ABOUT USLike the acacia tree, we are firmly rooted in the greater Middle East and North Africa. We are resilient and adaptable. We thrive in austere environments and embrace the complexity of the modern era.
OUR STORYWe began Acacia in 2018 with a vision to help organizations worldwide prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and adapt to the fast-changing world around us. We are founded on the idea that market intelligence, smart deployments of technology, and proper contingency planning will help organizations increase their efficiency, resilience, relevance, and profits.
OUR CORE VALUESEverything we do is based on trust, transparency and honesty. We are committed to doing what’s best for our clients and our team.
INTEGRITY
We appreciate the unique operating contexts of our clients and craft bespoke solutions tailored to specific business needs, budget, and their local environment.
CONTEXT
We value discretion and client privacy and seek to create durable, long-term relationships.
DISCRETION
We are passionate about learning and constantly seek to improve processes, learn and integrate new technologies, and offer innovative solutions.
INNOVATION
WHO WE AREThe Board of Advisors
Ayman Gomaa
– President/CEO
Mr. Gomaa is the founder, President and CEO of Acacia Innovations Technology (Acacia). Prior to founding Acacia in 2017, Mr. Gomaa had a distinguished career in the US Army Special Operations. He held leadership positions at all levels within the Army, from squad (10+ personnel) to brigade (3,000+), bringing his unique perspective on team building and operational expertise in austere, deployed environments. Mr. Gomaa ties deep technical expertise with a keen sense of human behavior to develop solutions for discerning clients. He holds multiple degrees from the University of Maryland, including a Bachelor of Science in Middle Eastern Studies, a Master’s in International Management, and an MBA.
Mr. Gomaa operates two corporate locations for Acacia: Dubai and Falls Church, VA and oversees operations in multiple countries within the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) and Southeast Asia.
Ambassador (Ret) Larry E. André Jr.
In 2023, Ambassador André retired after 38 years as a United States international affairs public servant, including 33 years as a diplomat. Over his distinguished career, Amb. André served in a mix of leadership, policy, management, and security positions. His ambassadorships include Somalia (2022-2023), Djibouti (2018-2021), and Mauritania (2014-2017). His other significant leadership posts include South Sudan, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Chad. In policy roles, he served at the US Embassies to Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Bangladesh. He served in management and security roles in Nigeria, Iraq, and Guinea. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Amb. André is currently a Visiting Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas-Austin where he shares his vast knowledge on crafting and implementing US foreign policy. He is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award, and several other honors. In 2013, Amb. André was inducted into the American Academy of diplomacy.
Dr. Ali Asgharzadeh
Dr. Asgharzadeh is a seasoned executive with a strong background in Space and Terrestrial Telecommunication Systems and Fintech Innovation. He served as Chief Carrier & Wholesale Officer at Etisalat Afghanistan from 2009 to 2022, also leading their Mobile Financial Services Division as CEO. Prior to Etisalat, he was part of Boeing's Executive Management, spearheading the Thuraya Satellite Telecommunication System project in the UAE. Dr. Asgharzadeh holds an Executive MBA from UCLA and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico.
Currently, Dr. Asgharzadeh is pursuing entrepreneurial interests at the intersection of telecommunications, data, and financial technology.
Michael Hancock
Mr. Hancock is a practicing attorney with more than 30 years of experience within the international technology and telecom sectors. His extensive legal and business experience was gained Schlumberger (London and Singapore), Alcatel (Paris), Qatar Telecom/ Ooredoo (Doha), San Miguel (Manila), Loon/ Google (Dubai) and at law firms in Paris, Istanbul and Dubai. Mr. Hancock holds a bachelor’s degree from University of California - Berkeley, an MBA from INSEAD (France), and a J.D. from University of California - San Francisco.
Mr. Hancock is a Partner at KLME, a UAE-based law firm.
Sharief Fahmy
With over 30 years of International Affairs experience, Mr. Fahmy served in numerous senior executive positions in the Middle East. Most recently, he served as a Strategic Advisor to the Minister of State for Defense, Chief Executive Officer to the Dubai Airshow, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Abu Dhabi, promoting commerce and investment between the USA, UAE, and the broader MENA region. Mr. Fahmy is a retired US Air Force officer with assignments ranging from the Pentagon to the White House and as a diplomat to the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Maryland and is currently a board member at the Defense Security Marketing Council, American Chamber Abu Dhabi, and is a member of the US-UAE Business Council.
He currently serves as the Regional Executive Director for Kaman Aerospace, Fuzing & Precision Products. As a member of the senior leadership team, he is responsible for all of Kaman’s activities in the UAE & MENA.
Brian Retherford
Mr. Retherford is a 20-year veteran in national security, having served both in the public sector (US Army) and private sector (McKinsey & Company, Cyber/Risk practice) over the last several years. While in uniform, he helped develop training for cyberspace operations professionals and led one of the Army’s offensive cyber teams. After leaving service, he was a specialist consultant with McKinsey & Company advising a range of clients on defensive cyber planning and execution. Mr. Retherford holds a bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mr. Retherford is the Vice President of Cyber Technology & Services at RMC Global, a leader in Industrial Control Systems/Operational Technology (ICS/OT) security.
