Posted on

Ali Bin Ali Holding named ICAEW Authorised Training Employer

Ali Bin Ali Holding in Qatar has become an Authorized Training Employer (ATE) for international Chartered Accountancy body ICAEW (the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales).

The partnership, which supports the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030), will help Ali Bin Ali Holding, a leading and privately owned FMCG distributor and premier luxury goods retailer, attract and retain talented individuals by offering ICAEW’s prestigious ACA qualification.

By giving its employees access to internationally recognized qualifications and training, Ali Bin Ali Holding further reinforces its commitment to the professional development of its people.

Mr. Iftekhar Ahmad, Group Chief Financial Officer of Ali Bin Ali Holding, said: “ICAEW is a world leader in finance and professional development. This partnership aligns with Ali Bin Ali Holding’s unwavering commitment to the long-term development and strategic growth of not just our holding company, but of our partners too.

“While our operations are currently regional, our standards remain international. We believe that the value of our products and services to customers depends entirely on our ability to unlock the full potential of our staff.  Becoming an ICAEW Authorized Training Employer will help us create a high-performing and innovative organizational culture that can create unique value to our customers, employees and the wider community.”

Completing the ACA qualification enables professionals to use the title ‘ICAEW Chartered Accountant’. Valued by businesses worldwide, more than 5,000 employers are currently training ACA students. The qualification provides students with the combination of finance knowledge, accountancy skills and real-world business experience they need to succeed.

Omar Mahmood, ICAEW Qatar Representative and KPMG Partner and Head of Financial Services, said: “We are proud to welcome Ali Bin Ali Holding to the growing number of employers globally authorized to train ACA students. Throughout the world, our training partners benefit from being able to attract the best talent and develop the next generation of business leaders.

“Our partnership with Ali Bin Ali Holding underscores its commitment to remain at the forefront of the evolving luxury retail industry. And together, we will continue to support the professional development of Chartered Accountants worldwide.”

The knowledge and skills provided by the ACA qualification means that ICAEW Chartered Accountants are highly sought-after professionals. The qualification is held by board members in 78 of the FTSE 100 companies.

Posted on

PepsiCo awards ABA Beverages for exceptional performance during Covid-19 pandemic

Ending the pandemic-hit year on a positive note, Ali Bin Ali Beverages won the prestigious PepsiCo Award. The award recognized employees and bottling partners for living their professional lives by PepsiCo values. The team leadership, management and frontliners were also recognized for their dedication and performance under Covid-19 duress.

In November 2020, at a special dinner gathering held at ABA Hospitality’s Em Sherif Restaurant, PepsiCo’s Senior Leadership awarded ABA Beverages team for their tremendous efforts since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nothing was more fitting than to recognize the total engagement of ABA Beverages employees and supervisors who were locked in at the Street 2 Plant in the Industrial Area, and had the responsibility to run the two filling lines without being able to return to their homes and families for 10 long weeks.

Ahmad Suleiman, a recently hired young production supervisor, exhibited maturity and composure, making the right decisions on many critical occasions. Julito Calimpong De Asis and Thavaseelan Thangarajah both exhibited admirable motivation, focus and calm. Eracleo Malco Hinola’s wife gave birth to their son while ‘Leo’ was locked up at the plant and doing his duty.

A team of 50 people found themselves unable to leave the site, working diligently to ensure a continuous supply of beverages. As a result, at no point during the Covid-19 crisis did the consumers in Qatar find themselves unable to get their favorite beverages in their regular shopping place.

Even the installation and commissioning of a newly acquired, state-of-the-art filling line was halted by the lockdown. Initially, Madhu Sethumadhavan and his team worked remotely to guide the technicians on site, then eventually joined them to complete the installation and start production of Aquafina water without the planned help of the equipment supplier.

President & General Manager of PepsiCo Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, Mr. Aamer Sheikh, said: “The ABA Beverages team’s clear focus to get things done has had a large part to play in our joint success at being able to steady the supply chain, stay the course on make, sell & deliver, and reinforce our commitment to our consumers by providing their favorite beverage at a place of their choice.

“While dealing with various operating restrictions, the team acted with integrity, kept employees and consumers safe, and made donations that have made a positive impact where it was needed. We are pleased to recognize the truly heroic efforts of the ABA Beverages team during these exceptional times. While we may not be fully out of the challenges yet, there is no better time than while it is still fresh in our minds to say a simple thank you to the ‘PepsiCo Heroes’.”

The Division also used the occasion to internally recognize and celebrate the dedication and commitment of many more heroes during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sabine Winner Neuhaus, Abdel Hamid Chariout, Ahmed Salmaan, Tarek Hassan Elashry, Hesham Mahmoud Reda, Jerry Moan Koshy, Anan Mahdi Masoud, Antesh Bakshi, Nabil Hassan Ekky, Ihab Moustafa Amin, Dileep Sadasivan Pillai and through them all their teams were awarded for their good work.

After taking on the challenges related to the blockade, the implementation of the excise tax on carbonated beverages and the Covid-19 pandemic, the ABA Beverages leadership and employees are ready for more. Hopefully, these challenges will be positive ones such as the 2022 World Cup as well as the line extensions planned for the next three years.

 Well done Team ABA Beverages, you made the whole Group proud!