The World Gold Council (WGC) has today reaffirmed its commitment to the Middle East and Turkey, through the appointment of a new regional head, Ajay Mitra, replacing Anan Fakhreddin who has stepped down from his position for personal reasons.
Aram Shishmanian, CEO of the World Gold Council commented: “Anan’s significant contribution to our operations in the Middle East, as well as to broader themes in the jewellery arena has helped us build our presence here, and we wish him well in his future career. We will continue to invest strategically where we see strong potential, and we are committed to our partners and to delivering on both existing and new jewellery and investment programmes. One such example is our forthcoming launch of a new gold jewellery brand in the UAE and Saudi over the coming weeks. We also plan to increase staffing levels in Saudi Arabia, among other places.”
The Middle East and North Africa region remains a significant market for the gold industry and as such the regional office, based in Dubai, remains an important hub for the World Gold Council.
This ongoing impetus requires strong leadership and with this in mind, the World Gold Council has announced the expansion of the role of Ajay Mitra, the organisation’s country head in India, to the Middle East region. A veteran in the industry, Ajay has led the World Gold Council’s operations in the Indian Subcontinent, the world’s largest gold market, for the past three years.
A seasoned marketing professional with extensive work experience across the globe, Mr Mitra has been tasked with leading market development programmes to increase demand for gold in all its forms, as well as building enduring relationships with trade and retail partners and maintaining proactive dialogue with government.
Commenting on Ajay Mitra’s appointment, Aram Shishmanian added, “With Ajay’s background, and the support of our extensive global team of professionals and experts, I am more than confident that he will drive the World Gold Council to new heights of success in the region and will provide our partners with excellent support.”
Ajay Mitra stressed the importance of the World Gold Council’s trade and retail partnerships in the region, commenting “Our partnerships across the Middle East and Turkey form a core part of our operation and are critical to our ongoing success, including in the development of all gold demand programmes. I am delighted to take on this role and look forward to visiting the region on a regular basis to continue supporting and developing this important gold market.”
