Hadi Melki, former regional business leader at Thomson Reuters, was appointed to head the independent credit ratings provider S&P Global Ratings. He will act as the new managing director and regional head for the company’s Middle East business, which is headquartered at the Dubai International Financial Center.
Melki spent 20 years at Thomson Reuters, before making the switch.
Jan Willem Plantiagie, head of EMEA for S&P Global Ratings said, “We are delighted Hadi has joined S&P Global Ratings to lead our operations in the Middle East. His wealth of experience in capital markets, business development, risk management, governance and investor relations, positions him perfectly to cement S&P Global Ratings’ role in the ongoing development of transparent and liquid debt markets in the dynamic Middle East region.”
Only one month ago S&P announced it was expanding into Saudi Arabia, making the firm the first and only credit rating agency licensed to do business in the kingdom.
“I am looking forward to leveraging my lengthy industry experience and extensive network to lead S&P Global Ratings in the Middle East during this exciting period of change for financial markets,” Melki said.
“Having been established in the Middle East since 2008, S&P Global Ratings has consistently supported investors to facilitate their objective assessment of risk; so I am excited to continue to engage with debt issuers, investors, intermediaries and policymakers to contribute to the ability of companies and governments to raise capital and inject further liquidity into regional markets,” he added.