An inspiring business leader who leads from the front

James Mathew has made a mark in the world of management, audit and advisory businesses James Mathew has made a mark in the world of management, audit and advisory businesses.

Hard work, perseverance, subject knowledge and business acumen exemplify James Mathew's journey to one of the most coveted financial professional in the Middle East. Being a mathematics prodigy scoring 100 per cent marks or a record holder in sprint athlete during his younger years, Mathew has always been a go-getter in life. He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and a Certified Public Accountant from Denver, Colorado, USA.
From a humble beginning as a senior auditor working in an accounting firm to spearheading the operations of world's 8th largest audit and accounting firm in the UAE and Oman as the Group CEO, James Mathew continues to inspire the young generation of finance professionals.
Originally from the state of Kerala in India, James has been a resident of Dubai for over 25 years now. He moved to Dubai in the year 1992 and started working as a Senior Auditor until 1996. A person of acute business acumen and leadership cannot hold back from unleashing his entrepreneur skills for too long. James joined Horwath Mak (now Crowe Mak)  in 1996, as a Partner, which became a part of Crowe Horwath network (now Crowe) in 2008. He carved his niche to be among the management leadership and today he is the Group CEO of Crowe in the UAE and Oman.
His public persona is well recognised and outspread beyond the country, and the region, to the entire network across the globe. This year Mathew was elected to the Board of Crowe Global, becoming the first person ever from the MENA region to be elected to the prestigious club.
Mathew is well known and commands respect for his vast knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of running an enterprise and economic affairs, which he has earned from the 25 years of working in the Middle East market. More than his professional talent and skills, it's his cheerful and charismatic personality, which makes him a popular face in the business circles. His past professional affiliations include being the Chairman of ICAI Dubai Chapter and Secretary General of Indian Business and Professional Council, Dubai, to name a few.
More than a brand
Crowe continues to enhance value through transformation, leadership and growth benefitting our clients, our people and the society
Crowe Horwath, the 8th largest global accounting network, has announced that the network and its member firms have rebranded to "Crowe". June 2018 onwards, the rebrand has seen over 220 member firms globally adopt the name Crowe, reflecting the increasingly integrated and seamless nature of the network, as well as its shared values and core purpose. It would reflect on the brand identity and legal name in the UAE, which would change from Horwath Mak to Crowe Mak.
The move has assisted in promoting the network's shared knowledge and global resources in response to changing client needs, driven by digitalisation and the borderless world of modern business. Crowe reaffirms its determination to drive forward the profession and increase discussion of audit, tax, risk and consultancy issues at board level globally, while retaining its emphasis on market-leading local expertise.
Crowe in the UAE was founded by the visionary leader, Dr. Khalid Maniar in 1981, as a sole practitioner and since then has grown to become a top six accounting firm in the UAE, as per the International Accounting Bulletin. Crowe Mak is a full-time member firm of Crowe Global. Today, it has a strong team of 16 partners and over 200 professionals, a force to reckon with in the audit and advisory services in the region.
With Mathew as the Group CEO, UAE and Oman, at the helm of affairs, Crowe professionals are leading the new phase of transition and providing public and private company clients with thought leadership in a focused group of industry and service sectors. He added, "We at Crowe, facilitate our clients to make smart decisions for growth and better control of their operations. The unique blend of global exposure and expertise of the local market makes Crowe, a thought leader in the UAE today.

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