XS.com hires Kasem Hekal to expand MENA growth

XS.com has named Kasem Hekal as Senior Business Development Manager in Dubai as the broker looks to strengthen client and partner relationships and expand in the MENA region. The hire adds more than 15 years of financial services experience to the firm’s commercial team.

Why it matters: - XS.com is adding senior commercial leadership in Dubai to support its next phase of international expansion. - The hire is aimed at deepening client and partner relationships and identifying new business opportunities across the MENA region. - XS.com is positioning business development as a growth lever for a multi-asset broker competing in crowded financial markets.

What happened: - XS.com named Kasem Hekal Senior Business Development Manager and placed him on its team in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. - The appointment is intended to strengthen the broker’s commercial expertise and support sustainable growth. - Hekal will help shape XS.com’s business development strategy from a major international financial hub.

The details: - Hekal will focus on building a strong pipeline of business opportunities and reinforcing relationships with clients and partners. - He will also identify new commercial avenues and work with XS.com’s sales teams on targeted initiatives. - XS.com said Hekal’s role will help turn potential relationships into durable collaborations while maintaining service quality and client engagement. - Hekal has more than 15 years of experience in financial services. - He has spent more than 10 years in FX and derivatives sales, account management and business development. - His career includes roles in Egypt and the UAE, with experience serving high-net-worth and institutional clients. - Hekal has also led sales teams and built market-driven strategies based on client needs. - His background includes senior sales and business development roles at Accuindex MENA, ATFX and MultiBank Group, plus prior positions at GKFX and FXOpen. - Before moving into client-facing commercial roles, he worked in financial operations and audit. - Hekal holds an MBA in Finance from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University. - XS.com operates as a global multi-asset broker offering access to a wide range of financial products. - The company was founded in Australia in 2010. - XS.com says it has licenses in multiple jurisdictions and offices across several regions. - The broker says it serves traders, institutional investors and brokers with deep institutional liquidity, advanced trading technology, customer relationship management and client service.

Between the lines: - The appointment signals that XS.com is leaning on experienced operators rather than broad hiring to support growth. - Dubai remains a strategic base for financial firms looking to connect global product capabilities with regional demand. - The move also suggests XS.com wants tighter execution in sales, partnerships and account development as it expands internationally.

What's next: - Hekal is expected to work closely with XS.com’s commercial teams on business development initiatives and relationship building. - XS.com is likely to keep investing in experienced commercial talent as it pursues broader international expansion. - The company’s growth priorities now appear centered on market penetration, service quality and long-term client retention.

The bottom line: - XS.com is betting that senior business development expertise in Dubai will help accelerate growth across MENA and beyond.