Head of Investment Strategy

About the role

The Head of Investment Strategy develops and leads Abu Dhabi Airports' mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and investment strategy in line with corporate objectives, shareholder interests and risk appetite. The role drives the global investment agenda across airports, airport infrastructure, free zones and real estate, identifying, evaluating and originating strategic opportunities. It covers market intelligence, government-to-government engagement, deal origination, opportunity assessment, stakeholder management and advisory support for acquisitions, partnerships, concessions and financing.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and refine long-term investment and M&A strategies, define investment themes, geographic priorities, asset allocation and criteria, and align them with shareholder mandates and national objectives.
• Maintain global infrastructure market intelligence, monitor trends, privatization programs, PPP opportunities and regulatory changes, and identify acquisition, concession and partnership opportunities.
• Represent the organization at industry events and build relationships with governments, advisers, banks and industry stakeholders.
• Source deals through government relationships, advisors and financial institutions, manage responses to expressions of interest and requests for information, and build a diversified pipeline.
• Screen opportunities against criteria, assess risks and financial potential, recommend go/no-go decisions, and support deal execution, due diligence and transaction structuring.
• Influence investment committees and government stakeholders, present investment cases, and coordinate with legal advisors on JVAs, SPAs and concession agreements.
• Advise on debt financing, PPP structures, asset-backed financing and joint ventures, and liaise with Treasury and investment banks.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance or a related field; MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, corporate development, infrastructure investments or aviation-related investments.
• Experience in M&A transactions, due diligence, investment structuring, concession agreements and public-private partnerships.

Required skills

• Valuation methodologies and investment risk frameworks.
• Knowledge of infrastructure investments, airport operations, free zones and real estate.
• Negotiation, stakeholder influence and executive communication.
• Ability to make sound decisions under uncertainty and lead cross-functional teams.