executive profile

Kolja A. Rafferty, MBA, IDP-C, CTP, MScR

Senior Executive · C-Suite Operator · Advisor · Certified Board Director

Areas of Expertise

Transformation Leadership · Turnaround Strategy · Strategic Growth Development · Performance Improvement · Corporate Strategy · Post-Merger Integration (PMI) · M&A Execution and Accelerated Divestments · Corporate Finance and Capital Markets · Business Model Innovation · Business Architecture · Investor Relations · Strategic Enablement of AI/ML · Quantitative Data Driven Decision Models · Private Equity (PE) environments.

Executive Profile

I work with organizations facing complex and critical transformation, where speed, judgment, and execution matter.

With more than 20 years of experience across Europe and the Middle East, I operate at the intersection of strategy, capital, and execution. My work spans private equity backed transformations, government linked investment platforms, and corporate turnarounds in situations where strategic optionality is constrained and decisions are irreversible.

I specialize in Situations of Rapid Change, moments when transformation dynamics exceed organizational adaptability and economic pressure accelerates. In these contexts, I support boards, investors, and executive teams in restoring control, reallocating capital, restructuring portfolios, and translating strategic intent into operational outcomes.

My background combines senior operating roles, investment responsibility, and board level governance. I have led post-merger integrations, executed M&A and accelerated divestments, overseen large scale investment portfolios, and driven digital and AI enabled business model shifts, particularly within GCC sovereign and government linked ecosystems.

Recent work focuses on AI enabled strategy, cross border FDI investment structures, and institutional capability building within capital intensive environments.

I provide clarity under pressure, disciplined execution, and the ability to move organizations from analysis to action when time is the scarcest resource.

Select Executive Engagements (selection)

Chief of Staff, PIF owned Giga-project (Saudi Arabia), leading operations of a central investment platform spanning PPP, M&A, and strategic FDI
Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, ICD owned free zone holding company (UAE), leading post-merger integration of Dubai’s second largest free zone cluster
SVP Investments, government owned investment platform (Qatar), overseeing direct and special situations across asset classes
CEO (PE mandated), digital health plattform, leading turnaround.
CEO (PE mandated) OTT platforms, leading growth, and exit processes.
Partner and Practice Lead, international strategy and transformation advisory operating across Europe, GCC, and East Africa.

Board & Advisory Roles (selection)

Certified Non-Executive Director (INSEAD IDP C)
Non-Executive Director and advisor to PE backed and founder owned technology firms (scale up, prepare for exit, special situations)
Visiting Lecturer for Foreign Direct Investment, German University of Technology, Oman
Committee Member, Turnaround Management Association (USA)
Advisory roles at Swiss PE platform, INSEAD IDP-N Ambassador (Switzerland), Ambassador EconomieSuisse, and Swiss Association of MBAs (SAMBA), Hawkamah (Dubai)

Education & Certification (selection)

DBA Candidate (Finance), IE University, Madrid
MBA and Executive MBA, University of Rochester and University of Berne
Certified Turnaround Professional (TMA, USA)
Executive education at INSEAD, MIT, Stanford, Columbia