HERE’S THE deal. This November issue of Accountant Middle East magazine marks our 1st Anniversary since the launch of the publication in 2012.

At the same time, ‘Big 4’ giant EY is celebrating a significant milestone this year, having completed 90 years in the Middle East and North Africa.

So where do we begin?

Here at Accountant Middle East, we have come a long way. Editorially, advertising and in terms of events, the publication has grown in ways that we never envisioned a year ago. Most notably are our regular roundtable events where we bring together experts, business leaders and stakeholders from across various industries to share and expand their knowledge through discussions related to finance issues and best practices.

In the first of a series of roundtable discussions we hosted recently in conjunction with Citi Commercial Bank, CFOs and other top ranking finance managers drawn from the manufacturing sector tackled the all-important debate on effective management of working capital. Read the full report in our ‘Citi Roundtable’ segment.

Also it’s worth mentioning about the launch of our elite networking club aptly dubbed ‘aa+’, which serves as a business and social outlet for all professionals in the accountancy, finance and audit sectors. Every month, members meet at selected exclusive clubs to have fun networking with peers across all associations, nationalities and age groups. So make sure to join us at our next gig.

While I feel the urge to go on beating my own drum here, I will not spoil EY’s party, but rather, in the spirit of togetherness salute the firm’s incredible accomplishment by giving the cover treatment to Abdulaziz Al Sowailim, the Chairman and Chief Executive of EY MENA.

Formerly known as Ernst & Young, the professional services provider opened its first MENA office in 1923, and since then, it has today grown to more than 5,000 employees across the region.

We had an exclusive interview with Saudi-based Abdulaziz, who was recently in Dubai where he joined other EY’s Partners to toast to the firm’s 90 years of service in the region. In the interview, Abdulaziz speaks to us about EY’s recent global rebranding, nine decades of doing business in the region and why MENA is still a great investment destination. Catch all the reports under ‘Focus on EY’.

Here’s to Happy Anniversary to both EY and Accountant Middle East magazine. Cheers!

Joyce Njeri

Editor

Accountant Middle East