About

Heading all legal operations across MENA and North Africa, Yasser Abo Ismail joined the company to take up the ‘exceptional opportunity’ of helping to establish new business hubs in Dubai and Morocco. ‘Achieving these two “go big” projects required a huge legal support to implement an extensive and aggressive corporate restructuring plan covering approximately 40 legal entities’, he says. A board member at four of Eaton’s holding companies, Ismail’s wide remit of responsibility has included road-testing business models, training and risk management. He has also taken an active role in the group’s diversity strategy and best practice procedures. With broad international in-house experience, Ismail previously helped establish PepsiCo’s Egyptian and Saudi Arabian legal functions. ‘The biggest challenge I have faced during my career has been business leaders’ resistance to asking for legal help whenever it is necessary’, he says. ‘Unfortunately, the majority of business folks consider the legal function as a hurdle restraining them from achieving their deals in a timely manner’. Ismail began his career at Ernst and Young and teaches competition law at the University of Dubai.