Shape the future of student learning outcomes across the Middle East
The Brief
Future Leadership was engaged by a globally recognised education research organisation to appoint a General Manager for its high performing United Arab Emirates operation. The organisation established a presence in the region over two decades ago. They deliver large-scale assessments, educational research and capacity‑building programs across multiple Middle Eastern countries. As demand for evidence‑informed educational tools increases, the organisation required a strategic, regionally experienced executive to lead its UAE subsidiary and support growing opportunities across the broader Middle East.
The appointment followed a period of transition for the organisation’s UAE office, with a mandate to modernise systems, uplift workforce capability and strengthen alignment with global standards. The General Manager would play a pivotal role in stabilising operations and restoring confidence across government, school and institutional partners.
Key priorities for the role included strengthening operational governance, elevating quality assurance and supporting significant business development activity in a region characterised by diverse regulatory environments and evolving education reform agendas. The General Manager would also lead a multicultural team, providing clarity, motivation and accountability while maintaining the organisation’s strong reputation and expanding its footprint across markets including the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt.
The successful appointment required an experienced leader with deep knowledge of education systems, assessment frameworks and cross‑border stakeholder engagement, along with the cultural agility required to operate effectively across the Middle East.
Candidate net Promote Score
Future Leadership combines truly personalised relationships with innovative technology solutions to ensure an approachable and efficient process for all our Net Promoter Score across clients, successful candidates and unsuccessful candidates is well above industry standard.
Candidates supported every year
We maintain genuine relationships with past candidates and continue to support them with leadership solutions long term, after they land their role.
Senior Women Appointed since 2002
Over half of the executive search assignments undertaken by our team have resulted in the appointment of outstanding female or LGBTQI+ leaders to high profile roles.
Candidate Retention Rate for 12 months since 2002
Our thorough briefing process and ability to engage passive candidates mean that we go to great lengths to find the right person for the role – long term!
The Process
Future Leadership undertook a comprehensive international executive search process, tailored to the organisation’s strategic needs.
Key steps included:
- Search Preparation
Future Leadership conducted an in depth briefing with senior leaders to clarify operational challenges, growth priorities and regional strategic needs along with identifying core leadership attributes: strong regional experience, cultural and linguistic alignment, assessment expertise, systems modernisation capability and stakeholder diplomacy.
- Search Strategy and Market Engagement
The search team designed an international search strategy with a strong focus on UAE education markets, including targeting candidates with experience in assessments, K–12 education, higher education and education‑adjacent sectors such as publishing and EdTech. The Future Leadership team utilised their proprietary research, referral networks and market intelligence to identify candidates with regional credibility and activated a targeted advertising campaign across UAE and international channels to broaden visibility and attract diverse talent. The team then engaged directly with senior education leaders, government stakeholders and sector specialists.
- Assessment and Shortlisting
Candidates were assessed against requirements including market understanding, assessment expertise, cross‑cultural leadership and stakeholder influence. The team conducted capability‑based interviews focusing on commercial maturity, operational governance and ability to stabilise and uplift underperforming systems. Candidates’ track record in managing complex, multinational portfolios, delivering growth and representing organisations at senior government levels was assessed. The selection panel was presented with a detailed shortlist, outlining alignment, strengths, development areas and overall suitability.
- Selection and Appointment
Future Leadership supported structured interview rounds to evaluate strategic capability, regional insights and ability to lead multicultural teams. Comprehensive referencing with a focus on operational leadership, partnership development, team culture and financial stewardship were completed and the team advised on final appointment, risk considerations and transition planning to ensure a smooth commencement and early momentum.
The Outcome
The executive search concluded with the appointment of a seasoned education and assessment leader with more than 20 years of experience across the Middle East, South Asia and other international markets. The appointee brings extensive expertise in scaling assessment programs, building public‑private partnerships and delivering impact across K–12, higher education and workforce sectors. They have led large‑scale regional initiatives, achieving significant revenue growth and operational expansion across multiple countries.
Their background includes driving adoption of standardised assessments, establishing trusted relationships with ministries of education, regulators, universities and corporate partners as well as delivering capacity‑building programs to strengthen teaching, learning and policy outcomes. They have a strong track record of establishing and managing channel networks, securing multi‑million‑dirham recurring revenue streams and introducing assessment frameworks aligned with national priorities.
With established relationships across the region and a strong alignment with the organisation’s mission, the new General Manager is positioned to strengthen the organisation’s credibility, expand partnerships, uplift operational quality and drive the next phase of regional growth.
