Who is Sameer Al-Ansari?

Sameer Al-Ansari stepped down from his role as chief executive officer of Dubai International Capital (DIC) in January after deciding to take the top job at regional investment bank Shuaa Capital.

However, he remained attached to DIC through a non-executive chairman role, but has now relinquished this after ongoing poor performance of the firm's portfolio and to allow him to focus on his new role at Shuaa.

Below is a little about the man himself.

1) He spent much of his youth in the UK

Although he was born in Kuwait, Al-Ansari was educated in England from the age of 13. He holds a degree in Accounting & Financial Management and a Diploma in Industrial Studies from Loughborough University and started his career in London at accountancy firm BDO.

He moved to Dubai with Ernst & Young in 1987, aged 24, after completing his chartered accountant qualification. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.

2) He has friends in (very) high places

Al-Ansari's first very senior role in the Middle East was as chief financial officer of state-owned firm Dubai Aluminium Company, where succeeded in turning the company around, which explains how he was able to develop a network of governmental contacts.

Next up was his role as group CFO for The Executive Office of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. Despite the lofty title, the job effectively made him a personal financial adviser to the Sheikh. It's easy to see why he was handed the reins of DIC when it kick-started in October 2004.

3) He is an Anglophile

By 2007, the majority of DIC's international private equity investments were focused (with hindsight, slightly foolishly in some cases) on UK companies. Doncasters, Travelodge, Alliance Medical, Merlin and HSBC were all in the portfolio and the firm narrowly missed out on a high-profile bid for Liverpool F.C.

He told the DIFC Week conference in 2008 that DIC should attempt to snap up foreign assets at bargain prices: "This is our moment and we should seize it," he said.

4) He's a massive Liverpool F.C fan

Liverpool were in imperious form during the 1980s, and like any self-respecting glory-grabbing football fan, this was when Al-Ansari started supporting them.

His passion for Liverpool was believed to be the primary motivation for DIC's bid for the club in 2008. Ironically, it was Al-Ansari's attempt to refute this assertion - through due diligence checks on the investment potential of the club - that eventually allowed George Gillett and Tom Hicks to sneak in with a successful rival offer.

Al-Ansari also enjoys horse-riding and golf in his spare time.

5) He is highly decorated

Much like Liverpool during the 1980s, Al-Ansari has won lots of awards.

Sheikh Mohammed named him Young Arab Leader of the Year in 2005, and he managed to gain the 'Special Merit Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry' at the Private Equity MENA awards for two years running in 2007-2008. Various industry publications have also recognised his standing in the regional private equity sector.

He was also given an honorary doctorate from Loughborough University in July 2009 for 'outstanding achievement'