Asher Noor

Asher Noor is an advisor at Odyssey SFO; structuring & managing investments in the public and private asset space.

Additionally, Asher is a virtual chief investment officer and a family enterprise practitioner, to a curated few.

To them, he is a family confidante and first port of call for quick, immediate, insightful yet informal discussions on family governance, strategy, and investment deal flows (private equity/ venture capital/ real estate / direct investments); with zero conflicts and exceptional industry network and knowledge in the Middle East, Singapore and Australia.

Not all successes can be talked about. Suffice to say his polymath approach is refreshing for those who interact with him. Call him in the middle of the night and he will pick up the phone and invariably will be able to answer CIO and family enterprise related queries, and you will sleep better after speaking with him! The absolute go-to guy for all seasons!

Historically

Asher has been a buy-side, global private equity and public equity investing professional, with portfolio construction, risk and asset management and family office advisory and operational domain expertise. His technical expertise has been in financial accounting, M&A, IPO’s, VC investing etc. His leadership expertise has been in leading large multi-jurisdictional teams or leading boards or C-suites in strategy, decision making and change management. His sectoral expertise has been in F&B, Retail, Telco, Contracting, Financial Services, Cyber Security, Life Sciences, Real Estate, Aviation, Energy etc. His geographical expertise has been in working in/allocating to Europe, Asia, Middle East and USA.

Presently

Asher can offer virtual portfolio management CIO services; (i) reviewing managers & private equity/ venture capital/ real estate investment deal flow for investment committees, facilitating legal and financial due diligence, & (ii) helping with succession and structuring family offices for private clients. He is a prolific writer on topics relating to family enterprise and has spoken at more than 60+ events globally. These days, his focus is extensively on his specialist experience in family offices governance and structuring. He dedicates time to startup and non-profit mentoring and has strong interest in community service, food and water security, Web3 and history.

Technical Qualifications

Asher is a TEP, FCA, FCMA, MBA in family business from France and holds multiple certifications in wealth management and family business advising.

His technical skillset, professional qualifications and global work experience of over 2 decades, allows him to be at complete ease in corporate finance, investment and accounting realms.

Leadership Roles

Asher has served on boards of various start-ups globally, ex-board member of a public listed airline (Malaysia), ex-chair for an asset management firm (UAE) for over 12 years, ex-board/audit committee member of a public listed firm (KSA), ex-board representative for an independent power plant in JV with Finnish partners for over 5 years, 15+ years of C-suite roles, multiple audit committee positions with conglomerates (Middle-East), previously elected to alumni board of a University (France), ex-board member of a leading non-for-profit association (USA); amongst a host of other leadership roles over the decades.

In essence, what makes Asher a standout is that he is always generous with his time and efforts for community, academia and organizational roles and his track record evidences that.

Writings

Showcased here are Asher’s select repository of writings, where he shares invaluable insights from his vast experience in investment and family enterprise management.

Foreword: The art of saying ‘no’
  • 30/03/2022
  • Asher Noor
Asher’s editorial for the STEP Journal as the lead editor. One of the world’s most successful investors, Warren Buffet, once said: ‘The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.’
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Modernization to cater for the needs of Modern Families
  • 13/02/2022
  • Asher Noor
Asher’s opinion piece on the question posed: “The meeting the needs of Modern Families report calls for advisors and legislators globally to adapt and modernize in order to serve the needs of today’s modern family. What sort of modernization is required, in your opinion, and how do we tackle it?.”
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Accolades

Explore the various recognitions and awards that Asher has received over his career.

2023
Finalist – STEP Australia Excellence Award
Asher was a finalist for the inaugural awards, which were instituted, to recognise exceptional and outstanding Australian TEPs and celebrate excellence among solicitors, lawyers, accountants, barristers, bankers, trust managers and financial advisors.
2023
Winner – Professional Excellence Award
The aim of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan award that Asher won, as an overseas member, was to recognize members in business “for their contribution, performance and value addition.” The objective of the award was to “celebrate contributions by ICAP members who have been successful leaders and have created a mark in the industry.”
2021
Finalist – Non Family Executive – Family Business Council Gulf Awards
Asher was the finalist in The Family Business Council Gulf Award in their inaugural Awards category of Non-Family Executive. The Award was to recognize the long-standing tenure and vital contributions to the family business of an individual within a family enterprise who almost becomes part of the family. It aimed to provide overdue recognition to an individual within a family firm who had demonstrated exceptional loyalty, commitment, and contribution to the family business. From a long list of 10, Asher was part of the shortlisted finalists.
2020/21
Finalist – STEP Trusted Advisor of the Year
As per the judges, this STEP award is for the most outstanding individual in any discipline servicing private clients or advisors. Asher was one of the 4 finalists worldwide from the community of 21,000+ STEP members.
2020
Top 100 influencers worldwide in the Family Enterprise world
Asher was recognized in the list of Top 100 influencers worldwide in the Family Enterprise world by Family Capital, in the investors category. His citation read: “[Asher] Noor has been instrumental in building up one of Saudi Arabia’s most impressive family offices and along the way has become an ambassador for best practices in the world of family enterprises. Chief investment officer of the Riyadh-based AlTouq Group for more than 10 years, Noor has built a reputation as a shrewd investor for the family office, which is perhaps the best role model of many other family offices in the region. He has plied his trade alongside an impressive education in the world of family enterprises, gaining an MBA in 2016 from the French business school EDHEC with a focus on family businesses, as well as various qualifications in family business advising from the Family Firm Institute.”
2017
Winner – ICAEW Award for Advancing the Profession in Business
The prestigious Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales (ICAEW) Award, for “Advancing the Profession in Business” recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the development of the accountancy profession in the business world with reference to one or more of ICAEW’s values of (a) Ethics and integrity (b) Objectivity, independence and transparency (c) Professional competence & (d) Access and diversity. The Award was handed to Asher by Anthony O’ Sullivan, at the Awards Honour Ceremony at the Four Seasons Resort in Jumeirah Dubai.
2017
Winner – Most Valuable Contribution to the CA Profession Award
Awarded by the Saudi chapter of ICAP, at the 5th Annual Saudi-Pak Accounting Symposium at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, in Riyadh. The award was handed over by the Ambassador of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia. The Award recognizes Asher’s dedication and services in establishing the ICAP chapter in KSA and promoting the chartered accountancy profession at various local & international forums through advocacy, business excellence, mentorship and quest for governance & ethics.
2016
Ranked in Top 30 global Family Office Investor
Exclusive Interview of Asher and on the cover of Trusted Insight November 2016 publication dedicated to Top 30 Global Family Office Investors. This list highlighted “30 investment guardians behind world’s wealthiest families who manage high-worth portfolios during times of challenges and changes.”
2016
Runner-up – Investor of the Year
Asher received the Investor of the Year 2016 (runner-up) Award at the 10th CFO Strategies Forum MENA at the Sofitel Palm Jumeirah hotel in Dubai. The Award was to acknowledge a CIO, for their “innovative strategies, fiduciary savvy and impressive short and long-term returns which stood out in the MENA investment community” and “for their exceptional performance and risk management.”
2014
Winner – Middle East CFO of the Year
Asher was awarded the Middle East CFO of the Year 2014 Award at a ceremony in Dubai; judged the best for providing leadership & outstanding strategic direction and received the award from the Institute of Management Accountants USA and Marcus Evans.
2011
Finalist – Private Equity World Award – MENA
Asher was one of the 5 finalists for the special merit award for the awards night hosted by Terrapinn. The special merit award was for an individual who had executed value creation for private equity and investors.
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Roles

Trace Asher’s professional milestones, from being a finance and investment professional to a family enterprise practitioner, founder & beyond.

Past Employments
Past Board Roles
Mentor / Community Roles
STEP – Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners
FFI – The Family Firm Institute, USA
ICAP – Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan
Past Employments
Past Board Roles
Mentor / Community Roles
STEP – Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners
FFI – The Family Firm Institute, USA
ICAP – Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan
View Roles

Education

Asher’s educational background; the foundation of his knowledge and exceptional industry network.

Year Institue
2020 FCMA, CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), UK
2018 Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising, FFI (Family Firm Institute), USA
2016 MBA, EDHEC Business School, France
2015 Certificate in Family Business Advising, FFI (Family Firm Institute), USA
2015 CIPFA (Chartered Public Finance Accountant), UK
2014 Diploma, International Trust Management, STEP (Society for Trust & Estate Practitioners), UK
2013 Mandatory accreditation program for directors of PLC, Malaysia
2011 IELTS (8.5 out of 9) in both Academic and General Tests
2009 CME-1, (Capital Markets Authority) Exam, Saudi Arabia
2001 Chartered Accountant, ICAP (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan)
2000 Masters in English, Karachi University
1996 Bachelors in Commerce, Govt. College of Commerce and Economics
1992 O Levels, St. Michaels Convent School

Speaker

Discover Asher’s contributions through his speaker engagements, where he speaks at the global stage; about private equity, venture capital, portfolio allocation, family business, family offices etc.

Guest Speaker, by video conference

EMBA Class of 2023, Cambridge University (UK)

The Family Office Model – via the Prism of Practitioners.

Panellist, virtual conference

CA Pakistan (Global)

Skill Development in Times of Economic Crises.

Panellist, in person conference

Super Returns Conference, in Singapore

LP Considerations in Manager Selection.

Panellist, in person event

UBS University, in Singapore

Investing for the Future through Connectivity and Collaboration.

Guest speaker, in person event

Wealth Management Institute, in Singapore

Setting up an International Family Office.

Panellist, in person conference

Prestel and Partner, in Singapore

Making Money via Ethical Investments.

See Speaker

Press

Browse through the various media features and articles that highlight Asher’s thought leadership and industry influence.

2023
FFI Practitioner Articles We Love: David Shaw, publishing director, Family Business Magazine
Asher’s article “Utilizing social media in family enterprises” was highlighted by David Shaw, as one of the 5 favourite, must-read editions on family enterprise branding and trust.
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2022
WMI IMPACT – The Family Office Journal
Asher was acknowledged in the first issue of The Family Office Journal of the Wealth Management Institute, Singapore by Dr. Marta Widz. The acknowledgement in the Journal stated, the publication could “not have taken its final shape without the contribution of several thought leaders who shared their theoretical and practical knowledge of family offices and their impact” and included a short bio of Asher amongst the list of people acknowledged.
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2021
Research Report – The Governance Marathon: Dynamic Durability In Entrepreneurial Families Amid Disruption
Asher was quoted in the ground breaking research by the researchers stating, “Our thinking resonates with what Asher Noor notes: “There are many building blocks of a durable governance system and one can pick and choose the ones that are closer to the heart of those tasked with developing such a governance system.” Additionally in the end of the research report, in the acknowledgements section, Asher in included in the list of those to whom the researchers Jeremy Cheng, Kevin Au, Marta Widz and Marshall Jen have thanked for the background interviews conducted as part of the research project.
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