Ron Thomas is the managing director of Strategy Focused Group DWC LLC, based in Dubai. He is also a senior faculty member and representative of HCI, covering the MENA/Asia Pacific region. Ron is the former CEO of Great Place to Work-Gulf and CHRO of Al Raha Group, based in Riyadh. He holds certifications from HCI as Global Human Capital Strategist (GHCS), Master Human Capital Strategist (MHCS), and Strategic Workforce Planner (SWP).

Ron was cited by CIPD as one of the top five HR thinkers in the Middle East. He received the Outstanding Leadership Award for Global HR Excellence at the World Human Resources Development Congress in Mumbai, and was named as one of the 50 Most Talented Global HR Leaders in Asia. Ron’s prior roles include senior HR roles with Xerox HR services, IBM, and Martha Stewart Living.

Ron’s board memberships include the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, McKinsey Quarterly Executive Online Panel, and HCI’s Expert
Advisory Council on Talent Management Strategy. Ron’s work has been featured in the Wall St. Journal, Inc. Magazine, Workforce Management, and numerous international HR magazines covering Africa, India, and the Middle East.