As a finance executive with more than two decades of experience, Samer Bannun has been reshaping leadership in this field. Over the years, he has been helping to build financially resilient organizations, offering his insights from real estate developments to structured funding solutions.
Currently, as the Group CFO at Eqnaa Real Estate Company, Samer leads its financial strategy and corporate performance.
As he continues to deliver excellence across his roles, Samer’s belief has remained the same, “Finance should serve as a catalyst for innovation, informed decision-making, and sustainable enterprise growth.”
Vision Behind the Journey
Samer’s journey has always centered on continuous learning and professional development. After graduating in Accounting from Umm Al-Qura University with honors, he later earned an MBA with First Honors and is currently completing a PhD in Management.
Apart from his commitment to constant learning, he has also co-authored academic research on enterprise risk management, corporate governance, and financial sustainability in Saudi companies. Connecting his professional experience with academic research, he brings a unique blend of leadership across his roles.
Investing in professional qualifications including IFRS, taxation, governance, risk, compliance, internal audit, and investment structuring, he ensures to stay ahead of the curve. With a strong belief that staying current with accounting standards, Saudi regulations, taxation, labor requirements, and industry developments is essential not only for compliance, but also for protecting organizations from financial and reputational risks, he has become an influential voice in the field.
Samer states, “Professionally, I progressed from external auditing and accounting roles into treasury at Saudi Airlines Cargo, then into finance leadership roles within SEDCO Group, followed by Senior Finance Manager at Azad Properties – AWJ Group.”
Today, Samer serves as Group CFO of Eqnaa Real Estate and its subsidiaries, where his role extends beyond finance into strategy, governance, funding, organizational development, and supporting the Group’s growth and expansion.
Evolution of Samer as a Leader
Initially attracted to finance as he enjoyed working with numbers, Samer realized over time that finance is much more than numbers. It is about transforming information into insights that help leaders make better decisions.
Today, he views finance as one of the key navigation systems of any organization. A strong financial understanding does not replace other leadership skills, but it enables leaders to better evaluate risk, opportunity, sustainability, and the long-term impact of their decisions.
“My career therefore evolved naturally from accounting and treasury into financial leadership, strategy, investment, governance, and ultimately executive management,” Samer comments.
Driving Clarity to Organizations
Samer’s leadership approach focuses on creating clarity, structure, and accountability. He believes that when governance is strong, responsibilities are clear, processes are automated, and information is available at the right time, management can make faster and better decisions.
He shares, “At the same time, understanding regulations and compliance requirements protects the organization from unnecessary financial and reputational risks. Equally important is creating a work environment where employees feel valued, trusted, and connected to the organization, because people perform at their best when they feel they are an important part of the journey.”
From Innovation to Impact
Despite being a leader who believes continuous learning is essential, his strongest philosophy is, however, people-first leadership, as no executive succeeds alone.
He focuses first on building a strong team, giving people clarity, trust, development, and recognition. When employees feel that the organization invests in them professionally and personally, they do more than complete tasks — they protect the organization, take ownership, and contribute to its success. Samer reflects, “I consider strong people one of the most valuable assets a company can build.”
Reshaping Businesses with AI
AI is already reshaping the way organizations operate. Tasks that once required significant time in finance, HR, IT, administration, reporting, and data analysis can now be automated or significantly accelerated.
Samer explains, “I do not believe the future is simply about replacing people; it is about replacing repetitive work and allowing people to focus on judgment, creativity, strategy, and relationships. In finance and real estate, AI will increasingly support forecasting, investment analysis, risk management, contract review, customer service, and decision-making. The organizations that adopt it early and responsibly will have a clear competitive advantage.”
Qualities that Define Success
Reflecting the values that attract success in his industry, Samer states, “First, professional excellence and integrity — doing your work properly even when no one is watching.
Second, continuous learning — qualifications alone are not enough; you must keep developing as the market and regulations evolve.
And third, ambition with execution — ambition creates direction, but discipline and consistent execution are what turn it into results.”
Leaving Behind a Strong Legacy
For Samer, his legacy will be measured not only by financial results, but by what remains after he leaves — stronger systems, better governance, capable people, and a team that has grown professionally.
“Ultimately, I hope to be remembered as someone who did his work with excellence, developed the people around him, led by example, and left every organization stronger than he found it,” he mentions.
Connect with Samer Bannun on LinkedIn and find his research publication on https://journalofdaoiststudies.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1985 to learn more.
Find Eqnaa Real Estate Company on LinkedIn and visit their website.
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