Driven Properties has appointed Emre Okay as Group Chief Financial Officer. Okay will oversee finance across the Dubai based real estate company as it expands its investment and development operations.
The appointment adds senior finance experience across private equity, investment banking and global technology businesses. Okay will focus on finance, capital allocation, investment funding and operational infrastructure.
Emre Okay brings private equity, banking and Amazon experience
Okay began his career in large cap private equity in Europe and investment banking at UBS in New York. He later completed an MBA at Harvard Business School.
After that, Okay moved into senior operational roles at Amazon. He held several finance leadership positions across Amazon’s European business in London. He later relocated to Dubai to support Amazon’s Middle East payments business.
His experience has focused on investments, capital allocation, finance and strategy functions. He has also worked on scaling complex organisations through data and operational management.
Group CFO role covers investment and development
As Group CFO, Okay will oversee finance for Driven Properties’ co invested real estate investment portfolio. The portfolio comprises approximately USD 1 billion in assets.
His remit also covers Lamar Holding, the company’s development business. Lamar Holding has more than USD 5.5 billion in active gross development value.
In addition, Okay will oversee finance across Driven Property & Asset Management. The business manages more than 5,000 units across the UAE.
Driven Properties also owns approximately USD 300 million in real estate assets. The company has a venture portfolio with more than 15 minority investments.
The role therefore spans several parts of the company’s integrated real estate platform. These include brokerage, investment management and development.
Driven Properties focuses on finance and institutional infrastructure
Founder and CEO Abdullah Alajaji said Okay’s experience will support the company’s investment and capital allocation decisions. Alajaji also said the role will support funding for investment funds and the scaling of operations.
According to Alajaji, the company is strengthening its institutional capabilities as it grows. He said Okay will help build more integrated financial and operational processes.
Okay said Driven Properties hired him at a stage when the company had reached scale across brokerage, investment management and development.
He said his focus will be on building financial, operational and technological infrastructure. The aim, according to Okay, is to support sustainable long term growth.
Okay also highlighted the company’s integrated model across brokerage, development and investment. He said the structure provides visibility across capital allocation, market intelligence and execution.
He added that international investors expect governance, transparency, advanced reporting and disciplined execution. According to Okay, the company is working to combine entrepreneurial agility with institutional infrastructure.
Driven Properties expands across UAE real estate
Driven Properties has operated in Dubai since 2010. The company describes itself as a luxury and ultra luxury real estate brokerage and property management business.
The company has more than 700 agents, while its wider team includes more than 750 specialists, according to the supplied company profile. Driven Properties holds market share positions across several Dubai residential districts.
These include Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Jumeirah and Al Wasl. The company also operates an investment portfolio that forms part of its wider business.
Driven Properties is the sole UAE member of Forbes Global Properties. The company has also brokered properties and developments including the Sea Mirror Villa on Jumeirah Bay Island and Rixos Financial Center Road Dubai Residences.
Okay’s appointment places the Group CFO function across this expanding platform. His remit covers the financial infrastructure supporting the company’s investment, development and property management activities.
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