Abdullah Verachia
Having presented in over 60 cities globally, Abdullah Verachia has been recognised as a leading dealmaker, strategist and thoughtleader on company competitiveness and strategy – and on Frontier and Emerging Markets. His experience in these areas make him a sought-after global speaker in these areas. He has presented at some of the world’s leading institutions including the School of Public and International Affairs at Colombia University in New York, the OECD in Paris and Casa Asia in Madrid as well as to leading listed firms, international organisations and governments.
An admitted attorney, Abdullah has completed executive programmes on strategy and shared value and also on Competitiveness, with Professor Michael Porter’s Institute of Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School
He led the team that crafted the 2017- 2030 Gauteng Economic Development Strategy with the Premier and Executive Council. He also led the 2017 Mauritius Competitiveness foresight strategy,
As the CEO of The Strategists, he plays an active role in assisting companies and organisations craft competitive future strategies. He has significant expertise in strategy, competitiveness and sector trends and facilitates a number of high level strategy sessions and breakaways .
Abdullah is currently co-authoring a book on the commercial corridor between Africa and India as well as a book on Leading in a changing world – the future of disruption.
- Selected for the Brightest Young Minds in South Africa
- Awarded fifteen year excellence award for the contribution and development of the Model United Nations
- Awarded honorary member of the Golden Key International Honour Society
- Wits Business School Deans list of merit
Board and advisory positions
General Electric South Africa
Gauteng Vision 2055 task team
Gauteng Innovation Advisory Board
Education Africa
The Collective Genius (Chairperson)
Penryn College Council
General Electric Supplier Development Trust (Trustee)
South African Model United Nations (Chairperson)
FirstRand India Management Board (resigned in July 2014)
Advisor to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Development Centre on the 2011 edition of the African Economic Outlook, focusing on Africa and its Emerging Partners.
Previous Positions
Executive: International at Rand Merchant Bank and member of the management board of FirstRand India
Co-founder and Partner at Frontier Advisory (acquired by Deloitte in 2015)