Emerging Global Leaders Shaping the Future in 2026

Khaled Elshafei

Company: Marassi Holding Company

Designation: Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Country: Saudi Arabia

With more than three decades of experience shaping complex financial ecosystems, Khaled Elshafei stands out as a finance leader whose work is defined by precision, foresight, and long-term value creation. His career spans senior financial management, audit, corporate governance, and strategic transformation across diversified industries, positioning him as a trusted authority within regional and multinational business environments. Known for his disciplined approach and deep analytical insight, Khaled has consistently played a central role in strengthening organizational resilience while enabling sustainable growth.

Currently serving as Group Chief Financial Officer at Marassi Holding Company in Saudi Arabia, Khaled oversees the group’s financial strategy across a diversified portfolio that includes energy, facility management, manufacturing, construction, real estate, and service sectors. In this role, he leads investment evaluations, financial modelling, risk mitigation frameworks, and comprehensive financial studies that guide executive decision-making and support regional expansion. His leadership extends beyond traditional finance functions, contributing to organizational restructuring, governance enhancement, and the optimization of financial controls to ensure stability in dynamic market conditions.

Prior to his current role, Khaled spent over a decade with Rawabi Holding Company, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading conglomerates, where he served as Group Finance Director and Controller. Managing finance operations across more than 28 local and international entities, he led large, distributed finance teams and oversaw complex consolidation processes across the Kingdom, the GCC, and global markets. This period proved instrumental in refining his ability to align financial strategy with large-scale operational realities, while maintaining regulatory compliance and financial transparency at every level.

Khaled’s earlier career includes senior leadership roles within environmental services, industrial waste management, construction, and professional audit firms, giving him a rare breadth of exposure across both operational finance and external audit disciplines. His experience in financial audit, internal controls, tax planning, and compliance has enabled him to build robust financial frameworks that balance regulatory rigor with commercial agility. Across these roles, he has consistently contributed to fund-raising initiatives, project financing, and the evaluation of high-value investment opportunities.

Academically and professionally, Khaled brings strong credentials that complement his practical expertise. He holds an MBA from the International Business Academy of London and is a Certified Finance Manager accredited by the Global Association of Quality Management. He is also a Chartered Accountant registered with Egypt’s Ministry of Finance, a member of the Egyptian Society of Taxation, and a member of the Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants. In addition, he holds advanced IFRS qualifications and continues to expand his academic foundation through doctoral studies in business administration.

Beyond executive leadership, Khaled is widely recognised for his role in mentoring emerging businesses and guiding start-ups through financial structuring, governance setup, and growth planning. His involvement in digital finance transformation, ERP implementations, localization initiatives, and large-scale compliance programs reflects a forward-looking mindset that embraces innovation while safeguarding financial integrity.

As global markets continue to evolve amid regulatory, technological, and economic shifts, Khaled Elshafei’s career reflects the qualities required of modern financial leadership: strategic clarity, disciplined execution, and the ability to translate complexity into sustainable outcomes. His continued contribution to the finance landscape positions him as a leader shaping not only organizational success, but the future direction of financial governance and strategic management across the region.

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