Salim Mohammad

CFO

Salim is a CPA, MBA and seasoned finance executive with over 25 years of senior leadership experience, shaping financial strategy and driving business transformation across private, PE-backed, and owner-managed businesses in retail, distribution, logistics, hospitality, and manufacturing.

He is recognised for his people-first leadership, strong cross-functional alignment, and pragmatic approach to finance transformation and decision support. Salim has led the restructuring of finance functions, secured complex banking facilities, enhanced ERP-enabled reporting, and supported major strategic shifts, including transitioning a leading retailer from a franchise model to a joint venture structure during challenging market conditions.

Track record highlights

Negotiated and secured $100M+ in working capital and capex facilities to fund market expansion, store investments, and logistics assets aligned with long-term strategic objectives
Oversaw financial operations and capital structures across a regional retail and distribution group, managing cross-border investments, debt facilities, tax efficiency, and cash flow optimization
Led the transition of a luxury brand from franchise to joint venture across five GCC countries, establishing entities from inception and contributing to over 40% revenue growth
Delivered finance transformation across a multi-territory group, restructuring teams, strengthening governance frameworks, and enhancing financial oversight across head office and subsidiary operations
Built a user-friendly ROI and investment evaluation platform, enabling commercial leaders to assess returns independently and make faster, data-driven capital allocation decisions
Reduced AP headcount by 50% through implementation of AI-enabled automation, streamlining invoice processing, matching, exception handling, and ERP integration for improved efficiency and control

Sector Experience

Retail & Distribution: Luxury, Apparel & Accessories, White Goods, Tech Accessories, Beauty, Consumer Goods
Hospitality & F&B: Restaurants, Hotels, Food Services, Farming & Agriculture
Logistics: Freight Forwarding, Warehousing & Transport
Manufacturing: Industrial Lighting, Sustainable Packaging
Family-Owned Conglomerates: Tech, Healthcare, Shools, Power Generation, General Contracting

Salim's specialist skills

Strategic Thinker

Develops and leads strategic planning processes, identifying risks and growth opportunities while shaping business models, including transitions from franchise to joint venture structures aligned with long-term objectives.

Leadership

Leads finance teams and manages complex stakeholder relationships with owners, investors, and lenders, providing stability and direction through transformation, high-growth phases, and critical business inflection points.

Business Planning & Reporting

Builds board-level reporting, financial models, budgets, and performance frameworks that enhance visibility, support decision-making, and effectively link business strategy to operational execution and business outcomes.

Technology & Data Enablement

Implements ERP-enabled controls, integrates financial systems with analytics platforms, and develops user-friendly dashboards that enable finance and commercial teams to make faster, data-driven decisions.

Cash Flow & Financial Control

Drives disciplined cash flow management and working capital optimization, strengthening liquidity forecasting, embedding cash-focused KPIs, and improving financial control in businesses historically focused on revenue growth and profitability.

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