Ali Awni is Professor of Practice at the Business School, and Director of the John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, Civic Engagement and Responsible Business, The American University in Cairo (AUC). He teaches operations management courses at the undergraduate and MBA level. His research interests are in operations and supply chain innovations for SME and base of the pyramid. As a director of the Gerhart Center, he led the transition of the center to the School of Business, including the addition of responsible business theme. 

Awni serves on many boards. Awni serves on the Board of the Egyptian Company for Medical investments (An Egyptian Unified Procurement Authority's company). He serves on the board of advisors of the Center of African Philanthropy and Social Investments (CAPSI) at Wits School of Business, South Africa. Awni is a representative of Africa and the Middle East on the Civil Society Advisory Body, UNEP FI Principles of Responsible Banking.

Ali Awni holds BS in Computer Science & Statistics from Kuwait University, MS in Systems Science from the University of Ottawa, and a Ph.D. in Operations Research from North Carolina State University.

Management and planning features

An ambitious strategist with over 25 years of experience, he has achieved significant gains and implemented successful marketing strategies, shaping prominent brands in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market.
He possesses extensive experience in generic drugs, insulin, biologics, and other related fields. He has also managed world-class pharmaceutical services for leading global industry players in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. His responsibilities include team building, managing profit and loss, developing overall management vision, enhancing business development, and accessing new markets, all of which have contributed to his success in marketing and sales

Executive experiences

• Leading the marketing department at Novo Nordisk, a leader in the modern insulin market for diabetes, 
• Establishing and developing Dammam Pharma (a subsidiary of Spimaco Pharmaceuticals – Saudi Arabia) within two years.
• Leading the strategic planning for Spimaco Pharmaceuticals, enabling the company to achieve widespread market penetration in the GCC countries, Algeria, and Sudan, thus increasing profit margins and market capitalization.
• Focusing on attracting key market players while providing and implementing performance metrics and excellence in public relations.
• Establishing pricing strategies and managing outstanding brands for companies such as Novartis, Novo Otsuka, and Spimaco.

Education and affiliation

• Master of Business Administration – ESLSCA University, 2007
• PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cairo University, 2010
• Bachelor of Pharmacy, Cairo University, 1995

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