managed HR for 6,000+ oilfield employees across operations, development, and C&B.

·        Led HR strategy for a global business unit, aligning talent management with organizational goals and supporting a diverse workforce.

·        Developed and implemented talent acquisition and leadership development programs, enhancing employee retention and building a strong leadership pipeline.

·        Overhauled compensation and benefits frameworks to align with market standards, improving employee engagement and satisfaction.

·        Directed HR process automation, improving efficiency and data accuracy while reducing administrative workload.

·        Managed employee relations, resolving conflicts and ensuring compliance with local labor laws across various regions.

General Manager – Continuing Education Services

UAE University | 2001 – 2005 | Abu Dhabi, UAE
A government-affiliated institution focused on workforce upskilling and public-private sector learning initiatives

Spearheaded the development and delivery of large-scale training programs for government and private sector entities across the UAE.
Built strategic partnerships with ministries and corporate sponsors to design continuing education frameworks aligned with national skills priorities.
Oversaw budgeting, program development, and instructor onboarding for 50+ learning initiatives annually.
Introduced executive education modules for mid-to-senior leadership development.
Led a cross-functional team of academic coordinators, business developers, and operations staff to expand the center’s impact and visibility.
Education & Certifications

BA Political Science, Alexandria University, Egypt
Fellow (FCIPD) – Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, UK
CHRP, DHRP, ICDL Certified
Technology & Systems

Workday | Yomly | Lark | Oracle Wolke | MS Power BI | Advanced Excel

References

Available upon request.