Associate Director- MENA Chief Data Officer (CDO)

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the regional MENA data strategy and roadmap aligned with global direction and local regulatory needs.
• Establish a fit-for-purpose data operating model, including roles, decision rights, and cross-country data councils.
• Lead enterprise data governance and stewardship, overseeing policies, data quality, metadata, and lineage.
• Enable AI and analytics at scale by promoting reusable data products and partnering with technology teams on platform modernization.
• Oversee data risk management, privacy, and compliance (e.g., GDPR) in collaboration with Risk, Legal, and Cyber teams.
• Drive data monetization by identifying high-value assets and transforming them into revenue-generating products and services.
• Act as an executive sponsor and ambassador for data, engaging senior stakeholders and representing the region in global forums.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data/Analytics, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience in data or technology leadership.
• 5+ years in an enterprise or regional CDO, Head of Data, or VP Data equivalent role.
• Demonstrated success in establishing data governance, stewardship, and data quality at scale.
• Proven experience shaping data platform and architecture strategy (cloud, lakehouse, integration, APIs).
• Fluent English; Arabic language skills are a plus.
• Strong executive-level communication and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in professional services or complex, regulated environments with multiple service lines.
• Track record of delivering enterprise data products or scaling AI/advanced analytics.
• Experience implementing data catalog, governance workflow, and quality tooling.
• Familiarity with data management frameworks such as DAMA-DMBOK or DCAM.
• Strong understanding of information security, privacy-by-design, and responsible AI governance.

About the Company

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, consulting, and strategy services. We are dedicated to building a better working world by helping create long-term value for clients, people, and society through the power of data and technology.