ITC Business Council Highlights: Rama Ayman

Rama Ayman – Board Member of the Business Council for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Rama Ayman, CEO of MMG Capital, is a prominent leader in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). With extensive expertise in the steel, metals, and mining sectors, along with a strong background in merchant banking and advisory, Rama is a driving force in the industry.

His journey began after earning an MBA, working in investment banking on Wall Street in NYC with Deutsche Bank and later in London with BNP Paribas for a decade. His career then led him to Arcelor, the world’s largest steel company, where he served as Corporate VP of M&A. Subsequently, he held the position of Managing Director of Hatch Corporate Finance and later became Global Partner and Global Head of Metals and Mining at KPMG. Eight years ago, he assumed the role of CEO at MMG Capital.

Rama’s educational qualifications include three BAs in Economics, Political Science, and Philosophy, coupled with a Masters in International Management and Finance. He has also received formal training in corporate finance.

Throughout his career, Rama has been instrumental in advising on landmark M&A transactions, including mergers of major companies. He has been actively engaged in capital markets and advisory initiatives within the metals and mining sectors for over 25 years.

His proudest professional accomplishments include raising financing and assisting companies in achieving their strategic objectives.

Among the challenges currently faced by the industry include rising costs, reliance on the Chinese economy, political instability in some of the resource-rich nations, and declining ore grades.

Challenges currently faced by the industry include rising costs, reliance on the Chinese economy, political instability in resource-rich nations, and declining ore grades.

Looking ahead, Rama envisions a thriving mineral and commodity sector in the next 5-10 years, driven by growth in many emerging economies as well as rise of demand for critical minerals needed for transition to green energy. He also sees some of the resource-rich countries will increasingly aim to integrate downstream into refined metals. He is excited about the industry’s transformation into a high-tech sector, with innovative technologies reducing the carbon footprint.

For newcomers, Rama emphasizes the importance of technical skills, a multi-stakeholder approach, and a strong commitment to social and environmental issues.
In his work, Rama views setbacks and challenges as opportunities for growth and innovation. He draws inspiration from companies that prioritize high ESG standards and contribute positively to the communities where they operate.

Beyond his professional life, Rama enjoys sports, indulges in reading history and philosophy, and actively participates in activities that promote interfaith discourse and racial harmony.