Seddiqi Holding has appointed Maarten Geeraerts as its new Group Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant leadership milestone for one of the Middle East’s most influential luxury business groups.
The appointment reflects the company’s long-term strategy to strengthen governance, accelerate growth, and expand its presence across the regional luxury market. Seddiqi Holding said Geeraerts will lead the group’s vision and operational execution while working closely with the Seddiqi family and board leadership.
The luxury conglomerate oversees a diversified portfolio spanning luxury retail, watches, jewellery, real estate, investments, and after-sales services.
New CEO to oversee strategic growth and operational excellence
As Group CEO, Geeraerts will assume responsibility for driving performance across all Seddiqi Holding business units. He will also play a central role in advancing the group’s strategic priorities, including regional expansion, digital transformation, and customer experience enhancement.
The company said the new leadership structure reinforces accountability and aligns management execution with the long-term objectives of the Seddiqi family.
Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, Chairman of Seddiqi Holding, said the organisation remains committed to excellence while continuing to evolve alongside changing market dynamics.
He noted that Geeraerts brings a fresh perspective and a proven leadership approach that can help accelerate growth while preserving the company’s heritage and values.
Family leadership backs transformation agenda
Commenting on the appointment, Osama Ibrahim Seddiqi, Vice Chairman of Seddiqi Holding, highlighted Geeraerts’ experience in transforming family-owned enterprises.
According to Seddiqi, the executive’s expertise in governance, investment strategy, and organisational transformation makes him well positioned to guide the business through its next stage of development.
He added that the appointment demonstrates the group’s ambition to maintain leadership in the luxury sector while building a future-ready organisation capable of sustaining growth for generations.
Maarten Geeraerts brings more than two decades of leadership experience
Geeraerts joins Seddiqi Holding with over 20 years of international leadership experience across investment management, legal advisory, corporate governance, and business transformation.
Most recently, he served as Group CEO of Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Holdings, where he led a comprehensive transformation programme aimed at modernising the longstanding family-owned enterprise and improving operational performance.
His academic credentials include a Master’s degree in Law and a postgraduate qualification in taxation from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. In addition, he earned an MBA from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland.
Beyond executive leadership, Geeraerts serves on several corporate boards, providing strategic guidance on governance, risk management, and business growth.
Focus on digital transformation and regional expansion
Speaking about his appointment, Geeraerts described Seddiqi Holding as a brand synonymous with luxury, heritage, and visionary leadership across the region.
He emphasised his commitment to building on the foundation established by four generations of the Seddiqi family. Furthermore, he identified regional expansion, digital innovation, and enhanced client experiences as key priorities for the future.
Geeraerts said he looks forward to supporting the group’s continued growth while strengthening its position within the global luxury landscape.
Seddiqi Holding continues to expand diversified luxury portfolio
The leadership appointment comes as Seddiqi Holding continues to broaden its footprint across multiple sectors.
Founded in 2007, the holding company was established to strengthen customer centricity and operational excellence across the group’s businesses. Today, it oversees entities including Ahmed Seddiqi, Swiss Watch Services, Mizzen, Seddiqi Properties, and Seddiqi & Sons Investments.
Ahmed Seddiqi remains the group’s largest business unit. The luxury retailer represents more than 100 prestigious watch and jewellery brands through a network of over 50 locations across the UAE.
Industry observers view the appointment as a strategic move that positions Seddiqi Holding for its next phase of growth while reinforcing its status as a leading force in the Middle East’s luxury sector.
