General Manager – C-Suite, Abu Dhabi

Hanson Search; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking an experienced Chief Executive Officer to lead an Abu Dhabi based organisation. This high-profile role requires exceptional people leadership and the ability to navigate regulated environments. You will be responsible for scaling the organisation, mentoring the team, and representing the company with government entities. Ideal candidates will have a track record operating in the UAE and managing complex stakeholder relationships. This is a rare chance to play a pivotal role in a fast-evolving organisation.

Qualifications

• Proven CEO level leader with full organisational accountability.
• Track record of scaling, transforming or professionalising organisations.
• Experience working in the UAE and navigating governmental frameworks.
• Ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes and interdependent decision making.
• Experience working in the UAE.

Responsibilities

• Lead organisational scale up and governance.
• Mentor and develop existing team for leadership depth.
• Act as senior representative with government stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Report to a senior committee with cabinet level authority, providing clear advice and trusted leadership.
• Ensure regulatory, compliance and integrity standards are met, with scrutiny.

Skills

Strong people leadership

Navigating complex stakeholder landscapes

High integrity and sound decision making

Experience operating in regulated environments

People leadership

Regulatory experience

Job description

The CEO Opportunity – Executive Search in Abu Dhabi

We are conducting a CEO executive search for a senior leader to head an Abu Dhabi based organisation of approximately 50 employees, with plans to double in size over the next two years. This is a high profile leadership role operating in a highly regulated environment, under sustained public scrutiny and with significant coordination across government.

The successful Chief Executive Officer will lead the organisation through a critical phase of scale up and institutional maturity, moving from an early stage structure to a well governed, high performing authority. The role requires strong people leadership, sound judgement and the credibility to operate at the highest levels.

CEO Responsibilities:

The Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for:

• leading organisational scale up, including structure, governance, operating model and culture
• mentoring, training and developing the existing team, strengthening leadership depth and accountability
• managing and coordinating critical dependencies across key UAE government entities
• acting as the organisation’s senior representative with government and other external stakeholders, ensuring credibility, discretion and alignment
• reporting to a senior committee with cabinet level authority, providing clear advice, sound judgement and trusted executive leadership
• ensuring the organisation consistently meets high regulatory, compliance and integrity standards, with an approach that stands up to scrutiny

CEO Experience and Background

We are seeking a proven CEO level leader with:

• prior experience as a Chief Executive Officer or equivalent senior executive with full organisational accountability
• a strong track record of scaling, transforming or professionalising organisations
• experience operating in highly regulated environments where public trust and governance are central
• the ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes and interdependent decision making
• experience working in the UAE

Abu Dhabi CEO Leadership Profile

This appointment requires a leader with:

• gravitas and confidence to operate credibly at senior government and board level
• strong people leadership, with a focus on developing capability and organisational depth
• calm authority and resilience in high pressure, high visibility environments
• high integrity, discretion and sound decision making
• clarity of communication and the ability to align teams and stakeholders around shared objectives

This CEO executive search represents a rare opportunity to lead a fast evolving Abu Dhabi based organisation at a pivotal moment in its development, combining executive leadership, regulatory credibility and public accountability.

If you have the relevant experience and this opportunity sounds interesting to you, please get in touch with our team, including a copy of your CV as soon as possible via the form below.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all. You can access our Diversity and Inclusion Policy here.