Bob Bush
By definition, most financial investors cannot ‘beat the market’. An investor’s greatest challenge is to navigate the paradox of possessing enough confidence and analytical rigor to distinguish what others cannot while recognizing how their cognitive and behavioral biases shape and influence their own investment decisions.
Robert C. Bush, Jr. (Bob Bush) is the Founder and CEO of Majlis Partners, a merchant advisory boutique, located in the United Arab Emirates. Bush is a trusted financial advisor to influential family businesses, governments and institutions. His professional career in the financial services industry spans three decades, and he engages in a full array of financial and operating activities, including sovereign wealth fund advisory, family business consulting, investment management, private equity, and corporate governance.
Bush’s leadership experience in both emerging and developed markets for governments allows him to take an entrepreneurial approach to solving multi-dimensional investment and business problems. He believes that in today’s complex financial environment, “Successful managers must not only have the ability to develop and support good business and investment decisions for shareholders, but also balance the demands of different stakeholders and internal business units.”
Bush’s overall investment strategy assumes an empowerment-driven approach to talent management, dissemination of best practices, and knowledge transfer. Simply put, Bush’s philosophy is to create cultures of openness, inquisitiveness, thoroughness, honesty, and creativity by embodying these qualities and developing tools to control for cultural, behavioral, and cognitive biases.
As a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, McKinsey GCC Board of Directors Institute, American Bar Association, and academia, amongst other networks, Bush continues to develop solid relationships with key business leaders, academic professionals and government officials to generate ideas and investment opportunities. Again, Bush served as Chairman of the Country Presentations of the UAE’s Annual Investment Meeting with United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Trade, HE Lubna_Khalid_Al_Qasimi serving as host. AIM is the region’s leading Foreign Direct Investment-focused emerging markets investment forum that attracts more than 3,000 delegates from around the world. Bush moderated and analyzed the investment cases of more than 30 emerging and frontier countries that presented to global investors.
TELEVISION AND MEDIA APPEARANCES
Due to his reputation in the Middle East region and his keen insight into the recent global financial markets crisis, Bush garnered the attention of several international television news media outlets and has become a “go to” expert on finance and economics in the region.
Bush was a special guest commentator on CNBC’s Access Middle East, anchored by Correspondent Yousef Gamal El-Din, where he provided thoughtful commentary on a myriad of topics including, “Investing in Emerging Markets and Asset Diversification”.
Bush appeared live on CNN International’s Global Exchange with Anchor Nina Dos Santos during the program’s “Focusing on Emerging Markets” discussion.
Bush moderated Euromoney magazine’s Middle East Private Banking Roundtable where the largest asset managers in the region discussed their company’s business models and the effects of the global financial crisis on their clients.
On Dubai debt crisis, Bush lent his subject matter expertise regarding the “Impact of the Dubai Debt Crisis in the Middle East and Globally” duringa live, on-air interview with Fox Business News Anchor Brian Sullivan and later to Dubai’s Cityscape TV in a segment titled, “Thinking About Risk.”
In addition to television appearances, Bush is also a mainstay on the public speaking circuit and moderates and presents at several high-profile, annual globalinvestment conferences, including the Milken Institute; the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) on Foreign Direct Investment; the UAE Global Investment Forum; the Kuwait Institutional Investment Summit; Business Week CEO Forum; and the Global Alternative Investment Manager Conference. He frequently guest lectures on international finance and economics to business students at universities throughout the United States; Western Europe; United Arab Emirates and China.
Unique, real-world experiences, a love for teaching and learning, as well as an established network of global relationships, led Bush to develop analytical frameworks, structures, and processes key to improving the financial and economic decision-making acumen required for global investing. To that end, Bush has dedicated a great deal of his career over the last decade, focused on providing thought-leadership and improving best practices within the financial services industry in the Middle East region.
Bush actively researched hundreds of investment funds and interviewed dozens of portfolio and fund-of-funds managers across geographies and asset classes over the last decade, and developed The Factbook: An Analysis of the Asset Management Industry. This detailed analysis led Bush to a startling conclusion, that virtually all stock pickers, market timers, and fund managers underperform the market over time. According to Bush, “By definition, most financial investors cannot ‘beat the market’. An investor’s greatest challenge is to navigate the paradox of possessing enough confidence and analytical rigor to distinguish what others cannot while recognizing how their cognitive and behavioral biases shape and influence their own investment decisions.”
Bush is passionate about helping investors increase their understanding of capital markets and the economy. To that end, Bush established the KnowledgeCenter on the Majlis Partners website. The Center offers thought leadership across a spectrum of issues and challenges faced by investment principals. Investors may peruse articles organized by specialist topics related to the subject of investing. A mix of articles from the popular press, intended for laypersons, as well as technical and academic white papers, intended solely for investment professionals, are included on the site.
Prior to founding Majlis Partners, Bush was a managing director of The Corporate Office, which later became Dubai World. While at TCO, Bush was uniquely challenged with investing in and advising on, private equity, fixed income, commodities, and other alternative assets in the United States, Africa, Middle East, Europe and Asia. As a managing director, Bush was tasked with 1) diversifying the risk and returns of Dubai; 2) creating an investment culture of transparency and discipline; and 3) transferring financial acumen to the next generation of Emirati leaders. Dubai World, a global holding company of the Government of Dubai, focuses on the strategic growth areas of transport and logistics, drydocks and maritime, urban development and investment, and financial services in line with the vision set by the Chairman His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.
Bush is a 1987 graduate of Amherst College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and was elected president of the student government. While there, he received numerous academic awards, including the Charles Hamilton Houston Fellowship on Leadership, the Rufus B. Kellogg Fellowship on Marketing, and the Joseph Hardy Prize on Charity. Bush also studied international relations and international economics, with a focus on the Middle East region, and was the recipient of a Frank Savage Fellowship at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of the Johns HopkinsUniversity. SAIS is a leading graduate school in the United States devoted to the study of international relations and economics. In 1996, Bush received a Juris Doctor degree focusing on corporate and securities law from The University of Virginia School of Law. He is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and the American Bar Association.
An avid sportsman, Bush was a National all-star rugby player for the Western Region of the United States. By invitation of the Government of Dubai, he became an avid endurance horseback rider. He and his wife Viola have two children, Robert Curtis and Olivia Ray.
Few speakers can match the authority, experience, and perspective that Bush offers on family businesses, asset management, corporate governance, and emerging markets, and the passion he displays in defense of prudent investment decision-making.
TESTIMONIALS
MY EXPERIENCE
President & CEO
Cajary Majlis – Full-time
Nov 2020 – Present
United States
As president and chief executive officer, I lead Cajary Majlis’ strategic operations, driving the company’s core growth strategies.
Cajary Majlis, the exclusive distributor of Mutombo Coffee, co-founded by NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, is an international trader of commodities and a distributor of food and feed products from around the world. We use our networks, talents, and resources to solve challenging problems related to building commodity businesses in the emerging markets.
Contributing Writer to ForbesMiddleEast.com
Forbes Middle East
Nov 2019 – Present
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
l write on issues related to the economic and social impact of investing in science and technology.
https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/innovation/opinion/us-versus-them-what-is-the-existential-risk-of-ai
https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/innovation/opinion/killer-apps-developing-a-code-of-ethics-for-ai
European Commission
6 YEARS 9 MOS
Advisor, Public Private Partnerships
Dec 2018 – Present
Brussels Area, Belgium
The Joint Research Centre is the Commission’s science and knowledge service. The JRC employs scientists and thought leaders to carry out research and analysis in order to provide strategic advice in support of EU policy.
Horizon 2020, SME Innovation Advisor
Jan 2016 – Present
Brussels Area, Belgium
Horizon 2020 is a €80 billion EU Research and Innovation programme. Responsibilities include reviewing investment proposals to determine potential to position Europe as a leader in advanced technologies that create global financial and social impact.
Investor / Advisor
Dec 2015 – Feb 2017
Luxembourg
EUGO is an alternative online platform for accredited investors seeking to make investments in innovative startups and SMEs using a structured, data-driven approach.
Chief Investment Officer / Investor
Curtis Newton Labs Gmbh
May 2013 – Present
Cologne Area, Germany
Administered and lead the development of budgetary planning, financing strategies and cost management in alignment with corporate strategic planning.
Provided critical financial, strategic, and operational advice to the CEO and made recommendations on financial tactics and strategies.
Assessed the holding company´s performance according to the long-term operational and mid-term funding strategies for the portfolio as well as subsidiaries.
International Advisor
STRENGTHENING THE MID ATLANTIC REGION FOR TOMORROW
Sep 2019 – Present
Greater Philadelphia
SMART provides technical and strategic community execution of the vision of the SMART Congressional Delegation and the States of DE, MD, NJ and PA for regional Science and Technology collaboration. Bi-Partisan Congressional Delegation of 8 Senators & 39 Representatives. Members include Federal Agencies and the Executive and Legislative Branches of Member States.
Chief Investment Officer
Majlis Partners / Majlis Partners GmbH
2008 – Present
Cologne Area, Germany & Dubai, United Arab Emirates
A family office advisory firm located in the United Arab Emirates and Germany. A trusted financial advisor/investor to influential family businesses, family offices, governments and institutions.
Projects include: family group restructurings, divestitures, and investments. Interim Roles as Chief Investment Officer, Chief Financial Officer
Sectors include: real estate, travel, fintech, medtech, business intelligence, agtech, ICT,
Advisor to the Board
Confidential GmbH & Co KG
Mar 2015 – Mar 2018
Germany
Confidential GmbH is a 110 year old advanced manufacturing company producing made-to-order structural elements and assemblies made of high-strength steel and other metallic materials for the defense and aviation industries.
Role: Strategic: Developed an internationalisation plan for North America,
Legal: reviewed and advised on key terms of credit facility agreements and risk mitigation measures. Operational: supported negotiation of service level agreements with Tier 1 Suppliers in the defense and aviation industries.
Managing Director / Senior Advisor
The Corporate Office of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum
May 2004 – May 2009
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
While at TCO, Bush was uniquely challenged with investing in and advising on a $5 billion + portfolio of private equity, fixed income, commodities, and other alternative assets in the United States, Africa, Middle East, Europe and Asia. As a managing director, Bush was tasked with 1) diversifying the risk and returns of Dubai; 2) creating an investment culture of transparency and discipline; and 3) transferring financial acumen to the next generation of Emirati leaders.
Co- Founder / Chief Business Development Officer
Marco Polo Network
2000 – 2006
New York
Marco Polo Network Inc. (MPN) provides a multi-asset class platform in more than 20 emerging markets countries providing front to back office execution, clearing, settlement, and custody solutions through a network of over 80 in-country broker dealers. The platform supports a range of products and services including multi-currency transactions, such as equities, options, ETFs, equity derivatives, futures, and high frequency and Algorithmic trading. MPN is partially owned by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group.
Chief Business Development Officer
PEAK6 Investments LP
1998 – 2000 · 2 yrs1998 – 2000 · 2 yrs
شيكاغو وضواحيهاشيكاغو وضواحيها
Peak6 is an award-winning financial services firm that focuses on market making, risk management, alternative investments, and proprietary trading
Vice President
MEG Capital
1996 – 1998 · 2 yrs
Boston
MEG Capital focused on venture capital investing in information, technology, and publishing sectors primarily in the Boston area.
Contract Attorney
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
2003 – 2004
New York
Served as legal counsel on various matters including Securities Exchange Commission fraud and antitrust investigations of major financial and corporate institutions.
Summer Associate
Gallop Johnson & Neuman
1994 – Aug 1994 · 3 mos
Clayton, Missouri
Financial Analyst, Mergers & Acquisitions
Merrill Lynch
1988 – 1990 · 2 yrs
New York
Mergers and Acquisitions Department and Merchant Banking Group. Built LBO models.