ESAS Signals Strategic Outreach into the Middle East with appointment of Farah Foustok to its Board of Directors

Istanbul / Dubai – [30/07/2025]

ESAS, an Investment and Wealth Management group with offices in Istanbul, London, and Frankfurt, has announced the appointment of regional financial leader Farah Ahmad Foustok to its Board of Directors. The appointment reflects ESAS’ strategic focus on expanding its governance and visibility across the GCC and broader MENA region.

With more than 30 years of experience across global financial institutions, Farah Foustok is widely recognized as one of the most influential women in the Middle East’s financial sector. She has previously served as CEO of Lazard Gulf Ltd. and held senior roles at ING Investment Management, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, and EFG-Hermes.

Her appointment to the board marks a significant milestone in ESAS’ journey toward becoming a more regionally integrated and strategically governed enterprise. Foustok brings a unique blend of expertise in asset and wealth management, corporate governance, and regional investment strategy. She also brings with her a far-reaching network of relationships across the public and private sectors in the GCC and beyond.

“Farah is not only a seasoned executive, she’s a thought leader who challenges conventional thinking. Her presence on our board strengthens our strategic thinking and global orientation.” He continued, “At ESAS, we believe that values and vision must go hand in hand. Farah’s commitment to responsible leadership and her advocacy for diversity reflect the principles we aim to live by every day”, said Ali Sabancı, Chairman of ESAS.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Foustok is a vocal champion of gender diversity and youth empowerment. She co-founded the MENA chapter of the 30% Club, an initiative to advance female leadership on boards, and launched TARA, a mentoring platform for aspiring Arab women professionals.

“Joining ESAS board is a privilege. It represents not just a professional alignment, but a shared sense of purpose: to grow with integrity, invest with conviction, and lead with responsibility,” said Farah Foustok.

ESAS is an Investment and Wealth Management group with offices in Istanbul, London and Frankfurt. The group invests in Alternatives through their own dedicated teams in Private Equity and Real Estate, with ESAS as the anchor investor in all offerings through its own balance sheet. In Wealth Management, ESAS delivers tailor-made solutions across public and private markets as well as family governance.

For more information, please visit: https://www.esas.com.tr/en/home

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