Ali Contractor

Ali Contractor is specialized in Strategic and Financial Business Management, Corporate Finance and corporate turnaround cases, as well as business expansion in Emerging Markets, including Start-ups.

Ali is presently working as the CFO of GSM telecom operations in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. He was the member of the Management Board and CFO of a EUR 265m turnover business, Roshan Telecom, Afghanistan, from 2009-2011. During this time, Ali worked on new licensing, mobile-money, network outsourcing, MVNO, strategy and governance besides managing Finance, Revenue Assurance, Business Intelligence and Procurement. Ali was also a Member of the Audit Committee of First Micro Finance Bank, Afghanistan, from 2009-2011. During 2008, Ali worked as a CFO for an oil refinery start-up project, Peninsula Energy, London office, setting up financial controls, risk management, preparing investment memoranda and assisting in initial rounds of fund raising.

Ali has worked as the Group Controller at the HQ of the world’s largest free distribution newspaper group, Metro International, London (2001-2007). During this time, Ali managed the HQ and led finance teams in 7 countries. As Head of Group Finance Functions, Ali also got extensively engaged in business development, M&A, Corporate Finance, turnaround cases, listing on Nasdaq & franchising, whilst continuously engaging in ongoing business initiatives. Previously (1998-2000), Ali worked for Kinnevik Investment “Group Business Advisory & International Audit Department” on numerous assignments for Millicom International Cellular, Tele2 and Modern Times Group MTG (telecom, media & e-commerce businesses), including establishing an outsourced shared service center.

Ali is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and qualified working with PricewaterhouseCoopers (1992-1997). He has a degree in Business Finance from the University of Karachi and has worked extensively in Western and Eastern Europe, Asia, Russia, Middle East and South America.

Languages: English, Hindi, Urdu and Gujarati.