Rani R. Raad

Chief Executive Officer, IMI President and Operating Partner, RedBird IMI

Rani R. Raad serves as the CEO of International Media Investments (IMI) as well as President and Operating Partner of RedBird IMI, a joint investment vehicle with RedBird Capital based in New York.

He joined Redbird IMI in July 2023 in order to expand the fund by acquiring, investing in and building large scale media, entertainment and sports content properties on a global basis and was appointed to the additional role of CEO of IMI in the following September.

As CEO of IMI he has instigated a strategic plan to ensure the company develops and produces factual content that enriches and improves peoples’ lives across the region. He is responsible for developing IMI’s strategic goals as well as those of each individual group company and ensuring the resulting operation targets are achieved. As well as acting as the CEO for Sky News Arabia, he works directly with the Editors-in-Chiefs of CNNBA, The National and Al Ain to deliver best-in-class media brands notable for their excellence in objective and comprehensive reporting, innovation, business performance and the provision of opportunities to local talent.

Previously, Rani spent 25 years at Warner Bros. Discovery, where he held several key leadership positions. Most recently he served as President of CNN Commercial Worldwide where he was responsible for all commercial operations of the company and delivered record profits. Prior to that, he ran the company’s portfolio of News, Kids and General Entertainment networks in Turkey and the MENA region. Additionally, he played a leading role in building the company’s international digital advertising platform. Rani also served as AT&T Inc.’s advisor in the Middle East during their ownership period and was the architect behind CNN’s operations in the United Arab Emirates.

Rani graduated with a B.S. in Television, Radio, Film from The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in New York

He was recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader for his contributions to the media industry and was also named as one of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications’ 50 most successful alumni in the school’s 50 year history. He is a fixture in the Arabian Business Power list and is currently a Board Member of the Dubai International Chamber.

He is fluent in English, French and Arabic and lives in the UAE with his wife and four children.

Khaled AlHasan

Chief Financial Officer, IMI

Khaled Al Hasan is the Chief Financial Officer at International Media Investments (IMI).

Khaled is a certified accountant with over 16 years of media industry experience. Khaled joined International Media Investments in February 2015 as a Finance Director of Sky News Arabia and International Media Investments. In 2016 his finance responsibilities were expanded to cover the assets of IMI.

In 2010, Khaled worked for Abu Dhabi Media as Head of Finance for Abu Dhabi TV and Radio network. Before moving to Abu Dhabi, Khaled worked as a Finance Manager at Multichoice Middle east – Dubai, a Pay TV service provider owned by ART group established to provide encryption and billing services for ART network and other pay TV platforms in the MENA.

Khaled holds a B.A Degree in accounting from Al Yarmouk university in Jordan as well as CPA and CMA certifications from the US.

Hassan Sharif

Chief of Staff and Special Projects Director

Hassan Sharif is the Chief of Staff and Special Projects Director at International Media Investments (IMI).

Since joining IMI as a Special Projects Director in 2020, Hassan has been instrumental in driving continuous performance improvement and growth for the IMI group through his involvement in various strategic projects.

In his role as Chief of Staff, Hassan works directly with the CEO to support various projects, with a primary focus on the delivery of IMI’s new strategic plans, organic growth goals, and regional and international investments. As part of the company’s Executive Management Team (EMT), Hassan acts as a crucial liaison between the Board, CEO, and the EMT, ensuring seamless collaboration towards shared objectives. His expertise in strategic planning, project management, organizational structure, and business acumen continues to serve as a catalyst in propelling IMI forward.

Prior to joining IMI, Hassan worked with Deloitte for 8 years, successfully managing corporate turnaround situations, performance improvement projects, diagnostic assessments, business reviews, and financial restructuring. In 2019, he worked with ADQ’s investment team, playing a key role in developing and implementing transformation initiatives for various media assets.

Hassan holds a Master’s Degree in Accounting from The George Washington University in DC, and is a Certified Public Accountant (“CPA”).

Maher El Bilbeisi

Chief Legal Officer

Maher El Bilbeisi is the Chief Legal Officer at International Media Investments (IMI).

Maher joined IMI and Sky News Arabia as General Counsel in August 2021, before taking on the role of Chief Legal Counsel for IMI and Sky News Arabia in 2023. Maher also acts as the Company Secretary for Sky News Arabia. He brings forth two decades of experience in handling legal, governance, and compliance work across multiple industries and jurisdictions including Jordan, KSA, and the UAE. In his current role, he oversees the legal, governance, and compliance functions of IMI and its group of companies, working closely with board members, senior leadership, and other senior stakeholders to ensure full alignment with policies and local and international industry laws and regulations.

Prior to joining IMI, Maher worked in international law firms, before taking on the role of Vice President of Legal and Company Secretary for Damac Properties. He has worked closely with various organizations across multiple sectors, with a focus on media, real estate, and IP law; in addition to having driven a variety of projects with internationals from a legal and compliance aspect, including working with the World Bank on a project focusing on the business industry in KSA.

A fully bilingual lawyer in Arabic and English, Maher holds a Master’s degree in International Commercial Law from the University of Sussex, in addition to being a certified Company Secretary by the Dubai Financial Market and is admitted to the Jordan Bar Association.

Bradley Eliot

Chief Technology Officer

Bradley Eliot is the Chief Technology Officer at International Media Investments (IMI).

Brad joined IMI in June 2024. Prior to this, he held various management and global leadership positions. His domain expertise lies in technology and finance environments across various industries including media & entertainment, financial services and the sports industry.

His most recent role was Group Chief Information Officer at the Multichoice Group, the largest pay television operator in Africa. His focus there included technology platform modernization, digital transformation, enterprise data and analytics, establishing practices around agile development practices, enterprise architecture, machine learning, artificial intelligence and cloud-based technologies. He sits on various technology advisory councils and boards.

Brad is an avid sportsman having represented his country internationally in yacht racing and is a keen mountain biker. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Rania Masri El Khatib

Chief Brand and Marcomms Officer

Rania Masri El Khatib is the Chief Marketing and Brand Officer at International Media Investments (IMI).

With more than 20 years of experience, Rania is one a prominent player in the regional marketing landscape, having worked with a variety of brands to reshape the way they connect with regional and global audiences. In her role at IMI, she oversees the marketing, communications, and creative functions, merging progressive strategy with world-class execution that focuses on strengthening brand presence and expanding reach across the region and beyond.

Prior to joining IMI, Rania was a leader in the retail industry. Merging an affinity for forward-thinking consumer experiences with a passion for curating outstanding teams, Rania reached the top of the retail corporate ladder at 40, taking on the role of Chief Transformation Officer within the Middle East’s largest luxury retail group. Her innovative, experience-led accomplishments, which include the establishment of homegrown luxury concept store Level Shoes and the transformation of the Chalhoub Group at the helm of the COVID-19 pandemic, have played a vital role in directing the evolution of the region’s dynamic retail landscape.

An advocate for the pursuit of fulfillment over traditional success, Rania uses her platforms to present a well-rounded approach to the facets of daily life. Collaborating with experts from around the world, Rania addresses pressing topics across the spheres of career development, innovation and industry transformation alongside wellbeing, motherhood, and spirituality to spur honest conversations that can support the empowerment of women in the Middle East, and beyond. An ICF certified Executive Coach, Rania leverages her passion for developing talent through personalized coaching frameworks which elevate the potential of individuals and organizations.

Sharif Badreddine

Chief Revenue Officer

Sharif Badreddine is the Chief Revenue Officer at International Media Investments (IMI).

With a career spanning over two and a half decades in the media and advertising industry, Sharif stands out as a visionary leader and a strategic innovator. Prior to joining IMI, he served as the Group Director of Commercial at MBC Group, which he joined in February 2005.

In his role at MBC, Sharif played an instrumental role in redefining the notion of media engagement, moving beyond the traditional ad formats to embrace a holistic and multi-platform approach. He led the product innovation team, and pioneered ‘life beyond the 30 seconds’, as created alternative revenue streams and developed solutions that not only enabled brands to further connect and engage with audiences, but also had a significant contribution to the company’s financial well-being.

Prior to his tenure with MBC Group, Sharif began his professional journey at J. Walter Thompson in 1997. There, he demonstrated an impressive ascent through the corporate hierarchy. His contributions were pivotal in the conceptualization, stewardship, and strategic oversight of an array of high-profile brands. His expertise spanned various sectors and regions, effectively managing and nurturing the brands of various industry giants such as Nestle, Unilever, Kraft, Rolex, and Orascom, among many more.

Abdou Gadallah

Group Editorial Director

Abdou Gadallah is the Group Editorial Director at International Media Investments (IMI).

He took on this role in December 2023 to oversee the editorial strategies across IMI assets. Prior to this, he was the Head of News at Sky News Arabia. Gadallah first joined Sky News Arabia’s editorial team in 2012, and over the years held a variety of leadership roles within the editorial team, with a main focus on building and driving the network’s social media and digital teams. As Head of News at SNA, he played an instrumental role in supporting the channel’s day-to-day operations and implementing strategies that amplified Sky News Arabia’s reach across the Arab world.

Prior to joining Sky News Arabia, he worked as a Media Advisor at the US Embassy in Doha. Gadallah is renowned for his exceptional journalistic skills, media analysis, and outstanding knowledge of the Middle East’s international politics, current affairs.

He holds a BA in English Language and Literature from Cairo University.

Nadim Koteich

General Manager, Sky News Arabia

Nadim Koteich is a renowned media personality and professional journalist. He currently holds the position of General Manager at Sky News Arabia, in addition to being the presenter of the weekly “Tonight with Nadim” program, a satirical political program that adopts a unique blend of sarcasm and seriousness to highlight a range of Arab issues and news topics.

Nadim brings more than 20 years of experience working with various media outlets, including newspapers, televisions, and online platforms. His proficiency extends to engaging in contentious media discussions and demonstrating adept editorial management skills. These attributes solidify his standing as a trailblazing figure in the realm of new media across diverse social media platforms. In addition to his television endeavours, Nadim contributes a weekly political column to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, where he delves into comprehensive analyses of the region’s most significant issues.

Before joining Sky News Arabia, Nadim garnered widespread acclaim for his hosting of the “DNA” program. This show attracted a significant public response, and it was aired on both “Future TV” and “Al-Arabiya” channels. He played an instrumental role in shaping the landscape of dialogue and debate in the Middle East region.

He began his career as a producer for the prominent weekly social magazine “Siri Wenfatahet” on Future TV. He was a senior news anchor and a member of the editorial board, and hosted the famous program “Studio 24”, where his innovative news style played an important role in improving the program’s reputation and rating.

Nadim’s journey in the media industry is marked by his notable accomplishments, including the creation of the weekly political talk show “Al-Muwajaha” on Abu Dhabi TV. He ascended through various media roles, progressing from an internal correspondent to co-producing and co-hosting the economic bulletin.

Nadim graduated from the Faculty of Information and Documentation at Lebanese University in 2000.

Mina Al-Oraibi

Editor-in-Chief, The National

Mina Al-Oraibi is the Editor in Chief of The National newspaper, a daily English language regional newspaper based in Abu Dhabi. Mina has over 20 years of experience covering Middle Eastern, European and American affairs. She has conducted multiple high-profile interviews including with former US President Barak Obama, former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa AlKadhimi, US Climate Envoy John Kerry, Managing Director of the IMF Kristalina Geogrieva, President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Prior to assuming the role of Editor in Chief of The National, Mina was a Senior Fellow at the Institute for State Effectiveness (ISE) and a Yale World Fellow. At ISE, Mina is working on developing policy recommendations for improved governance in the Middle East and North Africa region, with a focus on Iraq and Syria.

Mina was the Assistant Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Alawsat, the international Arab-language daily newspaper 2011-2015. Before that, she was the Washington Bureau Chief for the newspaper.

In addition to her writing in The National, Mina is a columnist for Foreign Policy and Asharq Alawsat. Mina is an Advisor to the Global Dignity Day Movement and a member of the International Media Council. She is also a member of the board of trustees of the American University in Iraq – Sulaimani. Mina was named as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. She completed her Bachelors of Arts (Honours) and Masters of Arts in Modern History from University College London.

Ahmed Al Alawi

Editor-in-Chief, Al-Ain News and CNN Business Arabic

Ahmed Al Alawi is the Editor in Chief at Al-Ain News and CNN Business Arabic.

With more than 15 years of experience in digital media, Ahmed currently spearheads all editorial and day-to-day operations at Al Ain News through their headquarters in Abu Dhabi and regional offices in Cairo.

Prior to joining Al Ain News, Ahmed served in key roles within the UAE government for 20 years. He also worked with Al Majal Media and Studies, where he steered a range of strategic media projects, with a focus on digital transformation, digital journalism development, quality, and performance.

Throughout his career, Ahmed has been a pivotal figure in numerous media and management committees, contributing significantly to editorial and digital projects at entities like Al Roeya newspaper, Msdar Digital media group and Al Forsan Digital Media. He also took part in committees dedicated to supporting communities, notably those focused on drug control and collaboration with the Emirates Red Crescent Crisis and Emergency Team. He also serves as a digital media trainer and has authored multiple articles specializing in political and international affairs.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Media and Journalism and a Higher Diploma in Computer Engineering from the UK and is a graduate of the Media Leadership program from the National Defense College.

Rihab Jalal

Director of Investments

Rihab Jalal is the Director of Investments at International Media Investments (IMI).

Rihab is a media investment specialist with over 10 years of banking experience. She joined International Media Investments in August 2014 as an asset manager and shareholders’ financial representative. In 2016, her responsibilities expanded to the role of Investment Manager at IMI.

Prior to moving to the UAE, Rihab was chief of staff of BMCE Capital CEO, a leading asset management fund in MENA. Prior to this, Rihab worked at BNP Paribas in the M&A division and in financial services in the US.

Rihab holds an MBA and Masters in Finance from George Washington University, DC.

Ahmed Aal Rabeea

Group Director - Administration & Business Support

Ahmed Aal Rabeea is the Group Director – Administration & Business Support at International Media Investments (IMI).

Prior to taking on this role, Ahmed was the Chairman’s Office Manager for IMI, a role he held since 2019. Before joining IMI, Ahmed served as the Chairman’s Office Manager at Sky News Arabia from 2012, where he played a pivotal role in collaborating with leadership teams on special and strategic projects. Prior to joining Sky News Arabia, Ahmed held the position of Chairman’s Office Manager for both Abu Dhabi Media Company and Abu Dhabi Ports Company. Additionally, he served as the Director of the Office of the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change.

Earlier in his career, Ahmed held key roles at Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company Limited (ADGAS) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar). He was also a member of the UAE task force team dedicated to hosting the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA. He also contributed as a member of the Abu Dhabi Government Activities Committee.

Throughout his career, Ahmed received recognition from various governmental and private entities. Notably, he was honored with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Award in the category of ‘Best Distinguished Work Project.’ His contributions were also acknowledged by the Abu Dhabi Police General Command and the United Nations Representation in the UAE