Career Biography

With a distinguished career spanning over 28 years, Mohammad Amro has earned recognition as one of the region’s foremost legal professionals. He has successfully navigated the legal landscapes of multinational corporations and government entities, demonstrating strategic acumen and visionary leadership. Since 2020, Amro has served as Group General Counsel at Agthia Group PJSC, where he leads the company’s legal strategy and governance. Prior to Agthia, he held pivotal roles, including Chief Legal Counsel at Mondelēz and Legal Manager for the Middle East at Nestlé. His public sector contributions include serving as General Counsel at the Abu Dhabi Education and Knowledge Department (ADEK) and working in the healthcare and social care sectors within the Abu Dhabi Government. Notably, he played a key role in shaping regulatory frameworks, including the development of the landmark Medical Liability Law of 2016.

Amro is a champion of diversity and inclusive leadership. Under his guidance, Agthia’s legal department comprises 60% women and 20% UAE nationals, reflecting his commitment to empowering talent and fostering a culture of equity. He believes that diverse teams bring greater loyalty, creativity, and resilience, and has built a legal function that exemplifies these values. As Group General Counsel, Amro provides strategic legal counsel to the board of directors, CEO, and senior leadership. His expertise spans corporate governance, antitrust, securities law, product liability, environmental law, and mergers and acquisitions. He has led complex transactions that have fueled Agthia’s growth and innovation across competitive markets. A member of Agthia’s executive leadership team, Amro oversees an eight-member legal department composed of professionals from diverse jurisdictions and backgrounds, with deep expertise in M&A, IP, litigation, and governance.

Mohammad Amro is widely regarded as one of the Middle East’s most respected and influential general counsels. With nearly three decades of experience, he has led legal teams at global multinationals, driven regulatory reform within government, and now spearheads legal functions at Agthia. At Agthia, he has redefined the legal function as a strategic business partner— enhancing governance, integrating legal technology, and aligning legal strategy with commercial objectives. His leadership has elevated the role of in-house counsel in the FMCG sector and beyond. Previously featured in the Legal 500 GC Powerlist: Middle East in 2023 and 2024, Amro’s 2025 nomination reflects his continued excellence in corporate governance, legal innovation, and thought leadership. Beyond his professional achievements, Amro is a mentor and advocate for the next generation of legal professionals. He bridges regional practice with global standards and inspires young lawyers to view in-house roles as platforms for influence, innovation, and impact.

What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

Over the past year, I have led several strategic initiatives that have strengthened Agthia’s portfolio and operational agility. One of the most significant was the strategic restructuring of Agthia’s stake in Abu Auf Group, which increased ownership from 60% to 80%. This complex, multi-jurisdictional transaction required close coordination across legal, regulatory, and business functions and demonstrated our ability to execute with precision within diverse cross-border frameworks.

Another milestone was the acquisition and integration of Riviere Mineral Water, where I oversaw all aspects of legal execution, from due diligence and regulatory approvals to the seamless integration of more than 780 employees. This earnings-accretive transaction reinforced Agthia’s market leadership in the UAE water segment and showcased the team’s capacity for disciplined yet ambitious growth.

In addition, I championed the Group-wide “Fighting Red Tape” initiative, a company-wide programme designed to reduce bureaucracy and enhance operational efficiency. Through this effort, we delivered ten impactful projects that improved agility and strengthened cross-functional collaboration across the organisation.

In my current role, I advise the Board and CEO on legal and regulatory matters, oversee strategic transactions, and ensure compliance across our diversified operations. My recent achievements include leading several high-profile acquisitions and restructuring efforts involving Al Faysal in Kuwait, Al Foah in the UAE, and, most recently, Abu Auf in Egypt.

What strategies do you employ to ensure the successful digital transformation of a legal department while maintaining compliance with your country’s data protection laws?

Agthia’s Legal Department is undergoing a transformative digital evolution aimed at creating a function that is agile, intelligent, and scalable. We are deploying a Legal Entities Management System to centralise governance and enhance transparency across the Group. By automating nearly 70% of routine tasks and reducing contract turnaround time by 30%, we are freeing our lawyers to focus on higher-value strategic work.

Throughout this transformation, compliance remains paramount. We have adopted a privacy-by-design approach, conduct quarterly training sessions, and carry out rigorous compliance checks to ensure alignment with UAE data protection regulations. In addition, our performance dashboards enable data-driven decision-making and strengthen accountability, providing management with clear insights into legal operations and risk exposure.

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive work environment?

Diversity and inclusion are embedded in Agthia’s culture and values. As of 2025, 60% of our legal team are women, and 20% are UAE nationals. We are deeply committed to investing in Emirati talent, exemplified by a UAE national colleague who advanced from a PRO role to leading our Investigations and Litigation function through a structured mentorship programme.

We foster a human-centric culture built on trust, accountability, and growth. This includes quarterly well-being check-ins, biannual trust and accountability surveys, innovation awards, coaching programmes, and structured leadership development and career progression tracking. These initiatives cultivate an inclusive and empowered legal team that reflects Agthia’s commitment to equity and excellence.

What measures has your company taken to incorporate sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how can the general counsel contribute to driving such initiatives within the organisation?

At Agthia, sustainability is not just a goal, but also a strategic imperative. As General Counsel, I play a central role in embedding ESG principles into the company’s core operations, from procurement and contract management to legal policy development. Our focus is on accelerating ESG adoption, managing compliance risk, and ensuring that sustainability is integrated into everyday decision-making.

Key initiatives include the installation of solar energy systems at two manufacturing plants, the launch of the Green Bottle Initiative to promote sustainable packaging, and the inclusion of ESG clauses in supplier contracts to strengthen accountability across our value chain.

By aligning legal strategy with sustainability objectives, we are building a responsible and resilient organisation — one that leads by example and contributes meaningfully to the region’s evolving ESG landscape.