Business Strategy
Operating Model and Governance
Decision rights that hold under pressure.
Operating Model and Governance is a practice-led premium advisory service under Strategy & Operations. Handle designs operating models that clarify accountability, decision rights and escalation pathways — so execution is consistent, risk is controlled and the institution can scale without losing discipline.
When this is needed
Operating Model in the UAE: where the mandate begins.
- The business has outgrown its structure, and decisions are slow, duplicated or escalated too often.
- Accountability between leadership, functions and business units is unclear.
- Board and committee governance needs to be established or rebuilt for investors, lenders or regulators.
- A merger, expansion or succession requires the operating model to be redesigned.
Matters Handle leads
Operating model and governance capabilities.
Four capabilities. One structure built to scale.
Organisational Design
Roles, spans and interfaces structured for execution clarity.
Decision Rights
Who decides, how decisions flow and how control is preserved.
Governance Forums
Board and leadership cadence, committees and oversight.
Performance Discipline
KPIs, incentives and management rhythm that drive outcomes.
The scope
Operating Model and Governance — scope, made explicit.
A focused, premium mandate — with the structure, authority and governance of the business asset at the center.
Model Assessment
Current operating model assessed and target design defined.
Decision Rights
Decision rights and escalation pathways defined and enforced.
Forums & Mandates
Governance forums, mandates and cadence designed.
Roles & Interfaces
Role clarity, interfaces and accountability mapped.
Implementation
A phased roadmap that embeds the model in practice.
The mandate
Structure determines performance.
Handle designs operating models that clarify decision rights, accountability and governance so the institution executes consistently under pressure.
Structure, forums and performance discipline are aligned to strategy — and to the legal and capital structure of the business asset — so scale does not dilute control or decision quality.
What the mandate delivers
- Operating model assessment and target design
- Decision rights and escalation pathway definition
- Governance forums, mandates and cadence design
- Role clarity, interfaces and accountability mapping
- Performance management rhythm and KPI framework
- Implementation roadmap to embed the model in practice
How the work runs
Four disciplines. One governed institution.
Every operating model mandate is run as a governed design — decision rights set, forums mandated, interfaces cleared, performance embedded.
01
Decision Rights Design
Who decides, how decisions flow and how escalation works — defined and enforced.
02
Governance Forums
Committees and oversight cadence structured with clear mandates and outputs.
03
Accountability and Interfaces
Roles and cross-functional interfaces designed to remove friction.
04
Performance Discipline
KPIs, rhythm and management controls embedded to sustain outcomes.
The Handle model
Practice-led. Never fragmented.
The work may begin here — it stays connected to strategy, capital and law.
Strategy & Operations
The work stays connected to market position, operating model, performance and execution governance.
M&A & Capital
The work stays aware of capital readiness, investor review, transaction logic and deployment discipline where relevant.
Legal & Regulatory
The work stays protected through structure, rights, governance, enforceability and regulatory or dispute readiness.
Why Handle
Authority aligned. Execution consistent.
Handle designs governance that works in practice, not on paper. Partner-led teams align operating structure with board governance, shareholder arrangements and capital requirements — so the model holds when it is tested.
- Clear decision rights and accountability across leadership and teams
- Governance forums with defined mandates and cadence
- Operating models aligned to strategy and execution reality
- Performance discipline embedded through KPIs and rhythm
- Partner-led design for institutional-grade governance
- Outcomes measured in clarity, control and scalable execution
Before offering your business for M&A, you must raise it with discipline. Strengthen governance, restore financial clarity, and sharpen strategy. A parented business attracts investors with confidence, not discounts.
Mohamed abu El-MakaremManaging Partner & Chairman
Engagement paths
Where this work typically begins.
Growth & Expansion
When the asset must scale capacity, geography, capital, partnerships or market share.
Turnaround
When the asset must reset structure, capital, law, governance and operations under pressure.
Coverage
Applied across the seven priority verticals.
Handle designs operating models and governance for businesses, family enterprises, investor-backed platforms and public institutions across the seven priority verticals.
Priority verticals · Where Handle operates
Industry & ManufacturingInfrastructure & Strategic AssetsHealthcare & PharmaEnergyEnvironment & SustainabilityAdvanced Technology & AIFood Security & Agritech
Related service lines · Business Strategy
Across the Handle model
Questions, answered
Operating Model and Governance — questions, answered.
How Handle designs operating models and governance that hold.
What is an operating model?
The blueprint for how strategy, structure, process and resources work together to perform.
How does Handle design operating models?
Organisational structure, decision rights and process accountability are aligned to the strategy.
Can Handle rebuild existing governance?
Yes. Governance systems are modernised to improve oversight and speed of decision.
Which sectors does Handle support?
Finance, energy, logistics, government and technology, across the seven priority verticals.
How is governance effectiveness measured?
Through KPI frameworks, compliance reviews and maturity assessments.
Can Handle design board governance structures?
Yes. Charters, committee roles and reporting cadence are established.
Can existing operating models be optimised?
Yes. Processes are streamlined and inefficiencies removed while control is maintained.
What does integrated governance deliver?
Consistent decision-making and faster response to market change.
How is a new model implemented?
Through phased rollouts, leadership alignment and structured change management.
Does the model connect to shareholder and legal structure?
Yes. Operating governance is aligned with shareholder agreements, board mandates and regulatory requirements.
Insights
Perspectives from live mandates.
Partner-led analysis on law, capital and strategy, shaped by boardroom realities across the UAE and the GCC.
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Work with Handle
Begin with Operating Model and Governance — kept connected to the whole Handle model.
When structure must hold.
Request an initial review
When decision rights must be made clear.
Set out the mandate. A partner reviews it and responds with a defined route, governance design and accountable lead.
- Partner-level review of every request
- Strict confidentiality and privilege from first contact
- One accountable partner from review to execution
