RiseTeam

Seth is a Managing Partner at RISE and leads the consultancy business, with 20+ years of commercial and sponsorship consulting experience.

He is the driving force behind RISE’s commercial strategy development for clients – including the sport, culture & entertainment, and public sectors.

Seth is a former Vice President at International Management Group (IMG), initially in London and then establishing the practice in Dubai.

Tom is a Managing Partner at RISE and leads the business with 20+ years of experience in the commercial consulting industry, with experience across the Sports, Culture, and Entertainment, and public transport & infrastructure industries.

He spent 10 years at International Management Group (IMG), delivering large-scale commercial projects including the Wembley Stadium in England and subsequently moved to the UAE, establishing IMG’s office in Abu Dhabi.

Dave is a founding Partner and the driving force of the RISE SCE team.

One of the region’s leading commercial rights specialists, Dave has two decades worth of agency experience working for brands, athletes and rights holders across Europe and MENA.

He has led brand campaigns at the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup and Ryder Cup, as well as rights sales for the Saudi Pro League, Royal Commission for Al Ula and Royal Commission for Riyadh City, to name a few.

Since 2008, Hekmat has excelled in the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) sector, specializing in investment and asset management.

His expertise extends to devising commercial programs for government entities across diverse sectors, including media, telecom, and real estate.

As a leader in PPP, his pragmatic solutions stand out.

Ray Smart oversees RISE’s finances and operations. Based in Riyadh, he brings 20+ years of experience, fueling growth, streamlining operations and delivering the platforms to guide multicultural professionals to excellence.

Having led a record breaking transaction in the Marketing sector, he is committed to driving value across the organisation.

Ryan is the head of RISE Group in Saudi Arabia and leads the business growth with more than 15 years’ experience in the commercial industry and advisory for both private and public sectors in the country.

Ryan has a background in business and strategy, with intensive experience in commercial contracting and trade agreements with global markets.

Sayed has over 22 years’ experience as a trusted adviser to governments and multinationals generating economic growth, attracting investment and delivering PPPs to commercialise government assets.

He has extensive experience in the GCC with a focus on KSA where he has led initiatives to deliver Vision 2030 goals on private sector growth and economic sustainability.

Will is a Partner of the RISE SCE team, overseeing the growth of the business in Saudi Arabia and the GCC.

Will has over 20 years of experience in the sports industry and has spent over a decade in the Middle East with extensive experience in international federations, private equity-funded sport and specifically professional cricket.