Gavin Walford-Wright

Captain
DISC Type : SD

Group Chief Corporate Development Officer at Ajlan & Bros Holding

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Overview

Gavin Walford-Wright is the Group Chief Corporate Development Officer at Ajlan & Bros Holding, a major MENA conglomerate. With over 20 years of experience, he leads strategic growth, M&A, and financial planning. People he has worked with describe him as tenacious, entrepreneurial, innovative, and an inspirational leader. He earned his Masters Degree from Middlesex University.

While his public profile is primarily professional, Gavins certifications in marketing and interest in premier brands like Rolex suggest a strong appreciation for quality, branding, and excellence that complements his corporate development role. His career has spanned diverse sectors including healthcare, education, and telecommunications across the UK, Middle East, Africa, and India.

He has co-authored a publication on how people analytics and technology are driving talent acquisition strategy, showcasing his thought leadership in HR innovation.

Personality Overview

Consummate Professional

Decisive But Calm

Dynamic But Sincere

They might take some time to make their mind up but once they do, they don't change it easily.  They exhibit a rare combination of being result-oriented but patient at the same time. They are very professional in their approach and can weigh multiple perspectives together.

Topics They Care About

Corporate Development
As Group Chief Corporate Development Officer for a US$15 billion conglomerate, he is directly responsible for strategy, M&A, financial planning, and driving growth.
Strategic Partnerships
He is involved in establishing significant joint ventures and partnerships, such as with Dussmann Group, QNB, and Japan's Marubeni Corporation to expand the holding group's portfolio.
Talent Acquisition Innovation
Peers consider him a thought leader in talent acquisition. He has published work on using technology and analytics to innovate recruitment and improve hiring quality.

Media Appearances

Gavin has no verified media appearances

Work History

4-2024
Group Chief Corporate Development Officer at Ajlan & Bros Holding
11-2022 - 4-2024
Assistant Deputy Group CEO at Ajlan & Bros Holding
11-2021 - 11-2022
Group Chief Shared Services Officer at Ajlan & Bros Holding
1-2025
Board Member at Dussmann-Ajlan & Bros
2-2019 - 7-2020
Group Chief People, Marketing & Admissions Officer at Taaleem

Education

2017 - 2023
Doctor of Business Administration (ABD) from Middlesex University
2014 - 2016
Master’s Degree from Middlesex University

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 8 Location : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Job Level : Leadership Designation : Group Chief Corporate Development Officer at Ajlan & Bros Holding
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Insights For Selling To Gavin

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Stick to your standard pitch and qualifying script, don't try to wing it
  • Let them know of potential risks but suggest mitigation methods alongside
  • Suggest clear next steps with confidence, don't be vague or hesitant

DONT's

  • Don't take their patience for granted, avoid long-winding sermons
  • Don't focus too much on mutual contacts or bother about other stakeholders, focus on them
  • Don't get into pricing discussions early on, steer conversation towards proven results

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Gavin is

  • Strong proof of impact and their conviction will matter the most, but they wouldn't want to act unilaterally either
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Gavin

  • They will say no if they are not convinced but you will have to prompt them.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Gavin move?

  • They will want to understand things well but can move fast once they have a clear picture.
  • Can Gavin take some risk or not?

  • They have good risk tolerance but are likely to think it through once or twice.

You And Gavin

Personality Compatibility


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