About

Brooke Lindsay is the group chief legal and compliance officer of e& (formerly Etisalat Group). She started her legal career in private practice in Australia. However, her desire for new challenges led her to the UAE, where she joined Herbert Smith Freehills before transitioning to e& as a Senior Legal Counsel.  

As the group’s chief legal and compliance officer, Brooke’s role is multifaceted. In addition to overseeing the legal and compliance functions at the group level, she shoulders substantial responsibilities for these functions across e &’s diverse portfolio of companies and businesses.  

Brooke and her legal and compliance team have played an instrumental role in transforming e& from a traditional telecoms business to a global technology powerhouse, spanning diverse sectors such as financial services, fintech and digital entertainment. They have recently advised e& on several headline-making transactions that have captured the industry’s attention, such as e &’s USD$4.4 bn acquisition of a 9.8% interest in Vodafone (subsequently increased to 14.61%), its EU€2.2 bn acquisition of a controlling stake in PPF Telecom Group’s asset, and its USD$400 m acquisition of a majority stake of Careem’s Super App business.  

Brooke firmly believes that the key to her success in her role is the ability to foresee outcomes and align decisions with the broader organisational strategy. She ensures that her team’s work transcends reactive responses, taking on a proactive nature fuelled by cross-functional collaboration, strategic thinking and sound judgment. This proactive stance hinges on an in-depth knowledge of the industry and the business.  

At e&, Brooke accomplished her vision of creating a truly diverse and close-knit team. Comprising individuals from various cultural, ethnic and professional backgrounds, her team of 20 individuals collectively speaks 12 languages and brings a rich tapestry of perspectives to the table.    

Brooke’s leadership style is built on a foundation of trust and loyalty. She eschews a traditional command-and-control approach in favour of nurturing relationships and cultivating a relatively flat organisational structure. This approach ensures that every team member is empowered to contribute their insights and expertise, fostering a culture of collective ownership and innovation. In addition, Brooke takes the time to understand and bond with each team member, regardless of their level. She enjoys challenging the status quo and rethinking and recalibrating what her team does and the way it functions.  

During her career at e&, Brooke served as a board member of a number of organisations across the globe. She currently sits on the board of Khazna Data Centre Holdings Limited and the board of Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) as the first woman to be appointed to the PTCL board.  

Brooke, who has consistently been recognised as a top performer across the group’s global business, skilfully balances her highly demanding role at e& with raising a young family of three, acting as an inspiring leader to women in the legal community. Outside of her professional and family life, she enjoys horse riding.