About

Since joining the major Saudi conglomerate as group chief legal counsel in 2010, Ahmad Azzouni has expanded the legal function of Aujan Group from a team of two members in 2010 to a well-structured department consisting of 14 members now covering the Middle East, North and Southern Africa regions and other countries where the Group is a actively investing. ‘Being a strategic and effective business partner has been a key priority since I joined Aujan Group. In addition to providing support and solutions, creating opportunities and value to the Group and its shareholders has been an important factor in recognising the critical role of the legal department’, says Azzouni regarding his internal impact on the legal function of the company. Recently he has also favoured a technologically-focused strategy for the team, with a key focus being on ‘leveraging technology and digital communications through close working with the IT department to automate routine processes’, freeing the team up to deal with more high-value work. His positive contribution to the company having been recognised, Azzouni was appointed as a member of the Aujan Group Holding’s executive committee in 2013, which he mentions as a personal career highlight: ‘This role, in addition to being a member of the investment committee and audit committee as well as acting as a board secretary of the Aujan Group Holding, Aujan Coca-Coca Beverages Company and other group companies, has enabled me to be close to the business and understand its priorities’. Among other high-value transactions he has been involved in such as the US$1bn joint venture with The Coca-Cola Company in 2012, Azzouni mentions that he ‘advised Aujan Group in 2015 and 2019 on the financing and restructuring of a syndicated bank facility of AED1.3bn’ – a particular highlight. Overall, he believes excellent internal processes and centralisation of the legal function have been at the heart of his and the wider company’s legal success. Legal support is provided as a shared service to different group companies operating in different sectors and countries. This has resulted in more efficiency, independence, stricter compliance and consistent standards across the Group. ‘Aujan Group is a conglomerate that operates in very challenging environments and in a number of under-developed legal systems. Establishing an efficient and fit for purpose legal function has been a key factor in mitigating risks and managing challenges through a cost efficient model’, Azzouni concludes.