Biography

Eskandar Tooma is an associate professor of finance and holds the British Petroleum endowed chair with the Department of Management at The American University in Cairo. He is a member of the American Economic Association (AEA), the American Finance Association (AFA)and also is the Secretary General of the African Finance Association.

Professor Tooma obtained his B.A. in Business from The American University in Cairo and Adelphi University. Dr. Tooma holds two M.S. degrees, the first in Finance and the second in International Economics from Adelphi and Brandeis Universities respectively. Finally, he holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Brandeis University.

Professor Tooma is a specialist in financial economics. His writings focus on volatility dynamics and forecasting in emerging stock markets as well as market microstructure. Subsequent research is in the areas of Asset Pricing, Portfolio Theory and Stock Market Regulations. Currently, he is focusing on research in the area of agent based modelling and stock market simulations as well as writing finance case studies that are used worldwide as teaching aids in both graduate and undergraduate courses.

Professor Tooma combines academic experience with practical exposure through assuming a variety of public and private professional posts. He was senior advisor to the Capital Market Authority for 2.5 years, as well as a member of a variety of committees including the EGX30 Index Committee, Market Advancement Committee at the Egyptian Stock Exchange, an advisor and member of the Derivatives and Commodities Exchange Committee with the Ministry of Investments and an advisor to the Ministry of International Cooperation on Egypt’s Debt Swap Experience.  Privately, he has advised leading institutions including but not limited to: Citadel Capital, Beltone Financial, EFG-Hermes, AAIB and Osoul Fund Management. Dr. Tooma is a co-owner and board member of Premium International for Credit Services as well as a board member of Orascom Housing Communities, Orascom Investment Fund, Egyptian Resorts Company , Roward Tourism and Regina Food Industries among others .

Professor Tooma is currently advising leading real estate and development groups on financial and restructuring issues. He sits on the boards of one of the largest real estate funds in the region and is a financial advisor to Orascom for Hotels and Development (OHD).

Dr. Tooma is married to Ms. Aline Farah and they have a baby girl, Pascale, who is 4 year old and a baby boy , Adel ,who is 11 month old.