About IBEM
IBEM was founded in London, United Kingdom by Geoff Hudson-Searle with the aim of providing international business and executive management support to companies operating in industry.
Many aspiring SMEs, growing mid-sized organisations and divisions of corporates do not have access to dedicated in-house executive support, nor do they typically benefit from the services of the ‘Big 4’ or large London strategy firms, but they do periodically require support with strategic start-up and scale-up growth related issues.
This is where IBEM has focused its attention since its formation, bringing together skilled teams to support clients’ aims across a range of sectors in an affordable, accessible and practical way
We believe in the power of leadership to make things happen. That power should be in the hands of everyone, not the few.
Leadership is a competency and a skill set rather than an inherited set of traits and that high performing organisations recognise that and prepare their organisation accordingly. Organisations that have high levels of employee engagement enjoy high performance on every key performance indicator from employee turnover to return on investment and shareholder return. Creating an engaged environment is a culture, not a program and must be approached systemically not tactically.
In organisations that means building a common language of leadership at all levels to have an immediate and lasting impact on business results, not just knowledge, wisdom or behaviours.
We help businesses succeed
If you want to grow your business in this economy, you need to become more aggressive and change what you have done in the past. Importantly you need to run your company with one eye on developing the right company and business foundation to succeed.
Unfortunately, companies of all sizes are currently in panic mode, slashing expenses and letting go of employees to survive. They do not have the internal staff or experience to quickly implement the changes required for business growth in a difficult economy. That is where IBEM and our business growth services come into action.
Our Vision
H.E. Laila Rahhal
Al Atfani
Executive Chairman – IBEM Group
A businesswoman and Goodwill Ambassador, she serves as the President and Founder of the Women’s Business Circle and the “I Am Africa” platform, and as Vice President of the Global Chamber of Business Leaders.
She is an active advocate for women’s and youth empowerment, and a supporter of entrepreneurship and humanitarian work…From a small drop to an ocean of change… a beating heart from the UAE to the world.
With ambition and unwavering determination, H.E. Laila Rahhal emerges as a business leader and a global voice influencing youth and women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, and peace.
Her journey bridges humanitarian work, economic development, and inspirational leadership, making her a symbol of both strength and humanity.
Global Roles and Leadership
Laila holds numerous prestigious positions: she is with ambition and unwavering determination, H.E. Laila Rahhal emerges as a business leader and a global voice influencing youth and women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, and peace. Her journey bridges humanitarian work, economic development, and inspirational leadership, making her a symbol of both strength and humanity.
Laila holds numerous prestigious positions: she is President & Founder of Business Gate, Woman Business Circle, and the I Am Africa Platform; Vice Chair of the Global Chamber of Business Leaders; Head of Diplomacy and Protocol at AACID and WPC, in addition to founding and leading humanitarian initiatives across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Geoff
Hudson-Searle
Geoff Hudson-Searle is a senior independent digital non-executive director across regulation, technology, and internet security, C-Suite executive on private and listed companies, and serial business advisor for growth-phase tech companies.
With more than 30 years of experience in international business and management he is the author of seven books: Freedom After the Sharks; Meaningful Conversations; Journeys to Success: Volume 9, GOD in Business, Purposeful Discussions, The Trust Paradigm and Scars to Stars Volume 3 and lectures at business forums, conferences, and universities. He has been the focus of radio/podcasts and TV with London Live, Talk TV, TEDx and RT Europe’s business documentary across various thought leadership topics and print media with The Executive Magazine, Headspring/FT, Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Raconteur, AMBA, BCS, EuropeanCEO, CEOToday across his authorisms and has been a regular lead judge at the UK’s business premier awards event, The Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards which is the UK’s most prestigious awards programme celebrating the innovation, success, and resilience of British business.
A member and fellow of the Institute of Directors, associate of The Business Institute of Management, a cofounder and board member of the Neustar International Security Council (NISC) and a distinguished member of the Advisory Council for The Global Cyber Academy. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Having worked for corporate companies Citibank N.A, MICE Group Plc, Enigma Design, MMT Inc, Kaspersky Laboratory, Bartercard Plc, and RG Group around the world, Geoff has vast international experience working with SME and multinational international clients. International clients with which Geoff has worked include the British Government, HP, Compaq, BT, Powergen, Intel, ARM, Wartsila Group, Atari, Barclays Bank, Societe Generale, Western Union, Chase and Volvo.
Geoff has worked in a broad range of industries including software, technology and banking which has given him a range of different experiences and perspectives of what can work, the importance of good people, process and how these can be applied and amplified to deliver results in different scenarios and paradigms. Geoff is known for bringing in a fresh viewpoint and sometimes challenging the status-quo with a strategic approach delivering successful change management programmes and launching companies and products internationally that deliver results. Geoff’s areas of expertise lie in brand strategy, business communications, business integration, business development and improvement, capital raise activities, pre-IPO planning, capital raise transactions, M&A with full P&L responsibility, which ideally equips him to strengthen global companies, develop SME and international business, and marketing strategies.
Douglas Lines
Douglas is a senior business leader, executive committee member with substantial global commercial experience and co-author of a globally published book on innovation.
Douglas has over 25 years’ experience in business and leadership offering international exposure in USA, UK, and South Africa, having successfully grown and led significant businesses while launching innovative new products and client services complimented by having completed major M&A transactions.
A Chartered Accountant and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) having completed his Executive Development Programme at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University (USA). Having worked for corporate companies Deloitte, PWC and Nedbank Limited.
International clients with which Douglas has led and executed successful transactions include Shell, Total, Anglo American, Anglo Platinum and Coronation Asset Managers. Douglas has exposure across a broad range of industries including agriculture, retail, construction, mining, manufacturing, oil and gas, public sector, toll road infrastructure, financial services, diamond financing, Fintech, education and bancassurance spanning the full segmentation from SME to multinationals.
Douglas is a game-changing growth catalyst and architect able to unleash exceptional growth through value innovation and transformational leadership. A driving and unifying force for orchestrating winning performance across silos, people, industries and geographies against all odds culminating in an internationally published business case spanning 22 000 employees and 6 million customers.
A future shaper, leading disruptive business model and ecosystem platform initiatives in an environment of trust and integrity that yields peak value for all stakeholders. Cultivates an atmosphere of collaboration and culture of engagement and service building enduring relationships with all stakeholders, ranging from clients and colleagues to regulators and government agencies.
David Frost
David is a globally experienced executive and transformation leader with 20+ years driving growth and leadership capability across leading multinational and high-growth organisations spanning aviation, technology, media, fintech, professional services, entertainment, and retail.
A proven architect of value innovation and enterprise transformation, he aligns strategy, talent, and culture to deliver sustained high performance at scale—consistently uniting teams across functions, geographies, and complex stakeholder environments.
His expertise across leadership, executive coaching, and organisational design enables him to rapidly build capability, embed high-performance cultures, and unlock measurable enterprise value. He has led large-scale transformations impacting tens of thousands of employees and millions of customers globally.
Known for his sharp strategic lens and executional precision, David creates future-ready organisations that navigate disruption, accelerate performance, and remain competitive in fast-moving markets.
Steven Paul,
CDir FIoD
Steven Paul is a strategic partner of IBEM and a Chartered Director and Board Director with 25 years of global P&L and executive leadership, partnering with CEOs, executive teams and boards across 30+ countries to design and deliver enterprise business transformation. He brings transformation implementation at scale, backed by board-level governance that keeps value, risk, and accountability under control. His work spans strategy execution, operating model change, post-merger integration, and complex programmes in regulated financial services and banking, alongside other sectors.
Steven also serves as Chief AI Officer (Strategy, Governance, Transformation) on selected engagements, aligning AI governance with practical organisational business implementation so AI transformation programmes are safe, adopted, and value-producing. Harvard Executive educated and Chartered Director through the Institute of Directors, he is Transformation & Governance Advisory Partner, IBEM Group with a Middle East and global focus.
Key areas of value add
- Leads enterprise transformation and PMI from value case to delivery, with clear outcomes, ownership, sequencing, and governance
- Embeds decision and board governance that protects value, reduces risk, and strengthens accountability
- Uplifts capability across leadership and operational layers to drive adoption, performance, and EBITDA impact
Ebtssam Sabri
Ebtssam Sabri is a Strategic Partner of IBEM and Principal for Nordic Arabia
Ebtssam is a strategic advisor, business development leader, and founder of Nordic Arabia consultancy supporting international companies in expanding into the Gulf region, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia. She specializes in facilitating partnerships, connecting global clients with senior stakeholders, family businesses, government entities, and private sector leaders, and providing hands-on support for market entry and growth initiatives.
With years of experience in both public and private sectors, Ebtssam began her career in the Swedish government, serving across multiple departments where she gained extensive expertise in administration, policy, and international relations. She later joined Deloitte, working with diverse international clients to provide advisory services, business strategy, and consulting. Her career combines a deep understanding of governance, strategic insight, and practical experience in business development across borders.
Fluent in Arabic, English, and Swedish, Ebtssam bridges Nordic and Middle Eastern business cultures, enabling her clients to navigate complex markets, establish trusted partnerships, and achieve sustainable outcomes. Her work spans multiple sectors, with a focus on building relationships and structuring collaborations that deliver tangible results.
Ebtssam studied Business Administration, and her approach integrates academic knowledge with years of hands-on experience, making her a trusted advisor for international companies seeking credible representation in the GCC. She is known for her strategic thinking, pragmatic approach, and ability to connect the right people at the right time, ensuring that every engagement is effective and high-impact.
Through Nordic Arabia, she has facilitated numerous partnerships, investment discussions, and business expansions, leveraging her extensive networks and cultural fluency to support clients in high-stakes markets. Her expertise lies in strategic advisory, cross-border relationship management, partnership facilitation, market entry planning, and executing complex initiatives in the Gulf region.
Antonio Falco
Antonio is a Strategic Partner of IBEM and Principal for Inteletus, https://inteletus.com/ Antonio stands as one of the most highly respected and accomplished Sales Directors today. Known for his exceptional professionalism, deep expertise, and unwavering commitment to excellence, he brings a level of insight and capability that consistently places him above his peers.
With an extraordinary command of sales strategy, process, language and the science behind successful selling, Antonio combines practical mastery with intellectual precision. His understanding of how sales truly works—why buyers buy, how teams perform, and what makes businesses grow—is both intuitive and academically grounded. Few individuals possess such breadth and depth of knowledge, and even fewer apply it with such consistent impact.
A highly skilled and sought-after sales leader, Antonio sets the very highest standards in performance, professionalism, and personal presentation—both for himself and for the businesses he represents. His expectations of the salespeople he leads are equally rigorous: clarity of purpose, mastery of skill, and accountability for results. Under his direction, sales teams elevate their performance, sharpen their effectiveness, and deliver measurable improvements.
Antonio is highly skilled in his ability to diagnose sales and business problems. Incredibly intuitive and quick-thinking, he can cut through the noise, identify root causes with precision, and articulate clear, practical solutions at speed. His approach is both strategic and actionable, making him the trusted adviser for leaders who cannot afford missteps.
Compelling, authoritative and consistently effective, Antonio Falco is the Sales Director organisations turn to when they need certainty, clarity and results. For businesses facing sales challenges, performance issues or strategic uncertainty, he is not merely an option—he is the answer.
Mark Herbert
Mark F. Herbert has over 30 years of combined corporate management and consulting experience in industries ranging from high technology and financial services to healthcare and ecotourism.
His most recent corporate role was as Chief Operating/Relationship Officer for one of Oregon’s largest credit unions.
Mark is a Strategic Partner of IBEM and Principal for New Paradigms LLC a management consultancy specializing in helping organizations effectively and successfully embraces change and engages their workforces. He possesses a BS in Management from Arizona State University, attended graduate school at the University of Oregon’s Institute for Industrial Relations, and has received specialized training certifications in programs regarding facilitating change, sales and service management, employee communications, and human resources management.
Using a model based on an integrated, systemic approach that includes strategies to address five key elements: respect, responsibility, information rewards, and loyalty; Mark facilitated and led teams and initiatives resulting in increased market share, improved profitability, and received national recognition for programs in education and healthcare management while officer at a large credit union. He has been a speaker and presenter at conferences on a local, regional, and national basis on leadership, change management, and human resources related topics.
Selected Accomplishments
2007 Shining Star Recipient from the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce for Outstanding contributions to the community.
2007 selection to Credit Union Executive Society’s “Rising 100”- top 100 non-ceo’s in CU industry.
The development and implementation of a program to recognize excellence in public education incorporating the efforts of two Chambers of Commerce, three school districts, and a major university.
Rhone E Lee
Rhone has over 35 years of combined Human Resources and corporate management experience in high technology (integrated circuit manufacturing / data capture) and retail.
Most recently he was in a corporate regional role as the Vice President, Human Resources – Americas for a global technology firm (Datalogic).
Rhone is a Strategic Partner of IBEM and Principal for New Paradigms LLC, a management consultancy specializing in helping organizations effectively and successfully embraces change and engages their workforces.
Rhone possesses a Bachelors degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (Psychology) from the University of the Pacific, and has received specialized training and certifications in programs regarding behavioral interviewing, sales compensation, human resources management and leadership development.
Rhone has been a pioneer of successful Human Resources initiatives including: 360 degree feedback; market-based design of compensation and benefits systems, succession planning; right-sizing, talent management and acquisition integration.
Rhone’s global experience ranges from start-ups to large multinational corporations. He has supported the local community and Lane County’s partners through agency Board membership and partnership with successful cooperative business initiatives.
Selected Accomplishments
- Implemented a socio-economic work model based on an integrated, systematic approach that focused strategies to address four key elements: Ownership, Accountability, Empowerment, and Reinforcement
- The development and implementation of an initiative to bring collaboration and value to business and academia while simultaneously addressing the community’s needs. This was an innovative approach to provide employees with wholesome meals; support the local junior college with training and work experience in catering and hospitality; and support for feeding the hungry in the local community
Zach Mammadov
Zach is a results-driven entrepreneurial executive with over two decades of professional experience that blends corporate expertise, senior roles in financial advisory, corporate finance, and investments with hands-on entrepreneurial experience in managing award-winning start-up companies. He has a proven track record of setting up, investing in, and successfully selling tech and service businesses while actively overseeing their growth at various stages. His innovative ventures have earned him recognition as an Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist in 2014 and 2016, with one of his companies being shortlisted for the Best New Business in 2016.
With a deep passion for innovation and an unwavering commitment to discovering new business models, Zach has cultivated a solid expertise in conceiving, implementing, and promoting innovative solutions that align with global trends and organizational strategies. He believes that fostering an entrepreneurial spirit is vital for every company, regardless of its size, to continually reinvent itself and offer a compelling value proposition. In his advisory roles, Zach has played a pivotal role in driving the success of numerous businesses and teams worldwide, spanning diverse sectors such as oil & gas, solar energy, banking, private equity, agriculture, education, professional services, and many more. His insights, vision and expertise have made him a sought-after speaker for senior executives and start-up leaders, where he shares valuable insights on sustaining innovations and unlocking growth opportunities.
Zach is a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, United States, and holds an MBA degree from Oxford University. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys spending quality time with his children, engaging in activities such as playing chess with his son and discussing history and cultures with his daughter. Zach is an avid traveller, culture and food enthusiast.