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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH MICHAEL LATEFI
Funny, witty and straight-forward; these are the impressions
that the AE Magazine Committee has received during an
interview with the newest member of AE Management,
Michael Latefi. Michael joined the AE Group last October as
Chief Financial Officer.
Charged with many responsibilities including helping
to plan the future of the various businesses under the Al
Bawardi Group, Michael told us that he is currently exploring
opportunities to create a large investment fund in shipping
with one of the biggest names in the business and a number
of the sovereign funds. AE is also considering opportunities
in the commodities trading business with one of the largest
global trading companies from Switzerland. Michael is also
assisting the current management with growth of EMDAD
and ITQAN, by way of strategic mergers and acquisitions and
organic growth.
Michael completed his undergrad studies and MBA from
Columbia University in New York. Prior to joining the AE
Group, for more than 12 years Michael was a General Patner at
BNP Paribas private equity division and a few years as Senior
Vice President of private equity at Bank of America Securities.
Aside from being part of AE Group, Michael also holds a large
stakes in IPP Solar/MX USA, a renewal energy manufacturing,
EPC and development company in the US.
When asked how he would like to be perceived by AE Team
Members, he replied as hardworking, communicative and a
team player. Other than being passionate about his career, he
also aspires to be “a philosopher and a poet” during his offtime.
The AE Magazine Committee asked a number of random
questions, including with whom he would trade places? Initially,
he found it difficult
to answer, saying that
he prefers his own
“mundane” life more
than anyone else’s. But
after some persistence
he said he would like
to take the place of
President Hamid Karzai
of Afghanistan. His
reasoning was that
he thinks he can do
a better job “improving the lives of the destitute people of
Afghanistan.”
As a new US expatriate working in the country, he says that he
has the highest admiration for Abu Dhabi. It baffles him how
the UAE government and it’s people establish a country with
one of the most “progressive economies” among the Arab
nations in a short period of only 39 years. He applauds the
government for working for the people. On the other hand,
he is very critical of the traffic rules and parking cluttering in
Abu Dhabi.
He considered his family, his wife and son, as his most treasured
assets. He enjoys the quite weekends with his family, though
he says that they are rare. He has tremendous admiration for
Mr. Warren Buffet for being very humble and supporting
important not-for-profit causes.
Surprisingly, this businessman and a father of a 2 years old
son likes classical music along with rap. His favorite rap artist
is Li’l Wayne.
- Abie Blazado and Annie Dizon, AE
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Contributed by: Iftikhar Abbasi
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