Zak Marar is a Managing Director at ZRG Partners, based in Dubai, with over 20 years of experience in talent and executive search, including 15 years focused on senior executive and board appointments. Based in the Middle East for more than a decade, he advises clients across the region and globally on critical leadership mandates.

He works with boards, CEOs and senior leadership teams across financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, investment firms, family offices and private equity-backed businesses. Over his career, Zak has led senior mandates across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and North America, with particular expertise across financial services, investment management, private markets, and technology.

Prior to joining ZRG, Zak was a Partner at Marlin Hawk, where he built the firm’s MENA business. Previously, he was Head of MENA for Pedersen & Partners, with responsibility for one of the firm’s strategically important and commercially successful emerging-market regions.

Alongside his executive search career, Zak has held several advisory and governance positions, serving for two years as a board member of a leading K–12 school in the UAE and currently serves as an advisor and board member to a UAE-based B2B private-label luxury business.

Zak began his career as an entrepreneur in the UK real estate sector before transitioning into talent and executive search.