Our Team

OTHMAN

AL OMEIR

FOUNDER & EDITOR IN CHIEF

Mr Othman Al Omeir is regarded as one of the pioneers of modern journalism in the Middle East with more than 50 years experience as a journalist editor and media owner.

Mr Al Omeir began his career as a junior sports correspondent for Al Jazirah newspaper in Saudi Arabia in the early 1970s, soon after becoming managing editor and London correspondent of the paper. During his London correspondency, he studied the English language, and his tenure lasted until 1986. He then began to serve as editor-in-chief of The Majalla magazine from 1986 to 1987. Next, he became editor-in-chief of Alsharq Alawsat and worked in this post for 11 years. Both The Majalla and Alsharq Alawsat are owned by the Saudi Research and Marketing Group. He also worked as the editor-in-chief of Al Yaum and was a member of the board of directors of Al Jazirah. During his journalism career he interviewed world leaders, including George Bush Senior, Margaret Thatcher, Helmut Kohl, Jacques Chirac, King Fahd and Gorbachev.

On 21 May 2001, he launched the first independent Arabic e-newspaper, Elaph that is based in London. The reason for choosing London as the centre of the website was to be free from censorship. Mr Al Omeir continues to interview for Elaph, in July 2013 he interviewed Bahraini ruler King Hamad.

In September 2021 Mr Al Omeir launched the Arabic version of How to Spend It, a weekly luxury magazine by Financial Times. HTSIA is published, like Elaph, in London.

He established a media company in the United Kingdom, OR Media Limited, in partnership with Abdulrahman Al Rashed. He acquired the Maroc Soir Group, a major publisher in Casablanca, in March 2004. The group which is the oldest media group in Morocco owns French daily paper Le Matin and Arabic daily Assahra Al Maghribiya. In addition the company owns the most advance printing presses in Africa – Les Imprimeries du Matin.

Mr Al Omeir also has substantial real estate and business interests. Mr Al Omeir was named Media Personality of 2006 by the Arab Media Forum in Dubai for his contribution to the industry in the Arab world, awarded the Media Innovation Prize by the Arab Thought Foundation in 2007, and awarded the New Media for the Future Prize by Anna Lindh Foundation in December 2009. In December 2011, he was nominated for the International Media Awards 2012 by the Next Century Foundation.

EMILE ISAAC

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Emile Issacs has 40 years experience in the media industry over multiple functions and executive roles from newspaper production, to commercial management through to managing director, during which he has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, branding expertise, product knowledge and commercial acumen.

Mr Isaac joined Mr Al Omeir in 1985 as a reporter and later managed Al-Majali magazine, then Asharq Al-Awsat daily newspaper. In 1995 he set up OR Media and became its Deputy Managing Director. In 1997 he took the role of Managing Director of Majestic Hotels that re-development L’Amphitrite Palace and Mohammed VI International Congress Centre near Rabat – the capitol of Morocco. In 1999 he headed the team to plan the launch of Elaph as the first online daily newspaper.

He became Managing Director in 2000 of all of Mr Omeir’s group of companies spanning real estate, media, telecoms and transport.

As CEO Mr Isaac is responsible for the day to day running of the business with particular emphasis on sales and new business development as well as business planning and oversight. He has a clear focus on ensuring the business continues to grow in line with the key objectives, growth plan and delivery of the shareholders’ expectations.

DARRYL EALES

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Darryl Eales has 35 years experience in the corporate finance and venture capital world. In May 2014, Mr Eales became Advisory Chairman of LDC after 11 years as Chief Executive. Mr Eales joined LDC in 1987 and formerly ran the Birmingham office and then the Midlands and North region before becoming Chief Executive in January 2003.

During his eleven year tenure as Chief Executive, LDC expanded significantly in terms of both investment scale and profitability. Over this period, the business invested £2.6bn in c166 companies and delivered post tax profits of £1.2bn whilst also building a portfolio of around 80 companies which are expected to deliver a further £1.5bn of profit over the next four to five years.

Mr Eales is long-standing proponent of the importance of building sustainable success and passionately believes that this can only be achieved through a truly relationship-based approach and is a strong advocate of the role private equity should play in supporting local communities – the ‘LDC in the Community’ initiative, developed in 2005, has raised more than £2.5m for UK, regional and international charities.

Mr Eales is currently a Non-Executive Director for six of LDC’s portfolio companies. He also has a portfolio of private interests and is a Guardian of The Birmingham Assay Office.

CALEDONIA EDMOND

BOARD DIRECTOR & DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

Caledonia Edmond has 15 years experience as an entrepreneur, start-up owner and consultant in the entertainment, sports and media industry. Beginning her career in Los Angeles, Ms Edmond ran her own business while completing her undergraduate degrees in Political Science. Ms Edmond is an investor in her own right and business owner and also acts as trustee and administrator for HNW individuals.

In 2020 Ms Edmond joined a market-leading tax and wealth management firm with an enviable portfolio of HNW clients including sports and media personalities, business leaders and owners as well as family offices, as a senior relationship Director.

Ms Edmond has a strong knowledge of youth trends, emerging metaverse trends and brand coupled with a proven track record of driving sales revenue and profitability through dynamic leadership, innovation and a relentless customer focus. Moving to London in 2020 to study at The London School of Economics, Ms. Edmonds upcoming book examines conservatism amongst millennials.

Ms Edmond is responsible for partnership relationships developing the Company’s international relationship with the wider media industry in the UK and USA. She has a clear focus on ensuring the business continues to grow in line with the key objectives, growth plan and delivery of the shareholders’ expectations.

SAMAR ABDUL MALAK

DEPUTY EDITOR IN CHIEF

Samar Abdul Malak is a highly accomplished journalist with over 22 years experience across the media industry. She is a successful media and communication professional with a well-respected degree relevant to her role. She oversees all aspects of editorial production across the region for Elaph.com and How To Spend It Arabic.

In her current roles, Mrs Abdul Malak is Deputy Editor In Chief of Elaph.com and Editor of the Arabic edition of How To Spend It Magazine, published in collaboration with the Financial Times. She oversees all aspects of editorial content production across the region and Europe for Elaph.com and HTSIA magazine and is responsible for the content strategy across the Elaph Media group of businesses. She manages a network of journalists, both staff and freelancers, as well as writers, correspondents, photographers, creatives (including video content), ensuring a regular stream of independent and exclusive news, analysis, and investigative content.

Mrs. Abdul Malak have over the years demonstrated leadership and communication skills at an operational and strategic level, and forged key working relationships at all levels internally and externally, presenting an innovative, flexible, and responsive approach.