Abu Dhabi’s Wusoom Announces New Board to Drive Next Era of Growth
Wusoom, an investment holding company recently acquired by BlueFive Capital, is pleased to announce the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors.
This board brings together leaders from global finance, private equity, and industry to guide Wusoom’s growth and impact across the UAE and beyond. The new appointments reflect Wusoom’s approach to building market-leading enterprises that steer the UAE’s economic diversification, yield sustainable returns, and create long-term value.
Hazem Ben-Gacem, Chairman of the Wusoom Board said: “This board brings together an exceptional mix of intellect, global reach, and operational firepower. Together, we are poised to reinforce Wusoom’s leadership as the region’s most agile and impactful investment platform; one that prioritizes performance, innovation, and purpose.”
The new board members are:
Hazem Ben-Gacem, Founder and Chief Executive, BlueFive Capital
Mouna Sarih, Head of Private Equity GCC, BlueFive Capital
Emily Morse, Head of Private Equity Europe, BlueFive Capital
Cristiano Silei, Non-Executive Director
Nikolai Riesenkampff, Non-Executive Director
The Wusoom acquisition adds companies across the agriculture, technology, hospitality, aviation, and infrastructure sectors to BlueFive Capital’s portfolio. BlueFive will leverage its operational expertise and global network to accelerate growth, optimize efficiencies, and scale cross-sector collaborations across the newly acquired businesses.
Hazem Ben-Gacem
Founder and Chief Executive, BlueFive Capital
Mr. Ben-Gacem brings over three decades of private equity experience across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Until September 2024, he was co-Chief Executive Officer at Investcorp, the Middle East’s largest non-sovereign private equity firm. At Investcorp, he led key investment committees and oversaw operations across global markets. He serves on the board at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and St Anthony’s College at Oxford University, the Dean’s Council of the Harvard Medical School, and is also a decorated sportsman, having represented Tunisia in international shooting championships.
Mouna Sarih
Head of Private Equity GCC, BlueFive Capital
Ms. Sarih leads BlueFive’s private equity investments in the GCC. Previously at Investcorp and JP Morgan, she directed the evaluation and execution of private equity investments and executed M&A and growth capital transactions across multiple sectors. She holds dual Master’s degrees in Management and Corporate Finance from EDHEC Business School.
Emily Morse
Head of Private Equity Europe, BlueFive Capital
Ms. Morse leads BlueFive’s private equity investments in Europe. With a background in technology investments and international private equity across Investcorp and Actis, she brings global execution experience to the board. She has lived and worked across Europe, Asia, and Africa and holds a degree in Economics from the University of Southampton.
Cristiano Silei
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Silei is a seasoned executive with a strong track record in leading iconic brands under private equity ownership. He is a former President and CEO of Dainese and a veteran executive from Ducati, where he held leadership roles in North America and global marketing and sales. His experience blends operational transformation with brand growth in the consumer and industrial sectors. He previously worked at Bain & Company and Andersen Consulting, with academic credentials from Bocconi, INSEAD, and RSM.
Nikolai Riesenkampff
Non-Executive Director
Mr Riesenkampff is an accomplished entrepreneur and fintech executive with a strong track record in scaling digital businesses and driving value creation. He served as CEO of Skrill (now PaySafe), where he helped lead the company’s international expansion and product evolution. His experience spans fintech, EdTech, and digital media, including founding Codesters and Trember. He lectures at UCL, previously chaired 1. FC Kaiserslautern football club, and founded the Riesenkampff Foundation to promote access to education and digital opportunity. He holds a PhD in Law from the University of Heidelberg.
About Wusoom Holding
Wusoom is a next-generation investment holding company based in Abu Dhabi, purpose-built to back the economic engines of the UAE.
For more information, please visit www.wusoom.ae
About BlueFive Capital
BlueFive Capital is a global investment platform that today has $2.6 billion in AUM and targets opportunities in high-growth economies with the goal of transforming traditional financial models and fostering sustainable growth. Incorporated in Abu Dhabi Global Market and with offices in London, Manama, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Beijing, the firm provides strategic exposure to sectors that will define the next generation of economic prosperity through consolidating parts of the financial services industry across insurance, private wealth and public markets.
For more information, please visit www.bluefivecapital.com
Contact:
Ayesha Daya
adaya@bluefivecapital.com
+971 50 888 7356