Managing Partner, AI & Digital Transformation — Middle East & Africa

ABOUT MODERION ADVISORYModerion Advisory is an independent advisory firm serving leaders addressing consequential questions of strategy, transformation and growth. Our purpose is to help leaders build institutions that endure.We combine independent judgement, rigorous analysis and practical execution. Our work extends across corporate strategy, institutional transformation, sovereign capital, artificial intelligence, telecommunications and total connectivity, critical infrastructure, industrial development and strategic transactions.THE OPPORTUNITYModerion Advisory is seeking a Managing Partner to establish and lead its AI and Digital Transformation practice across the Middle East and Africa, based in Riyadh.This is not a conventional technology leadership or programme-delivery position. It is a senior regional mandate for an accomplished advisory leader capable of helping boards, governments, sovereign institutions and major enterprises convert technological ambition into institutional capability and measurable economic value.The Managing Partner will define the regional practice strategy, develop trusted senior-client relationships, originate consequential engagements and build a high-calibre multidisciplinary team.The successful candidate must understand that AI transformation is not principally a technology deployment exercise. It requires strategic clarity, data and digital foundations, operating-model redesign, responsible governance, workforce adoption and disciplined value realization.THE MANDATEAs Managing Partner, AI & Digital Transformation, you will:

• Define and execute Moderion Advisory’s regional AI and Digital Transformation strategy.
• Establish a differentiated market position across selected Middle Eastern and African markets.
• Build trusted relationships with boards, governments, sovereign institutions, investors and enterprise leaders.
• Originate and lead high-value advisory mandates across the public and private sectors.
• Help clients identify where AI can create genuine economic, operational or institutional value—and where it cannot.
• Translate strategic ambition into executable transformation portfolios, investment cases, operating models and governance structures.
• Lead senior discussions concerning enterprise AI, generative and agentic AI, data strategy, cloud and digital platforms, automation and intelligent operations.
• Advise clients on responsible AI, data governance, model risk, cybersecurity, sovereignty and regulatory readiness.
• Develop a sustainable portfolio of anchor clients and long-term institutional relationships.
• Recruit, develop and lead an exceptional regional advisory team.
• Develop Moderion Advisory’s intellectual capital and public perspectives on AI-enabled institutional transformation.
• Work directly with the founder and wider leadership on the long-term development of the firm.THE PRACTICE AGENDAThe regional practice will focus on six connected areas:AI strategy and value creationHelping institutions determine where AI can materially improve growth, productivity, decision quality, service delivery and institutional resilience.Enterprise and government transformationRedesigning services, processes, operating models and decision systems around digital and AI-enabled capabilities.Data, cloud and digital foundationsEstablishing the architectures, governance and investment priorities required to scale secure and interoperable digital capabilities.Responsible AI and digital governanceDesigning accountability, model-risk, security, sovereignty, ethics and regulatory frameworks appropriate to high-consequence environments.Adoption, talent and institutional capabilityBuilding the leadership, workforce, delivery disciplines and organizational structures required to sustain transformation beyond the initial programme.Transformation execution and value realizationConverting strategies and pilots into scaled operating capabilities with measurable financial, operational and public-value outcomes.WHAT YOU BRINGYou will bring:
• Approximately 15 or more years of relevant professional experience, including meaningful Partner, Managing Director, Senior Partner or equivalent leadership responsibility.
• A strong record in strategy consulting, AI advisory, digital transformation, technology-enabled business transformation or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated success originating, selling and leading complex transformation engagements.
• Credibility advising boards, ministers, chief executives and senior institutional leaders.
• Deep knowledge of the economic, governmental and enterprise transformation environment across the Middle East, Africa or both.
• Established senior relationships in priority regional markets, or a demonstrated ability to build them.
• Experience translating emerging technologies into business models, institutional capabilities and measurable outcomes.
• Working knowledge of enterprise AI, generative AI, agentic systems, data platforms, cloud architectures, cybersecurity and responsible-AI governance.
• The ability to distinguish substantive transformation from technology-led activity that lacks a credible value case.
• Experience building a practice, business unit, client portfolio or multidisciplinary professional-services team.
• Strong commercial judgement across opportunity qualification, proposals, pricing, negotiation and portfolio management.
• A record of recruiting and developing exceptional professionals.
• Excellent executive communication and the ability to make complex technological questions understandable to non-technical leaders.
• Uncompromising integrity, discretion and intellectual independence.
• Fluency in English. Arabic fluency would be a significant advantage.The role is intended for an established Partner or senior practice leader from a leading strategy, transformation or technology-advisory organization—or an exceptional institutional leader with an equivalent record of client impact and practice building.WHAT WILL DISTINGUISH THE RIGHT CANDIDATEThe right candidate will not define success by the number of technologies deployed, proofs of concept launched or programmes announced.They will be able to answer more difficult questions:
• Which transformations should an institution pursue—and which should it refuse?
• Where can AI create durable economic or public value?
• What data, governance and operating-model foundations must exist first?
• How should sovereignty, security and innovation be balanced?
• How can transformation become an institutional capability rather than a temporary programme?
• How should value be measured, realized and sustained across different markets?WHY JOIN MODERION ADVISORYBuild, rather than inheritYou will have substantial influence over the regional practice strategy, proposition, client portfolio, team and long-term direction.Shape a defining regional agendaThe Middle East and Africa are entering a consequential period of economic, institutional and technological transformation. This role provides an opportunity to advise institutions making decisions with long-term national and international significance.Exercise genuine professional judgementModerion Advisory is built around independence, intellectual rigour and trusted counsel. We do not promote technology for its own sake. We advise clients on what will create value, what must be governed and what should not proceed.Work across strategy and executionThe practice will connect board-level ambition with transformation architecture, institutional capability and measurable results.Create an exceptional teamYou will shape a multidisciplinary regional culture bringing together strategy, technology, economics, organizational transformation and sector expertise.Build an enduring professional platformThis is an opportunity to create a differentiated regional practice and contribute directly to the development of an independent advisory institution.WHAT SUCCESS WILL LOOK LIKE
• A respected and differentiated regional AI and Digital Transformation practice.
• Enduring relationships with a focused portfolio of senior institutional clients.
• A pipeline of consequential, high-quality advisory engagements.
• Demonstrable client outcomes rather than technology activity alone.
• An exceptional regional team and credible capability-development model.
• Influential intellectual capital on responsible, sovereign and value-led transformation.
• Sustainable commercial performance achieved without compromising professional independence.LOCATION AND WORKING MODELThe position is based in Riyadh and carries responsibility across the Middle East and Africa. It will require regular engagement at client locations and significant regional travel.CONFIDENTIAL EXPRESSIONS OF INTERESTThis appointment will be handled with discretion.Candidates should submit a curriculum vitae or LinkedIn profile together with a concise note describing the practice, portfolio or senior client relationships they have built and their perspective on the next phase of AI and digital transformation across the region.Please send applications and confidential expressions of interest to contact@moderionadvisory.com.Moderion Advisory considers qualified candidates on the basis of professional merit, leadership potential and alignment with the responsibilities and values of the firm.