Zest Equity has appointed Zeid Barghouti as Senior Executive Officer (SEO) of its Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA)-regulated entity, ZE Transaction Solutions Limited, also known as Zest ADGM.
This appointment comes as the company accelerates its expansion in private markets and strengthens its regulated transaction infrastructure across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Dual role to drive growth and regulatory oversight
Barghouti will continue to serve as Head of Business Development and Partnerships while also leading the firm’s ADGM-based regulated entity. In this expanded role, he will oversee escrow and transaction facilitation services delivered through Abu Dhabi Global Market.
Moreover, he will spearhead strategic partnerships, deepen client relationships, and support Zest Equity’s broader commercial growth strategy. His leadership will also help scale the firm’s SPV platform and regulated offerings.
Strong regional financial services experience
Barghouti brings significant experience in regulated financial services across the Gulf region. Previously, he served as Senior Executive Officer at Capital Investments DIFC Ltd and held senior treasury roles within Capital Bank Group.
In terms of academic credentials, he holds an MBA from University of Manchester and a BSc in Business Management from University of Surrey.
Zest Equity scales digital infrastructure across private markets
Since its inception, Zest Equity has digitised over $230 million in transactions across more than 200 deals. Additionally, the company has secured FSRA authorisation to offer its Zest Arrange and Zest Escrow products through its ADGM entity.
As a result, the firm continues to position itself as a key enabler of private-market transactions by simplifying deal execution, enhancing transparency, and improving capital flow across jurisdictions.
CEO highlights strategic importance of appointment
Zuhair Shamma, Co-founder and CEO of Zest Equity, emphasised the importance of this leadership move. He noted that Barghouti has played a critical role in the company’s commercial growth.
Furthermore, he stated that Barghouti’s regulatory expertise and business acumen make him well-suited to lead the next phase of infrastructure scaling in private markets.
Barghouti outlines growth vision
Barghouti highlighted Zest Equity’s unique positioning in the regional private markets ecosystem. He added that the company provides a strong foundation for institutional growth.
He also expressed confidence in contributing to the firm’s continued expansion and strengthening its role across the region’s investment landscape.
About Zest ADGM and regulatory framework
Zest ADGM operates under the regulatory oversight of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority within ADGM. It delivers payment services and facilitates investment deals for clients across MENA and beyond.
Meanwhile, Zest Equity develops its core technology infrastructure in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), combining global best practices with regional expertise.
