Native of India, Abhijeet Sharma earned his degree of Bachelors in Business Administration following courses from several international universities in Marketing and Business Administration, Public Relations, Human Psychology, Daily Operation Management, Office Management, and Investment Strategies Sharma has attended many international business and investment conventions. Started his career from a 4 star property in Kathmandu as Management Trainee and later was hired by the same property as Front Office Executive. At time of Sharma’s training, he kept a close watch on Cash Management of Hotels, Daily Accounting, Night Auditing, Reservation Management, Front Office Management, Store Management and other management affairs. With recent unavoidable interruption of Nepal’s tourism industry, Sharma has necessarily focused on overseas employment. Joining a reputed recruitment agency as Operations Manager to gain the business know how of the industry and subsequently assisted in forming a family-operated recruitment company authorized for UAE sector market development. Stationed in the UAE for four years, Sharma’s company suppled a skilled and unskilled workforce from Nepal to many of UAE’s multinational construction and engineering companies. Achieving a decade of success in the recruitment business, Sharma decided to diversify and with the help of brothers and friends, formed the Ambe Group of Companies, a multidisciplinary business house as a liaison for the Nepalese economy and society.

Mr. Chng launched his career in the service industry as a flight steward for Singapore Airlines. He then joined a Danish MNC in Singapore where he worked as sales manager. In 2001, in associating with a local recruitment company in the field of manpower recruitment and staffing and realizing the potential of the employment industry, Chng established his own company that supplies skilled and unskilled workers to all parts of Asia and the Middle East. Chng’s company also conducts corporate HR training and professional courses in Singapore assisted by a partner in the Education and Corporate Training industry.

Dean Botha works with a variety of five star groups across Africa and Southern Africa. Botha started his career in the recruitment industry at the age of 19. Having worked for 2 years in various work and travel programs for a diverse range of employers in the USA, he chose to pursue a dedicated hospitality, health and skincare recruitment role in the UAE and surrounding countries. With several years’ experience in the recruitment industry, Botha’s expertise in the field ensures a long-lasting relationship and an extended network of clients. He ascertains the recruitment of college graduates to South Africa’s leading hospitality, culinary and health and skincare institutes.

Al Ajab has served the Police Department’s Ministry of Interior since 1975. He was promoted to Brigadier (high staff) and then retired in the year 2004 with the title of General Director of Operations and Telecommunication. Currently, Al Ajab is the General Manager of Roots Trading & Services (Rotoco Group) Co. Rotoco Group consists of the following: Roots trading, Rotoco Contracting, Engineer Technology, Telecommunications and Security, Asafwa Advertising & Publicity and Roots Real Estate. Activities conducted by Rotoco Group include the following: Food & Catering, Building and Electrical Material, Security Industrial Equipment, Support Services, Advertising & Publicity and General Cleaning Services. Mr. Al Ajab first attained a Certificate in English from Continental College-UK. Then, he gained an O.N Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from N.E Tech. College-UK followed by a Diploma in Arts & Sciences from Cambridge Academy in Florida-USA. He then continued his education by achieving a Diploma in Business & Technical Management from Sacramento State College in California-USA; a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering from South Dakota State University-USA; professional training courses from the Police Academy-Egypt, Prince Naif Academy in Riyadh-KSA; Police Staff College in Pramshill-UK and Louisiana State University-USA. Al Ajab also has attended several international conferences and seminars.

Based in Nairobi, this Market-Key Franchise serves both local and international clients. The firm is licensed by the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Local Government and the Kenya Association of Private Employment Agencies. In collaboration with Kenya’s Government, Market-Key’s Franchise has enhanced and facilitated the opportunity to recruit young, skilled, energetic and highly disciplined professionals with good command of English and French. The professionals are enthusiastic and willing to work in any region of the world. The success of the company has been inevitably reliant on its unmatched efficiency, reliability and ethical conduct in its recruitment services.

Mr. Ajam’s 28-year career in hygiene began in 1978 as Health Officer with the Ministry of Health (Mauritius). In 1994, he joined the private sector where he worked as Hygiene Advisor/ Human Resource Manager for airline catering. In 2000, Ajam started private consultancy in hygiene and performed audits for over 50 hotels and 100 restaurants in Mauritius/ Rodrigues. Currently, he is still working in private consultancy, auditing and training for hotels, hypermarkets and food businesses. Mr. Ajam has several diplomas in the fields of Sanitary Sciences from the University of Mauritius, Public Health Inspectors from Royal Society of Health- UK and Occupational Health and Safety from National College of Industrial Hygiene-S.A. Ajam earned a certificate from WHO-MIH on Educational Methodology in the year 1990 and another certificate in 1991 on Training of Educators from PSI. He earned several other diplomas which include the following: Gold Diploma in Personnel Management, Diploma in Developmental Studies and Diploma in Food Hygiene. Other recently earned certificates include: Auditor/Lead Audit, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, HACCP Tutor and ISO 9000: 2000. In 2004 Ajam completed a post-graduate degree in Food Safety/ Drinking Water and in 2005 he earned his MS degree in Public Health from Hertsfordshire-UK. Mr. Ajam is also a registered trainer with the Industrial and Vocational Training Board and the Ministry of Health (Mauritius) for “Food Hygiene & Food Safety”. He trains in Mauritius and abroad in the areas of Food Safety, General Hygiene, HACCP and also conducts Hygiene Audits for the Hotels and Food premises both in Mauritius and abroad. He is also a member of the International Institution of Risk & Safety Management – UK, the Royal Institute of Public Health & Hygiene – UK, the International Federation of Environmental Health, the Rotary Club and the Management Committee of the Hotel School of Mauritius.

Batra started his career as placement executive for a leading personnel placement agency in New Delhi. He opened his own placement agency, A&B Associates, 1980 in New Delhi. In 1987, he shifted base to Dubai, establishing MRS-Dubai. In 1991, International Manpower Resources (IMR) was founded, recruiting principally in the fields of construction, petrochemicals, oil and gas. In 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2007 respectively, IMR signed contracts with the US company USA-IT, GOVERNMENTS SERVICES – USA, SNC – LAVALINE – Canada, and FRONTECH – CANADA. Pioneer in the recruitment industry, Mr. Batra’s 24-years of experience has provided him with an in-depth understanding of the industry and client requirements.Published several articles in news papers and trade magazines.

Etablished as a leader in the field of Training and Organizational Development, Imran Umar has 15years of experience in the field. He makes use of technology in teaching all levels of organizational management and insures expected performance is achieved and maintained. He also has experience in creating performance management tools, high value employee identification, succession planning tools and extensive instructional design expertise. Umar has developed over 2000 presentations and workshops, becoming one of the most sought after trainers in the Middle East. He has recognized the demand for a corporate training program that emphasizes team building, coaching, HR development, hospitality and marketing. In this way, Umar’s programs assist employees evaluate their professional performance and provide suitable methods of positive self-acknowledgement as the basis of positive self-renewal.

Mr. Momen began his career in 1985 by working as a sales secretary in Al Salam Meridien Hotel – Saudi Arabia. In 1988, he worked as an HR secretary in Al Salam Holiday Inn – Saudi Arabia and in 1996, he was appointed Executive Secretary. Since 2008, Momen has been the Chairman of Rafin Real Estate. Mr. Momen attained his Bachelor of Arts in 1984 from Dhaka Univesity, Bangladesh

Mr. Tabeta started his career in the temporary and recruitment industry with one of Japan’s pioneers and has been in this field since 1990. He conducts sales, marketing, public relations and overseas branch managements. In 1995, he was assigned as the manager of its New York office for a period of 3 years. Transferred to Hong Kong, Tabeta supervised operations and then was appointed to start up a new service division at headquarters to assist senior business professionals to break new ground in their careers. In 2000, he was appointed to the position of Executive Director of Human Resources. In 2003 Mr. Tabeta established his own company, Global Initiative Corporation in Tokyo-Japan and Seven Seas Consulting Co., Ltd. in Seoul-South Korea.

Lara Schneider began her career in the food service business at the age of 17. She branched into five- and six-star hotels and restaurants increasing her experience and knowledge in several fields such as: suggestive sales, enology, gastronomic English, management of complaints, personnel management . She worked also as a hostess/ captain/ coach in Dubai at Sofitel the Palace Hotel. Collaborator in the opening of Ajman Beach Hotel, Ajman-UAE, where she worked as a kitchen and restaurant manager. Currently, in addition to being Market Key’s representative in Argentina where she devotes her work to the selection of appropriate candidates, she has a partnership in Lara’s Gourmet.

Entrepreneur and CEO of internationally based Market Key, Mounir El Khoury hails from Beirut, Lebanon. As the second son in a family of six, Mounir El Khoury’s childhood was shaped by conflicts his family experienced during Lebanon’s civil war. Even so, his excellent academic accomplishments, inquisitive outlook, and interest in the world around him gave birth to El Khoury’s entrepreneurial spirit. He reminisces: “I have had the ambition to participate in the world of business from an early age.” The dreams of youth! El Khoury captured his dream and tested it by executing small-scale business deals, designing and selling private label swimwear collections during summer vacations during Middle School. Small profits in business convinced El Khoury to major in Business Marketing at university. The avenues open to him from his high grades combined with parental preference for education in the more traditional fields of Medicine or Law challenged the young businessman’s determination without success. At the age of 17, El Khoury co-founded Market Key with his brother in Beirut, Lebanon; the next year, he enrolled at Notre Dame University of Lebanon and by 25, had completed the University’s degree with a double major in Business Marketing and Advertising. He quickly joined the Masters program of the American University of Beirut majoring in International Law and Diplomacy. Determined to position Market Key as a leading international management consultancy and solutions company, El Khoury strategized the company’s business expertise to emphasize Human Resources/ Management/Recruiting, Exhibitions and Events, and Publishing. Complementing twelve years of outstanding accomplishments in Market-Key’s original channels, El Khoury, ever the entrepreneur, expanded his original business model to embrace an additional niche stream of training programs in collaboration with the Florida-based International Institute of Modern Butlers (“IIMB”) as a Partner. El Khoury states: “With IIMB, Market-Key has deepened and extended its services for employers and job seekers.” El Khoury manages six Market-Key-owned offices in Beirut, Dubai, Doha, Jeddah, Kathmandu, and Florida, along with setting annual goals and standards for the company’s 21 additional offices and affiliates throughout the world. In opening the Florida office, El Khoury added green initiatives for the hospitality industry, with the Florida office coordinating this international program in collaboration with Market-Key’s head office.

General Manager of Interlink Management Services, an overseas recruitment agency in Sri Lanka, Tuan Mohamed Fangera Ismail (“T.M.F.”), has overseen client business development and negotiations, property maintenance and insurance, administration of HR and staff policies, office administration and accounting functions, liaised with governmental and non-governmental organizations, coordinated with The Bureau Units and multiple other functions related to recruitment of new candidates since 2007. Ismail’s career in the banking industry commenced with his position as a Staff Officer at Hatton National Bank Limited which he continued 10 years. Following his experience in banking, Ismail joined Riyadh Inter Continental Hotel, employed initially as HR Clerk then promoted to Assistant HR Consultant. Ismail subsequently was appointed Administration Manager at Swedberg Private Limited for 4 years before he embraced a 4-year experience as Assistant Personnel Manager at Taj Samudra Hotel. Ismail’s HR experience was tapped when he served as HR consultant for 3 years of 3 joint operations: Inter Continental Hotels Dar Al Iman, Dar Al Hira and Dar Al Taqwa Hotels. Following this consulting project, Ismail chose to return to financial services by working for a year as Training Manager at Seylan Merchant Bank Limited. He expanded his management career working as Operation/Administration Manager for 5 years in two firms: Executive Search Limited and Grant HR Consulting. Mr. Ismail earned his G.C.E in ordinary (conversational) English. He attained an Intermediate Diploma from the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka; a Management Diploma from Open University of Sri Lanka; a Hospitality and Management Practice 1 & 2 from IHC Group; Train the trainer certificate from SAITHRDP and Coordinator for Combined Attitude & Perspective Surveys (CAPS) certificate for Inter Continental Hotels Corporation, Saudi Arabia.

Employed by Lanvin SA, Mr. Da Costa was a shop director and then was appointed manager of Large Accounts. At the age of 28, he created a Commercial Department (Department Stores>) and then was appointed Commercial Manager. Da Costa graduated with a Masters degree “Commercial and Political Strategies of Negotiation” from Sorbonne University – Paris. Da Costa’s professional experience is complemented by his wide perspective in trade, human resource and purchasing in French as well as international markets.

Steven Ferry was born in Southern England, where he attended private schools and Art College. He worked both in the hospitality industry and in private service in England during the 1980s before training as a butler in England and then working as one in the United States. He established the International Guild of Traditional Butlers and wrote the basic manual on how to butle in the early 1990s. By the mid-1990s, he had left private service to focus on his writing and consulting. In 2009, established with Mr. Mounir El Khoury, Market Ket USA and holds the position of VP MK USA & AMERICAS since.

Tarek G. Jarrouje a Lebanese National graduated in 1999 with a Hotel Management Diploma and has been in the Hospitality field since 1990. Started his professional career path with the Inter-Continental Group in Lebanon then moved to Dubai to join Rotana Hotels & Resorts, one of the industry pioneers in the Middle East, where he played active roles in Food & Beverage with various openings specially in Egypt. In 2004, he joined ACCOR ME, French Hotel chain in the United Arab Emirates, and succeeded as an individual in the management of their 18 properties under the Human Resources department. Through his experience in ACCOR, he was assigned in different missions for the group and mainly in Sudan. Two years later, the head office nominated him to open a Flagship property for SOFITEL, Luxury Hotels at Burj Dubai Down Town in Dubai-UAE. In 2008, he decided to return to his home country, Lebanon, where he oversees currently one of the leader recruitment agencies' operations, Market Key.

Mr. Ilmast began his career in the hospitality industry employed by Le Meridien Abu Dhabi in 2004. In 2005, he returned to Russia where he led a recruitment agency that provided Russian speaking staff to the UAE hospitality industry. In 2008, he founded his own recruitment agency conducting operations in Russia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan to supply employees in the hospitality and retail industries in the Middle East. Mr. Ilmast graduated from St. Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics with a major in Hospitality and Tourism Management.