Simon Penney

Simon has dedicated much of his career to the Gulf region, initially in the private sector before serving as the UK’s Trade Commissioner to the Middle East He began his career in the construction industry and later transitioned into project finance. Simon held the role of regional CEO at the Royal Bank of Scotland before becoming the CEO of Corporate and Investment Banking at First Gulf Bank in the UAE. In 2018, Simon entered the UK public sector as the first HM Trade Commissioner to the Middle East, a position he held until 2023 before returning to the private sector. As HM Trade Commissioner, Simon collaborated closely with ministers and officials across the region to strengthen trade and investment ties. Understanding the importance of strong diplomatic relationships, Simon cultivated deep commercial and political connections at the highest levels. He spearheaded the UK-Gulf (GCC) Free Trade Agreement, launched the UK’s first Sovereign Investment Partnerships with the UAE and Qatar