Our Team

Karim Hajjali

Chief Executive Officer

Karim has over 15 years of extensive and successful leadership experience with a diverse international franchising background in F&B. As CEO and Board Member of Food Quest, Karim has been recognised for his outstanding contributions to the industry. He was featured in the Caterer Middle East Power 50 list in 2020, 2022 and 2023. In 2023, he received the Executive Of The Year award from the Global Excellence Assembly in New York, and most recently, he was bestowed with the title of Tastemaker of the Year at the Caterer Awards 2023.

Faisal Younes

Chief Operations Officer

Faisal Younes is a veteran restaurant executive with over 25 years of leadership experience across the MENA region. He has led portfolios of more than 30 international and homegrown brands, driving growth and transformation through strategic insight, operational excellence, and strong commercial focus. His leadership roles with Starbucks (Alshaya), Azadea , Eathos , and Cenomi F&B ( Alhokair ) include spearheading turnarounds, expanding new concepts, and advancing digital and delivery-driven growth. Recognized by Caterer Middle East as one of the GCC’s most influential CEOs, Faisal is known for delivering sustainable growth and operational innovation across diverse dining segments.

Ghassan Ashkar

Chief Financial Officer

Ghassan is an accomplished finance executive with over 25 years of international experience across North America and MENA, spanning retail and diversified business sectors. He brings extensive expertise in financial transformation, M&A, treasury, corporate governance, and strategic value creation. As Food Quest’s CFO, he leads the company’s financial strategy and discipline, supporting its continued growth and expansion.

Mohamed Sayed Hashem

Group HR Director

Mohamed Hashem brings extensive experience across the hospitality, restaurant, retail, and investment sectors in the GCC. With a background in senior leadership roles at prominent regional organizations, including Al Tayer Group, he has developed strong expertise in talent management, organizational development, employee engagement, and workforce transformation. Holding an MBA from SBS Swiss Business School, Mohamed plays a key role in strengthening organizational capabilities, developing high-performing teams, and aligning people strategies with business objectives to support Food Quest’s continued growth and operational excellence.

Daniel Blasco

Country Brand Manager, Joe & the Juice and PAUL Spain

Daniel Blasco is a seasoned restaurant industry executive with over two decades of experience in operations, business development, and international brand expansion. Throughout his career, he has held key positions at Grupo VIPS in Spain and leadership roles with international brands such as Wagamama and TGI Fridays, contributing to business growth and operational excellence. Prior to his current role, Daniel worked as a senior consultant at WhiteSpace Partners, advising on international franchise development and restaurant brand expansion across Europe and the Middle East. His extensive industry expertise supports the development and growth of Joe & the Juice and PAUL in Spain.