Pearl Initiative Welcomes New Executive Director Carla Koffel

Pearl Initiative - the leading Gulf business-led, non-profit organisation promoting a corporate culture of accountability and transparency as a key driver of competitiveness across the region - has announced the appointment of Carla Koffel as its new Executive Director. 

The appointment coincides with the organisation’s milestone five-year anniversary and plan to enhance its reach and impact by 2020. Following its establishment in 2010, Pearl Initiative has successfully published seven Gulf Region practical insight reports on the state of corporate governance, accountability and transparency in the Gulf region and has influenced 5,480 business leaders and 5,980 students from across the region to improve their corporate governance outlook across various areas of intervention. 

In her new role, Koffel will be responsible for taking forward the organisation’s existing programmes such as corporate governance in family firms, anti-corruption and transparency, diversity in business leadership and ethics programmes in Gulf universities, as well as to drive new agendas including corporate governance in SMEs and non-profit organisations. She succeeds Imelda Dunlop, who helped establish Pearl Initiative as a leading voice in the region’s corporate governance space.

Speaking of the appointment, Badr Jafar, Founder of Pearl Initiative and CEO of Crescent Enterprises, said: “Carla Koffel holds an impressive wealth of technical as well as managerial expertise in the private sector and civil society in a career that has spanned the UK, Asia and the Middle East. As Pearl Initiative renews its efforts to promote best business practices among many more private sector companies and the growing youth population in the Gulf Region, we are confident Carla’s experience in leading successful initiatives and programmes will provide a valuable contribution to achieving the organisation’s long-term goals.”

“On behalf of our Board of Governors, I would like to thank Imelda Dunlop for her diligent efforts towards realising Pearl Initiative’s vision. She has demonstrated strong leadership skills and integrity during her time with the Pearl Initiative and we wish her the best in her future endeavours.”

Koffel brings to her role more than 18 years of experience in the corporate and non-profit sectors, and will oversee Pearl Initiative’s operations and programmes across the Gulf Region. In this capacity, she is also responsible for building strategic partnerships with the region’s private sector, government stakeholders and civil society organisations. 

For her part, Koffel said: “It makes good business sense for companies to adopt strong corporate governance practices. It enhances the private sector’s competitiveness, boosts investment and employment opportunities and is a key driver for sustainable economic growth.  I am excited to join the Pearl Initiative team and look forward to building on the success achieved over the last five years. Working together with the Board of Governors and partner companies, I am sure the Pearl Initiative will continue to have a positive impact on companies across the region.”

Prior to joining the Pearl Initiative, Carla Koffel worked in the Gulf Region leading diverse institutional reform programmes within the legal system to increase transparency and accountability and implementation of international best practices and standards. Koffel has also served as Assistant General Counsel and executive board member of a leading multinational organisation in London. 

Carla Koffel completed the Executive Education Advanced Management Program at Columbia Business School, NYC and holds a Masters in International and Community Development from Deakin University, Australia and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from University of Technology, Sydney.