AHMED AL-GHAMDI
Chairman
Ahmed is a cofounder of BBG and the CEO of AMG Commercial Services company located in Riyadh.
He has over twenty years of experience in strategic advisory and asset management, business management, and business planning and marketing. Ahmed’s accumulated experience includes strategic planning, investment and asset planning, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, business development, green field operations, branding and positioning, corporate transformation and operations.
In addition, he also developed a strong network of relationships in the region focused mainly on Saudi Arabia, access to multiple key decision makers in government and private sectors.
Ahmed has strong experience in structuring and financial performance improvement for non-profit organizations in KSA. Also, his track record includes working for major governmental projects in investment, privatization, and transformation management.
Structuring and advising on investments in Hospitality, Resorts and F&B
Sisban is an investment holding company located in Jeddah with multiple investments within and outside KSA and its is growing rapidly. The company is rapidly expanding and has various investments in F&B, Hospitality, Real Estate Development , Sports Sector and Agriculture.
Managed operations optimization and transformation, expansion plans and the search and acquisition of regional brands.
Qoot is an F&B holding company located in Riyadh, that owns and operates various franchised and locally developed brands.
Operation analysis and optimization, business planning for expansion and the assisted in attracting new investors.
Mawared is an F&B company located in the eastern province that owns and operates multiple seafood restaurants in the eastern province.
Gregory L. Black
CEO
Gregory is a professional in the Food & Beverage industry, having experience both in the United States and Internationally. He began his career working under the famous International Chef, Rudy Lechner, in Houston, Texas. Here he was exposed to the international and intercontinental restaurant industry that launched his career. He has experience with the following cuisines: French, Italian, German, Spanish, Mexican, Seafood, and Steakhouses.
Through the years, Gregory has accumulated experience with all facets of the restaurant, hospitality and entertainment business. He has approximately 23 years experience in the GCC, either developing International brands, creating restaurant concepts, or consulting. His position title has been CEO, COO, Managing Director, Director, Director of Operations, General Manager, and Senior Consultant. Most of his experience developing International brands are start-up operations.
Gregory has broken and set many milestones and won numerous awards from the franchise world, such as: Franchisee of the Year and Operational Excellence.
He has also worked as a Director for both King-Casey and iFranchise in the GCC. Both of these companies are leaders in the F&B Consulting industry, providing full Turnkey services and solutions.
Concept Creation and Development in the GCC
During his work in Dubai as the Director of Operations for Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai, Gregory was involved in Concept Creation & Development. Among the concepts he created in Dubai, was Urbano, an Italian concept, which is now a Jumeriah brand. He also helped develop Caprice Holdings UK ‘s brand, Rivington Grill.
Gregory then moved to Saudi Arabia, to develop the famous international steakhouse brand from the USA, Outback Steakhouse. He was responsible for developing and operations both KSA and UAE. In addition, he also developed in the GCC: MBco, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Starbucks, CinnaMonster, and Osteria
Operations, Training & Project Management
During his college years, Gregory became very involved in Operations and Training. As part of the national training team for Chili’s restaurants in the USA, opening stores across the USA, he was a Front of House and Back of House Trainer, able to provide complete training for all team members including Management, one of very few on the Team. He was also exposed to project management, construction, and operations.
International F&B Franchising Business
In the 1990’s, Gregory entered the International F&B Franchise business by developing the International Franchise “Fuddruckers” in KSA and UAE. Afterwards, he developed the International Franchises Chili’s and Carino’s Italian Kitchen in Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE.
DANIEL BAUMGARDNER
Director
Daniel has been a financial executive and consultant in KSA for twenty years. He has been the CFO/Chief Analyst (Private Equity) for a large family Office in KSA and a director / advisor for many large projects in KSA (Joint Venture Structuring, M&A, Technical Services, investment feasibility studies).
His career trajectory includes Ernst & Young, Deloitte Consulting, IBM, Accenture and more in Austral Asia, the Middle East, Africa and North America.
He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (Canada), Chartered Accountant (New Zealand / Australia) and Project Management Professional in KSA.
