Mentor
Darren Davis
Overview
Darren Davis is a senior financial and industrial leader with more than three decades of experience across investment banking, corporate transformation and large‑scale industrial development in the Middle East. Most recently, he has served as Senior Adviser to the Minister of Investment in Saudi Arabia and as an Independent Member of the Investment Committee of The Arab Energy Fund, shaping capital allocation, strategic investment and long‑term economic programmes at national scale.
Prior to this, he was President & CEO of Ma’aden, where he led the organisation through major operational challenges, capital‑intensive growth initiatives and substantial corporate restructuring.
Earlier in his career, Darren spent 20 years in investment banking in London and the Middle East, holding senior leadership positions at HSBC and APICORP. At HSBC, he built and led the MENA Resources & Energy investment banking franchise, advising on capital raising, M&A, and strategic transactions across the region. His earlier roles spanned structured finance, distressed debt trading and corporate banking, giving him a deep grounding in financial markets and complex cross‑border dealmaking. His subsequent eight‑year tenure at Ma’aden included roles in capital markets, M&A and joint‑venture formation before progressing to CFO and ultimately CEO.
Darren has also contributed to regional economic and industrial development through various board and advisory positions, including at APICORP and The Arab Energy Fund. His cross‑functional background positions him as a trusted adviser on investment strategy, organisational resilience and capital‑intensive growth programmes in resource‑driven economies.
Darren brings deep cross‑sector expertise in:
• Investment banking & capital markets — two decades of advisory, structured finance and capital‑raising leadership across London and the Middle East.
• Industrial growth & large‑scale transformation — oversight of Ma’aden’s multinational mining and industrial operations during periods of significant strategic change.
• Economic development & investment strategy — senior advisory roles shaping national investment programmes within Saudi Arabia.
• Cross‑border financial leadership — extensive experience across the GCC in energy, resources and industrial financing.
Darren is a seasoned finance professional with broad technical and strategic grounding across investment banking and heavy‑industry leadership. His experience spans corporate finance, global banking, strategic advisory and enterprise‑level transformation across multiple regions.
PDF Profile
Download PDFMajor Career Roles
Ma’aden
President & CEO
Ma’aden
Chief Financial Officer
Ministry of Investment (Saudi Arabia)
Senior Adviser
HSBC
Managing Director & Head of MENA Resources & Energy Investment Banking
APICORP
Head of Division
Other Career Highlights
HSBC (London & Middle East)
Investment Banking Leadership Roles
The Arab Energy Fund
Independent Member of the Investment Committee
Strategic Advisory Contributions to Regional Energy & Investment Institutions
Access to an unmatched roster of world-class Mentors
Our unrivalled global roster of board chairs and CEOs offers the seasoned wisdom of proven world-class leaders. Explore this rich array of talent and connect with us to begin a mentoring journey shaped around your leadership context.
