Legend Holding Group has appointed Paolo Lo Monaco as Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The appointment was announced on 22 October 2026, with Lo Monaco tasked with strengthening financial governance and supporting investment decisions across the diversified business group.
His remit includes modernising financial frameworks, improving capital allocation and supporting operational efficiency across the group’s businesses. The appointment comes as Legend Holding Group continues to explore investments and strategic partnerships across multiple industries.
Paolo Lo Monaco brings international finance leadership experience
Lo Monaco brings close to 30 years of financial leadership experience across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and Europe. According to the announcement, his career spans senior positions in family-owned groups and multinational companies across more than eight industries.
Before joining Legend Holding Group, Lo Monaco served as Group CFO of Chalhoub Group and CFO of Al Khayyat Investments (AKI). His previous responsibilities included work related to financial transformation, governance and business growth.
Earlier in his career, he held senior finance and audit positions at multinational companies including Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Fiat Group.
His background combines experience in corporate finance, financial governance and business operations across different organisational settings. At Legend Holding Group, he will apply that experience to the group’s financial frameworks and investment decisions.
Financial governance and capital allocation define the mandate
Lo Monaco’s responsibilities include strengthening financial governance across Legend Holding Group’s diversified portfolio. He will also focus on digital transformation within the finance function and on capital allocation strategies that support long-term growth.
The group has identified cash flow, financial performance and investment decisions as immediate priorities for the incoming CFO. These responsibilities place financial oversight at the centre of its plans to expand across multiple industries.
In a statement included in the announcement, Lo Monaco said his priority was to strengthen financial governance and modernise existing financial frameworks. He also said the finance function would support shareholders’ long-term growth strategy across the Middle East.
“My immediate focus will be on guiding new investment decisions, ensuring disciplined capital allocation, and strengthening cash flow and financial performance across our existing businesses,” Lo Monaco said.
He added that combining the group’s entrepreneurial ambitions with strong financial governance would support its next phase of growth.
Legend Holding Group continues to explore investments
Legend Holding Group is headquartered in Dubai and operates across the Middle East and African regions, according to its company profile. Its portfolio covers automotive, trading, energy, logistics, travel and tourism, investments, technology and mobility services.
The group’s subsidiaries and businesses include Legend Motors, Legend Travel and Tourism, Legend Rent a Car, Zul Energy by Legend Holding, Lifan motorcycles and the exclusive import of 212, Kaiyi and Rox vehicles. Its portfolio also includes Legend Green Energy Solutions.
Legend Holding Group says it aims to build synergies between its businesses while exploring opportunities in new industries and partnerships. The company also links its growth ambitions to the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and the UAE’s We the UAE 2031 vision.
The appointment gives Lo Monaco responsibility for aligning financial oversight and investment decisions with the group’s stated expansion plans. His immediate priorities will centre on governance, cash flow, financial performance and the modernisation of finance processes.
