Russell Reynolds Associates expands Dubai office to meet growing leadership demand

5 May 2025, Dubai, UAE – Global leadership advisory firm, Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA), today announced a significant enhancement to its executive search and leadership advisory services through the addition of three leadership consultants to its Dubai office – Natalie Sleiman, Vanessa Monasterio, and Mari Olsen Farah, effective April 2025. This targeted expansion deepens the firm's specialized expertise to address the leadership needs of organizations across the Middle East.

Nicolas Manset, Head of the Middle East for Russell Reynolds Associates, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Natalie, Vanessa, and Mari to our growing team in Dubai, deepening our expertise in technology, leadership performance and industrial sectors. The vibrant business landscape across the Middle East presents exceptional growth opportunities, with leadership excellence serving as the critical catalyst for success. I'm confident that our expanded team's diverse expertise and nuanced understanding of regional markets will prove essential in equipping our clients with the leadership capabilities necessary to excel in this dynamic environment."

RRA's technology sector capabilities are significantly enhanced with the addition of Natalie, who brings extensive expertise in aligning top-tier talent with strategic business goals across Europe and the Middle East. Her proven track record in executive search, board placements and workplace culture transformation enables companies to navigate the rapidly evolving technology landscape. Natalie's deep understanding of the Middle East market, coupled with her experience establishing and leading technology practices in the region, delivers tangible value to clients seeking to accelerate growth and innovation.

The firm has also strengthened its Leadership Performance practice through Vanessa's decade of expertise in strategy, organizational effectiveness and leadership assessment. Supporting leaders across sectors in solving their most pressing strategy, leadership and human capital issues, Vanessa brings valuable insights from her previous experience at McKinsey where she advised CEOs and executives on strategy and business performance transformation. Her background in organizational psychology enables her to deliver rigorous, evidence-based solutions that help leaders drive long-term business value.

Addressing critical leadership needs in the region's vital industrial sectors, Mari joins as a key member of RRA's Global Industrial Practice with specialized expertise in global retained executive searches for C-suite and board-level positions. Her focused experience in Civil Aviation, Aerospace & Defence, Logistics & Transportation, Global Supply Chain & Operations, and CEO & Board Service Practices positions addresses critical leadership needs in these sectors. With over 20 years of executive search experience and leadership assessment capabilities, Mari has successfully placed executives with multinational companies across Europe, the Middle East, the US and Asia Pacific.

Filiep Deforche, Co-Lead of EMEAI at Russell Reynolds Associates, added, "These strategic appointments directly respond to our clients' needs for specialized leadership solutions in key growth sectors. Natalie, Vanessa, and Mari bring distinctive expertise that enhances our ability to solve complex leadership challenges unique to the Middle East market. Their specialized capabilities in technology transformation, performance optimization and industrial sector leadership will accelerate our clients' ability to capitalize on regional growth opportunities through exceptional leadership."

Media Contacts

Russell Reynolds Associates
Sarah Carlyle, Marketing Director EMEA
sarah.carlyle@russellreynolds.com