OUR PEOPLE
THE CHAIRMAN
John Ferguson is an entrepreneur and business leader, regarded as one of the horse racing industry's most respected figures.
As lead advisor from 1994 to 2016 to Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, he enjoys a privileged knowledge of Dubai and the Middle East.
Serving initially as Bloodstock Advisor to His Highness, John became Chief Executive of Godolphin, the global thoroughbred breeding operation and horseracing team which spans four continents, and Chairman of Falcon and Associates, a strategic advisory company which helped Dubai achieve inward and outward social, economic and trade-related goals through sport, education and, most notably, Dubai Expo 2020.
John has bred, bought and sold more thoroughbreds around the world than any other individual. In 2021 he set up Natalma Bloodstock, a bloodstock investment company which has broodmares in Europe, the United States and Australia.
“I first came to the UAE in 1990 when the Dubai of today was the dream of two wise men; the Ruler His Highness Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum, and his son, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad.
Over the last 30 years, I have witnessed their dreams become reality. Kestrel is proud to have played a small part in the incredible growth of Dubai and its position as a global hub, part of the exponential Emirates, and rapidly evolving region”
Advisory Board
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Simon Penney CMG
Simon was a senior banker for over twenty years, becoming the CEO of Royal Bank of Scotland (Middle East) before joining the UAE’s First Gulf Bank as the CEO of its corporate and investment bank. Simon moved into the UK public sector as the first HM Trade Commissioner in 2018 before returning to the private sector in 2023.
As HM Trade Commissioner, Simon gained unprecedented access across the six Gulf countries and built deep commercial and political relationships. Simon initiated the UK-Gulf (GCC) Free Trade Agreement, created the UK’s first Sovereign Investment Partnerships that will see over £25bn+ invested into UK industry, and oversaw 30% growth in bilateral trade.
Simon brings invaluable insights at the intersection of diplomacy and commerce. He has extensive personal relationships at Gulf ministerial, sovereign wealth fund, and C-suite level.
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Georgia Tolley
An experienced British broadcaster, Georgia has spent the last 25 years presenting, reporting and producing news programmes for respected news organisations such as the BBC and The National newspaper, in Europe and the Middle East.
Georgia is currently based in the UAE where she's the engaging host of the live daily news programme called The Agenda on Dubai Eye 103.8 FM.
She’s also kept busy as an emcee and moderator, hosting flagship events across the Middle East, where her ability to facilitate discussions places her in high demand at a variety of conferences, awards ceremonies and forums. -
Giselle Pettyfer
Giselle Pettyfer is a trusted leader and advisor with 25 years’ experience in CEO and Strategic Communications roles serving Heads of State, governments, business leaders and corporations.
She was Director of Communications at the International Olympic Committee from 2002- 2008, which included the Olympic Games of Athens 2004, Turin 2006, Beijing 2008 as well as the bid process and elections of Vancouver 2010, London 2012 and Sochi 2014.
As CEO of Falcon and Associates in Dubai she was at the heart of Dubai’s successful bid for Expo 2020.
More recently she led the campaign to win the UK National Lottery operating license for Allwyn, securing one of the UK Government’s biggest contracts for a new operator for the first time in 27 years.
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NEHA KALRA
Neha is a seasoned professional with 18+ years of experience in strategy and transformation consulting corporates, and VC-backed startups.
Previously, as part of a VC-backed startup team, she led fundraising and was instrumental in securing contracts in the GCC. At Dubai Holding, as Executive Director, she set up the Portfolio Management function, overseeing performance of new investments and incubated the advanced analytics function.
At McKinsey & Company, as an Associate Partner, she led multiple strategic transformation programs in public and private sectors, focusing on partnerships, growth, and market launches. She was recently was a Sr. Advisor for the inaugural COP28 Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum hosting 700+ CEOs.
Neha is currently an independent strategy consultant supporting Kestrel’s portfolio companies.
The Team
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Harry Amos
Managing Director
Harry is a trusted leader and expert advisor with 10 years experience suppporting businesses on their market entry into the Middle East.
Commissioning from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2007 he served as a British Army Officer leading teams all around the world including three operational tours. After the military he moved into Security Consultancy working for Salamanca Group and then Control Risks in the Middle East.
Moving to Dubai in 2015 to join Falcon & Associates, he worked on the Dubai Business Associates program under the patronage on HH Sheikh Mohammad. In 2016 he moved across to Kestrel Global where for the first 8 years he supported tech companies including he likes of Tesla, Joby Aviation, and What3Words with their expansion into the Middle East. Assuming the role of Managing Partner in 2024, he runs the team of expert advisors which has now helped over 100 companies on their journey to the region.
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Tom Hudson
Non-Executive Director
Tom has lived in the UAE for 20 years. Coming to the Middle East originally as a lawyer with Linklater's, he worked at Olive Group, and then DP World before Co-Founding Kestrel with our Chairman in 2016.
Under his leadership Kestrel became the well known advisory firm that it is today. Tom devised Kestrels operating model securing esteemed companies include Virgin Hyperloop One, Planet Labs, Callsign, Freshtohome, and some 50 others. Working alongside the Executive Office of several ruling families his team has allowed companies to quickly establish themselves, negotiate the best arrangements, and expand rapidly into the region.
Tom wrote a white paper entitled “Exponential Emirates: the Exponential Country for the Exponential Age” to describe the extraordinary growth story of the UAE. He is also a regular commentator for the likes of CNBC and CNN on the regional tech ecosystem.
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Tom Clifton
Project Manager
Tom is an up and coming business developer and Project Manager who has lived in the UAE for the past 18 years. Schooled in Abu Dhabi he speaks Arabic and is priveleged to call many Emiratis his friends. Still embedded in the Emirati community and lifestyle he enjoys spending time in social settings inaccessaible to most expatriates whilst rapidly developing his business network.
Now working at Kestrel Global as a project manager, Tom leverages knowledge of the market and how to conduct business here to help our clients plug into opportunities in the UAE with a particular focus on water tech and food security.
When he’s not in the office, he’s off engaging in Emirati activities with his local friends including deep-sea fishig, racing cars in the desert, and sitting in the local Majlis’s drinking coffee.