CFI Financial Group has appointed Federico Cirulli as Chairman of the Board, a move designed to bolster the firm’s institutional framework as it scales its global operations. Cirulli brings over two decades of leadership experience within regulated financial services, having previously held senior executive and CEO positions across the asset management and brokerage sectors. His expertise in governance, international expansion, and operational scaling will be central to his new role as he works alongside the executive team to guide the group’s next phase of development.
This leadership change is part of a broader strategic evolution for the firm, which has seen significant board and management adjustments over the past two years. In June 2025, Ziad Melhem was appointed as Group CEO, followed by the addition of independent members to the board of directors in November 2025. As part of this transition, co-founders Hisham Mansour and Eduardo Fakhoury are moving from their roles as chairman and vice chairman to serve as non-executive directors. Both remain fully committed to the group’s long-term success, and the existing executive management team and strategy remain unchanged.
Hisham Mansour emphasized that the appointment is a vital step in ensuring the firm grows beyond its founders, noting that he and Fakhoury maintain full confidence in Cirulli’s leadership. “We built CFI with the ambition for it to grow beyond its founders and continue evolving for the long term,” Mansour stated. “Eduardo and I remain fully invested in CFI’s success, and we have every confidence in Federico and the team as CFI enters its next chapter.”
Group CEO Ziad Melhem highlighted the importance of balancing rapid growth with robust governance. “Every market we enter adds a licence, a regulator, and clients who expect us to be there for the long term. Growth and scale bring obligations, not just opportunities, and that is why governance matters as much as growth,” Melhem said. He welcomed the addition of an independent chairman as a move to uphold the high standards expected by the group’s global client base.
Reflecting on his new position, Cirulli praised the firm’s 25-year history of combining entrepreneurial drive with institutional rigor. “CFI has built strong foundations over more than 25 years, combining entrepreneurial ambition with institutional standards,” Cirulli remarked. “As chairman, my focus will be on working closely with the board, Ziad, and the management team to build on those foundations, stay focused on the right strategic priorities, and ensure CFI continues to grow with discipline, strong governance, and high standards as it scales across markets, products, and services.”
The appointment serves as the latest milestone in a deliberate effort to strengthen the company’s leadership, governance, and technological infrastructure. By combining an experienced executive team with an independent board and chairman, the group aims to solidify its position as a scalable, global investment and trading entity. The report also notes that including CEO and senior executive roles across brokerage and asset management, cirulli brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across regulated financial services. The report also notes that the appointment follows a period of record trading performance and continued expansion of the group’s international footprint. The report also notes that and someone with whom we share many common values about how a business should be built for the long term, i have known and worked with Federico for many years; a seasoned professional in this industry. The report also notes that i am delighted to welcome Federico as Chairman and to the standard he will hold us to. The report also notes that that reflects the vision of Hisham and Eduardo and the strength of the team they have built around them. The report also notes that i am honoured to take on the role of chairman at such an important stage in the Group’s development.
Source: Khaleej Times
