Bita Bani

Bita Bani is a senior executive and international business strategist working at the intersection of Gulf and European business, family capital, strategic partnerships and market expansion.

With more than seventeen years of cross-border experience, Bita works with investors, family offices, business families, international companies and institutional stakeholders to build strategic relationships, navigate new markets and develop commercial and investment opportunities across Saudi Arabia, the GCC and Europe.

Multilingual and at home in both European and Gulf business cultures, she acts as a cultural translator between counterparts, helping each side read the other’s expectations, pace and way of doing business.

She is Group Head of Strategic Alliances, Growth & Partnerships at Petley Partners, where she leads strategic growth and Saudi market-entry initiatives for international organisations across healthcare, AI, sustainable energy, aviation, defence and retail. She has raised and advised on investment initiatives exceeding US$500M and advised on institutional investment discussions representing approximately US$3 B. She advises CEOs, boards and founders on Saudi market entry, strategic partnerships, institutional engagement and commercial development. She is also a Strategic Advisor to BridgeMena in Saudi Arabia.

Bita is the Founder and Chairwoman of Luminari, a private international institution serving business families, family offices, investors and next-generation leaders across the Gulf and Europe. Through Luminari, she has developed relationships across 200+ family businesses, family offices, foundations and investors.

She also teaches family business succession at Paris Dauphine University, bringing an additional perspective on family enterprise, governance, succession and next-generation leadership.

Earlier, Bita co-founded ROBI International and led its strategic alliances across the GCC, MENA and Asia, building partnerships and commercial relationships across multiple markets.

Bita holds an Executive MBA in Business Economics from Arcadia University (USA) and has completed executive education programmes at Harvard Business School (Leadership) and Wharton (Strategic Management).

Advisory Focus

Bita advises on Saudi and GCC market entry, strategic partnerships, investor and family-office relations, institutional engagement, commercial growth, cross-border expansion and family enterprise strategy.

Sectors

• Defence & aviation
• Energy
• Technology
• Healthcare & wellness
• Hospitality & heritage