Adeeb Ahamed

Adeeb Ahamed is a 39-year-old entrepreneur spearheading several companies, including LuLu Financial Group, Twenty14 Holdings and Tablez as its managing director.

Ahamed is credited with the establishment of the highly successful financial services firm, LuLu Financial Group, which has more than 185 branches across the globe. He also heads Twenty14 Holdings, the hospitality investment firm, which has under it some of the most prestigious properties around the world, including the Great Scotland Yard in London, Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, The Caledonian in Edinburgh, Port Muziris – A Tribute Portfolio in Kochi, Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay in Dubai and Sheraton Oman in Muscat, among others.

On the organised retail front, Ahamed is helping to steer Tablez on its ambitious expansion plan across India and capture a large share of the country’s $792bn retail industry.

“There is a lot more that can be done on the physical retail front in the Indian market,” Ahamed told Arabian Business as he unveiled Tablez’s $75m investment plan in India.

His plans include: Expand the number of Tablez retail outlets from 42 to 100 by the end of this year, and to 150 plus by 2021, launch five more international brands this year and more brands next year, and take Tablez’s outlets beyond India’s metro cities to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, to deepen the company’s market share in India in double the time.

“Our overall business is in an exponential growth phase currently and we expect it to break even at store operations level over the coming two years,” Ahamed predicts.

Some of the brands under Tablez include food and beverage brands Cold Stone Creamery, Famous Dave’s, Galito’s, Sugar Factory, Genghis Grill and Pancake House; toy brands Toys ‘R’ Us and Build-A-Bear; fashion and apparel brands Springfield and women’secret; kids fashion and accessories brand Babies ‘R’ Us; sports retail brand GO Sport, beside home-grown brands like Bloomsbury’s, Peppermill and Ming’s Chamber.

Ahamed’s CV also includes working with the senior advisory board of the South Asia Regional Strategy Group (RSG) at the World Economic Forum (WEF).

“Educate a boy, and you educate an individual. Educate a girl, and you educate a community,” is a quote which has inspired Ahamed. Therefore, he gives priority to public service activities focused on universal education awareness and empowerment of girls’ education.

Projects he has backed include the construction of community centres, classrooms, and hostels, among others, reflecting his passion for investing in the young generation.