Experience & Directorships
Career timeline spanning Silicon Valley, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia
Career Overview
Over 40 years of global experience in investing, venture capital, asset management and technology.
Michael Gale commenced his career as a technology distributor in Asia Pacific contributing significantly to the success in the region of major US brands including Apple and Macromedia. He was at the forefront of the industry’s penetration of China in the late 80s.
Michael spent two decades in Silicon Valley during the 90s and 2000s as a venture investor and builder. He founded one of the first venture catalysts and the “Silicon Valley Lighthouse” which successfully brought many international companies into the Silicon Valley ecosystem. He worked through the dotcom boom and collapse and then the GFC.
In the 2010s significant interest in technology investment by Abu Dhabi investors brought Michael to the region and he began advising several large family investors from Abu Dhabi and Jeddah across broad asset classes and built a regulated asset management company in Zürich.
The emergence of Abu Dhabi as a global financial center created the opportunity to launch the first locally based GCC focused investment bank, Michael’s vison for this gave rise to Al Liwan.
Current Positions (2025 – Present)
Group CEO — Al Liwan Group Limited
Abu Dhabi-based full-service investment bank operating in the merchant banking tradition, focused on connecting the Middle East with global capital and opportunities. Leads the Group’s strategic vision, growth, and stakeholder relationships across its integrated platform spanning advisory, asset management, and principal investments.
Oversees a multi-entity structure including Al Liwan Capital, Al Khazna Capital, and Al Liwan Family Services, delivering cross-border financial advisory, wealth management, and investment solutions to families, institutions, and sovereign investors.
Drives the Group’s mission to advance regional economic transformation through strategic partnerships, disciplined capital deployment, and long-term value creation. Emphasizes purpose-led investing, Sharia-conscious structures where relevant, and the development of scalable platforms bridging regional ambition with global markets.
Previous Executive Positions
2023 – 2025 — Group CEO, The Entrepreneurs Group Limited
Abu Dhabi — Led advisory and investment platforms serving family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and high-growth companies across the GCC. Focused on cross-border capital, global asset planning, and strategic business expansion.
2016-2018 — CEO, Tharawat Holding S.A. & Tharawat Asset Management A.G.
Abu Dhabi • Luxembourg • Zurich — Led family office and asset management operations serving high-net-worth individuals across three jurisdictions. Specialized in Sharia-compliant investment strategies and cross-border wealth management.
2014-2016 — Business Development Manager, MB Depositors AG
Zug, Switzerland — Managed international client development and cross-border investment solutions for Swiss financial services firm.
2001-2014 — CEO, Gramercy Group (GPE Holdings, Inc.)
Founded and led Gramercy Group (GPE Holdings, Inc.), operating across San Francisco, New York, London, Dubai, and Melbourne, working with high-growth technology companies on international expansion, strategic partnerships, and capital raising.
1996-2001 — CEO, Double Impact, Inc.
Founded and led Double Impact, one of Silicon Valley’s first Venture Catalysts, helping emerging technology companies scale internationally through strategic business development, partnerships, and market expansion
Corporate Globalization Achievements
Integral to the successful international expansion of leading technology companies:
Macromedia
Early China market entry — set up joint venture shortly after June 4th incident, one of first Western software companies to operate in China.
F5 Networks
Global partnerships and cross-border expansion strategies contributing to F5’s emergence as a leading infrastructure company.
Akamai
Strategic guidance on international market penetration and partnership development for the CDN pioneer.
Also contributed to the globalization of HAHT (international market development) and Apple (international business development).