Partner, Private Business & Family Office, PwC

Ismael Hajjar leads the MENA Private Client Services (PCS) core practice of EY Middle East. In his role, Ismael focuses on assisting successful families, entrepreneurs and family offices across MENA managing risks and preserving wealth. Ismael has been serving international families for over 14 years and currently acts as trusted advisor to a number of successful families across MENA. He has been successful in designing and implementing inter-generational succession, inheritance, governance, tax compliance and confidentiality strategies. He has contributed to building and currently serves Family Offices. Ismael is a regular speaker in the GCC and beyond on topics such as family business and private wealth institutionalization, global tax transparency, succession planning and the role of the family office. The team that he leads won the “WealthBriefing MENA Tax and Accountancy firm of the year” award in 2017 and 2019. He holds a Master Degree in Business Administration, HEC-Ulg School of Management (Belgium) and is a certified chartered accountant in Luxembourg (“expert-comptable”). He also holds an Islamic finance qualification, Institute of Islamic Banking & Insurance (UK), is a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and holds a Certificate in Family Business Advising (CFBA, Family Firm Institute).