We recently had the opportunity to have an insightful conversation with Mohamed Ibrahim, Financial Controller at a leading Saudi company in the gaming and electronics sector. With a strong background of holding several senior finance roles in multinational companies, including positions as Group Finance Director, Group Finance Controller, and Finance Director, Mohamed’s career journey began as an accountant. As a seasoned financial leader, he also holds an MBA in Finance, alongside CRMP, and ILM qualifications.
Dedicated to continuous learning and improvement, Mohamed Ibrahim’s strong foundation, backed by ISO certification and Quality Inspection principles, shapes his leadership approach in the field of finance.
The Beginning
We started the session by asking, “How did your professional journey begin, and what key moments shaped where you are currently?”
Mohamed shared, “My career began as an accountant, and I became a finance manager before the age of 29. From the start, I embraced continuous learning and improvement as a lifestyle. Even before graduation, I was reading management books, including ‘Reengineering the Corporation’ by Michael Hammer and James Champy, and I pursued ISO certification and Quality Inspection principles. These early exposures shaped my thinking about process optimization, governance, and the role of finance in driving business growth, which I applied directly in my early roles.
A formative opportunity came when I joined a small online publishing company in 1999 at around 26 years old. I was asked to build the finance and accounting function for a company of 15 employees, which later grew to hundreds. The practical knowledge I gained from these early studies and readings helped me structure operations efficiently, improve controls, and support growth. This experience reinforced the importance of learning, adapting, and embracing challenges, showing that the scope of what we can achieve is limited only by our willingness to learn.”
More about Mohamed Ibrahim’s Role
To learn more about Mohamed Ibrahim’s responsibility at the organizations he leads, we asked, “Can you tell us more about your current role and the organization you represent?”
“I have held senior finance roles in multinational companies, including positions as Group Finance Director and Group Finance Controller. Currently, I serve as Financial Controller in a leading Saudi company in the gaming and electronics sector. In this role, I lead the finance function with collaboration of my team, as we optimize processes, and ensure operational efficiency, access to financial , accounting, and cross function support to all other functions in the organization,” he mentioned.
Core Offerings at the Company
We further asked, “What core services or products does your business provide, and what makes them unique?”
He added, “The company is a market leader in gaming and electronics in Saudi Arabia, distributing, retailing, and servicing audio-visual, mobile, and gaming products. Its strength lies in quality, innovation, and exceptional customer experience, ensuring that products and services meet the evolving expectations of a tech-savvy generation.”
Navigating through Challenges
Intrigued to learn how Mohamed Ibrahim overcame the challenging phases of his career, we asked, “What major challenges have you faced as a leader, and how have you overcome them?”
He explained, “One of the key challenges was leading finance functions during organizational transformations — moving companies from family-run structures to multinational operations and preparing them for IPO processes. This required implementing strong governance, compliance frameworks, and risk controls, while leveraging technology to drive efficiency and ensure readiness for public market scrutiny.
The knowledge I gained from my MBA in Finance and CRMP certification in Risk Management enabled me to implement effective governance and control frameworks, make strategic decisions, and guide teams through complex projects. My Change Management certification helped me lead initiatives such as establishing a Shared Services Center across seven countries and implementing automation projects that enhanced operational efficiency.”
Redefining Business with AI
The strong impact of the digital revolution, such as AI, across industries plays a key role in how businesses operate in current times. So, we asked, “How do you see technology — especially AI — influencing your sector?”
“Technology has always been a key driver of growth and competitiveness. Early in my career, I saw how strategic investments in technology could deliver long-term returns. Today, AI is transforming business operations, enabling advanced data analysis, smarter decision-making, predictive insights, and automation of routine tasks.
By embracing change and innovation, companies can increase efficiency, reduce errors, and make smarter, faster decisions, keeping pace with the dynamic market,” Mohamed commented.
Envisioning the Future
Interested to learn Mohamed Ibrahim’s perspective on the growth of his industry, we asked him to share the same.
He reflected, “The gaming and electronics sector continues to grow rapidly, fueled by younger generations who value entertainment and digital experiences. Innovation, evolving consumer preferences, and technology adoption will shape the market, creating opportunities for agile, forward-thinking companies.”
Message for Beginners
Lastly, we asked, “What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals aiming to create impact?”
“I am not sure if I am the right person to inspire people, but I will share what I believe in. Creating impact is about a mindset of positive attitude and adopting continuous learning growth as a lifestyle. Focus on learning, adapting, and applying knowledge to real-world challenges.
Invest in yourself, embrace technology, and build a team based on potential and ability to grow, not just past achievements. When knowledge, curiosity, and action come together, individuals and businesses can achieve far more than they might imagine,” Mohamed concluded.
Connect with Mohamed Ibrahim on LinkedIn to learn more about his journey.
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