Doing Business In The Middle East - Risk And Rewards

[LONDON] – April 28th 2023 – Centuro Global, the one-stop-shop for businesses looking to expand overseas, will expand its offering as a cost-effective alternative to larger consultancy firms following a successful fundraising round.  The fast-growing scale-up has landed £3.3million from Mercia, having landed contracts withsome of the leading companies in the world, exceeded sales targets, and tripled headcount over a period of phenomenal acceleration. By offering a quick way to stay compliant across tax, immigration and entity setup from one easy-to-use platform, Centuro makes it simple to scale-up globally. Centuro’s proprietary AI  technology has already helped companies overcome challenges when entering new markets. The company’s platform analyses and interprets data to provide businesses with insights that help leaders make informed decisions, avoiding expensive hourly rates and time delays through traditional services. Centuro was founded by Asma Bashir and Zain Ali. Serial entrepreneur Bashir previously founded leading immigration service provider Newland Chase, securing Fortune 500 clients and creating a global footprint before exiting to pursue private investments and co-found Centuro Global. Ali is a TEDx speaker, lawyer and influencer, experienced in advising multinationals including Apple, Nokia and Universal Music on global law. Ali said: “We are thrilled to have secured this funding which will enable us to further develop our technology and accelerate our growth as we seek to establish ourselves as a leader in the global expansion space. We believe Centuro has the potential to transform the way companies approach international markets, unlocking new opportunities and growth potential. “Global expansion is complex, with confusing local laws especially immigration, complicated taxes and hefty fines for those who fail to play by the rules. “Centuro cuts through the complexity, eradicating the need for siloed, expensive and inefficient consultancy services. We’re disrupting the dominance of the larger players in the market, giving ambitious businesses a simple solution that saves them time and money, reduces compliance risks and helps them win in new markets and in the war for global talent.” Centuro’s platform uses breakthrough generative AI and local legal expertise to deliver superior end-to-end global mobility compliance and entity set up in over 150 countries. “We’re encouraging investors and clients to think of this as a dynamic new industry,” explained Ali. “It’s global expansion as a service; a new market we expect to grow rapidly alongside Employer of Record arrangements.” Centuro raised the  funding from Mercia following a 12-month period of exponential growth in revenue, clients and headcount. The funding will fuel Centuro’s own expansion efforts including further investment in its AI solution, onboarding more client success managers, and adding more clients convinced by the simplicity of the Centuro platform. Centuro has also appointed veteran B2B technology entrepreneur Bill Flind – a three-time exited founder - as Chairman.[AW1] Mercia was investing from its Northern Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs). Adam Watts, Investment Manager at Mercia added: “With the trend to ‘working from anywhere,’ more companies are finding themselves managing distributed teams and having to navigate complex legislation. Centuro’s ‘expansion as a service’ model helps businesses operating overseas to make informed decisions quickly. The company has grown revenues rapidly since launching its platform last year and we believe it has huge potential to establish itself as a category leader in this space.” Ali said: “We have a unique, highly-viable business model in a fast-moving space. We’re true innovators in professional services, offering a tech-enabled solution that outperforms old-fashioned consultancy. Better than that, we’re helping to create new jobs and share wealth globally by making it simple for businesses to sell, employ and expand wherever they want.” ++ Ali will address a global audience of corporates and professional experts from the likes of Rolls-Royce, Arsenal FC, Vodafone, Microsoft and Accenture at Centuro’s Global Expansion Conference in London, May 3rd and 4th.    About Centuro GlobalFounded in 2020, Centuro Global is an AI-powered SaaS platform that ensures a company’s global expansion needs are serviced compliantly in one place. With Centuro Global’s platform, Centuro Connect, every step on the global expansion journey, from tax, legal, and immigration, to payroll and HR, are found in one system, allowing them to trade in any jurisdiction with ease and efficiency. For more information, please visit centuroglobal.com   About Mercia Asset Management PLCMercia is a proactive venture capital investor that aims to be a start-up’s first-choice partner for growth. Mercia currently has c. £1.4 billion of assets under management and has invested in a portfolio of more than 400 start-ups from pre-seed to Series B and beyond. Mercia has nine offices in the UK and over 60 investment professionals, all drawing on their experiences as founders, PhD scientists, software engineers, corporate financiers and management consultants to help our partner companies successfully achieve their ambitions.www.mercia.co.uk

The winners of the INT-X Awards 2022 were announced at an exclusive, sold-out Gala Dinner on the first evening of the Global Expansion Conference 2022 event. It was hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel Park Lane, in London, United Kingdom.  This is the first year that Centuro Global has hosted the INT-X Awards and Global Expansion Conference. We were truly blown away by the dozens of applications and nominations that we received for each category of the INT-X awards. Finalists received thousands of votes and recognition across the industry.  Following a full day of conference activities on 25 May 2022, award finalists and conference delegates gathered for an evening of celebration and festivities at the INT-X Awards Gala Dinner.Congratulations to all those who entered the awards for their phenomenal work in disrupting the Global Expansion Industry. Well done to the finalists and especially all the winners of the INT-X Awards 2022!The full list of winners can be found below:Best Global Expansion of the year - Factorial HRMost Disruptive HR Tech Solution of the year - Globalization PartnersBest Client Service in Global Expansion - Mauve Group  Outstanding international recruitment of the year - Alchemy Global Talent SolutionsLaw Firm of the year - Montgomery & AssociadosTax and Accounting firm - Clayton & Mckervey PCImmigration firm of the year – Antares Relocation  MVP of the Year – Mirek Mjetsky (Petyovský & Partners)Most Active Circle of the Year – Legal CircleThank you to all those who attended the awards dinner for an incredible night of celebration. Well done again to all award winners. If you would like to pre-register for next year’s event, or simply stay in touch; please register here. For Global Expansion Conference 2023 sponsorship opportunities, please email hello@centuroglobal.com

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Emily Stewart as our new Community Manager.   A highly accomplished, client & engagement executive, Emily has over 15 years of experience in the Global Mobility space. Her experience ranges from relocation management to professional services, to advisory & consulting, and Global Mobility data. In her role as Community Manager, Emily will report to CEO Zain Ali, driving Centuro Global’s innovation strategy, product vision, relationship building, and collaboration with global network members. She will play an essential role as Centuro Global continues to evolve its innovative Global Expansion platform to meet rapidly growing client demand. “I’m looking forward to celebrating the diversity of thought and breaking down silos to support regional teams grow in our global network,” said Emily Stewart, Community Manager, Centuro Global. Before Centuro Global, she held the position of Client Engagement Manager at AIRINC. Prior to that, she held various positions at Deloitte, Graebel Relocations, and Cartus, where she specialized in global mobility consulting and expatriate compensation. Emily holds degrees in French and Spanish from Oklahoma State University. Originally from the U.S.A., Emily has lived in the Czech Republic, Brazil, and Belgium. She is now based in Centuro Global’s London office.  Please join us in welcoming Emily!  You can connect with her on LinkedIn or via email at emily@centuroglobal.com.   About Centuro Global  Centuro Global is the world’s first market network designed to help companies expand internationally via a SaaS platform. A dynamic combination of real-life, real-time advice and a broad digital knowledge base empowers a company’s leadership and its people to take global growth into their own hands.The overarching aim of the platform is to allow businesses to expand into new territories in a seamless and compliant way while bringing down costs and breaking down barriers for less established companies.  To learn more, please visit: Our Website or connect with us via Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or check out our Media Center.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Ward as our new Head of Global Alliances. Simon brings extensive experience in client consultation and project & client relationship management for SMEs and large-scale organisations across multiple industry sectors worldwide. Reporting to CEO Zain Ali, Simon will play a key role in Centuro Global’s strategy to develop and leverage a robust, collaborative network of internal and external partners in achieving SMART, quantitative business objectives and KPIs. As part of the core executive team, he will engage on Centuro Global’s broad business vision - to craft corporate strategies to overcome potential obstacles and build contingencies as the company expands its Global Expansion platform to new markets and users while ensuring world-class tax, immigration, legal, HR and compliance standards. “I am delighted to join the amazing team at Centuro Global and hope that my experience earned over the years will help," said Simon Ward, Head of Global Alliances, Centuro Global. I have run partnership programs globally for 20 years for some of the largest organisations in the world. I am looking forward to sharing the passion and drive that Centuro Global has with potential partners globally, and demonstrating a product that I am truly excited about, especially as it's supported by such a focused and results-driven team.” Before joining Centuro Global, Ward served as Global Alliance Manager at Elements Global Services. Previously, he served as Strategic Channel Manager for PCCW Global Networks. Prior to that, he served as Strategic Account Manager and Senior Channel Account Manager for Glide UK and TalkTalk Business respectively. In his private life, Simon Ward is a professional racing driver and currently competes for Team Great Britain in Triathlon, recently winning a Bronze Medal at The World Championships. “Although I compete alone, the team around me; coaches, nutritionists, doctors, and mechanics all contribute to any medal. I had not felt that unity outside of my sport until I joined Centuro Global, and the can-do attitude will put us in a winning position always”. Please join us in welcoming Simon! You can connect with him on LinkedIn or via email at simon@centuroglobal.com. About Centuro Global Centuro Global is the first market network designed to help companies expand internationally via a SaaS platform. A dynamic combination of real-life, real-time advice and a broad digital knowledge base empowers company leadership and its people to take global growth into their own hands. The overarching aim of the platform is to allow businesses to expand into new territories in a seamless and compliant way while bringing down costs and breaking down barriers for less established companies. To learn more, please visit: Our Website or connect with us via Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or check out our Media Center.

As the globalised world continues to shift and evolve, there are several emerging growth opportunities for businesses embarking on international expansion in 2022. The 5th edition of our Centuro Connect magazine highlights some of the reasons why going global should be a part of your business plan.The magazine also features articles on how to successfully scale businesses internationally with a focus on often overlooked risks. Our thanks as always going to the authors, contributors, and our incredible editorial team. With most of our readers still working remotely, we continue to make the magazine free and easily accessible in digital format only.We hope you enjoy this latest issue.  To make sure you don't miss out on our unique and curated top global expansion content, start your free subscription today!CENTURO CONNECT - Your trusted literary companion in the world of Global Expansion.

Today, for organisations to successfully conduct cross-border business and enter new markets, support is required from a host of industries that currently operate in silos. Typically, a nexus of tax, legal, immigration, relocation, risk, and insurance specialists are required to successfully launch a new market entry project.  Centuro Global is reshaping the landscape by bringing each of these multiple industries together to create a unified Global Expansion industry. We are thrilled to announce the inaugural Centuro Global Int-X Awards. These awards will honour companies and leaders that are making a real impact within the international expansion arena.The awards will be shortlisted by a panel of experts. The final decision will then be left to the public to vote. It all comes together at the exclusive gala dinner hosted during the Global Expansion Conference. Join us on the 25th of May 2022 at the luxurious Four Seasons London at Park Lane Ballroom to celebrate the future of international business.CATEGORIES• Most Disruptive HR Tech Solution of the Year  • Outstanding Recruitment Company of the Year• Best Global Expansion of the Year • Best Workforce Expansion of the Year• Best Client Service in Global ExpansionCenturo Global will also honour the excellence of our global member network of service companies by offering a Member Exclusive award category.  These can be applied for here: • Law Firm of the Year• Tax and Accounting Firm of the Year• Immigration Firm of the Year• Most Active Circle of the Year  • MVP of the YearKEY DATESDon’t miss your opportunity to apply! Stay on top of the entry deadlines here: 7 March - Entries Open  7 April - Entries Close  11 April - Finalists Announced and Voting Opens29 April - Voting Closes  25 May - Winners Announced at the Global Expansion Conference Join us for the first year of the Centuro Global Int-X Awards. For more info visit HERE

Global growth can be both daunting and rewarding. According to a Thomson Reuters survey, there is an almost universal agreement (98%) that having a global presence will be critical to businesses’ relevance in 2025. As such, pursuing opportunities in the global marketplace requires the right perspective, and acting on those opportunities requires the right skills and entrepreneurial instincts.  We are thrilled to share the 4th issue of our digital magazine, CENTURO CONNECT - focused on inspiring readers with new ways of thinking, sharing tips on leadership, and promoting greater awareness of issues that may affect global businesses as well as expansion and growth opportunities. This issue of CENTURO CONNECT magazine is packed with great articles from across the Global Expansion community. Read about: Our inaugural Global Expansion Conference Greece’s solution to EU’s immigration requirements Post-office Covid Dilemma Reasons why you and your business need to be in Asia An interview with our incredible sales team A focus on Centuro Connect and the latest updates … and many more!  Our thanks as always go to the authors, contributors, and our incredible editorial team. With the majority of our readers still working remotely, we continue to make the magazine free and easily accessible in digital format only. This and previous issues are available online HERE. CENTURO CONNECT - Your trusted literary companion in the world of Global Expansion.

Centuro Global together with Canadian Partners Trowbridge and Allied Lawyers are excited to present an exclusive in-person networking event discussing the pathways for expanding your business into Canada.   This event is the perfect opportunity for European and UK-based companies, start-ups, or entrepreneurs who are looking to expand into Canada to discover the pathways that are available to them and how to action a successful Canadian expansion plan.  To understand the legal and tax requirements for entering Canada, some of the key topics will include:  Canadian Election Update – tax and legal considerations Canadian tax matters on businesses entering Canada and considerations from a corporate and globally mobile employee  Commercial legal considerations and opportunities  UK emigration challenges  Canadian partners and immigration experts will be on the ground to cover any questions or concerns you may have when considering your expansion into Canada. A broad range of UK-based experts in Tax, Legal, Accounting as well as Immigration will also be present should you wish to understand any complexities you may face.  Centuro Global has identified some of the top reasons as to why companies should set up a company in Canada. The following benefits include:  Setting up a company in Canada gives access to the USMCA, which is the agreement between US-Mexico-Canada for trade among the nations that account for 475 million population and combined GDP of US$ 24 trillion. Canada has signed 14 free trade agreements covering 60% of the world’s GDP. Setting up a business in Canada gives access to this enormous market that is not available in most countries. Canada has developed an excellent road, rail, and sea transportation network that provides companies with access to export-oriented business. Canada’s effective federal corporate tax rate is 9% after small business reduction and 15% after general tax reduction. This makes Canada extremely lucrative for establishing companies. Canada has 95 DTAAs with countries that are the world's biggest markets such as the US, China, India, Russia, etc., making it a very lucrative place to start a business for exports. Canada offers a lower cost of operations than the US, Australia, Germany, and the UK, making it one of the more cost-effective places to start a business. Forming a company in Canada for foreigners is easy since there is no restriction on the shareholders' nationality. To establish an LLC, only one shareholder and one director At least one director of a Canadian company should be a resident Canadian in most of the provinces. Date: 13th October 2021 Venue: Centuro Global HQ, 30 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf.  Time: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm BST SPEAKERS: Helena Turner - Director of Tax, Private Client Services, Trowbridge Professional Corporation Parineeta Chahal - Barrister & solicitor, Allied Lawyers Arun Nagratha  - Managing Director, Global Mobility Services, Trowbridge Professional Corporation Asma Bashir - Chairman, Centuro Global  To discover more about potential opportunities in Canada, understanding the business and market entry landscape as well as having an opportunity to connect to some key industry experts, we highly recommend you register to attend this exclusive event. 

Would you like to make an impact in your organisation and transform the way global mobility is delivered?Join us for our roundtable event in partnership with Next Gen GM, where we will explore how the next generation of global mobility professionals can become key stakeholders in providing businesses with a competitive edge. We will discuss:➢ Fulfilling the duty of care as more and more people choose to WFH/remotely.➢ Tax implications and permanent establishment requirements for remote workers.➢ Immigration – getting the right people to the right place with minimal risk.➢ Using technology to transform business operations in a lean and sustainable way.The event will be hosted at the elegant Walbrook Club on Thursday, 16th September 2021 at 14:30 GMT. Click the link below to purchase a ticket for a great afternoon of Global Mobility discussion and innovation as we host our second in-person event in eighteen months.REGISTER FOR A TICKET

The old fable goes that “It’s not what you know, but who you know”. Whilst we don’t consider this to be entirely accurate, it is impossible to ignore that one of the biggest assets in anyone’s life is the people in it. The bigger and stronger your network, the more success you are likely to have.    So why are Networks so valuable?   They have a host of benefits including:Creating new opportunities (business or career) Enabling you to access new information or knowledge Providing fresh ideas and perspectivesAnd ultimately, the human race thrives on connections and so developing long-lasting personal relationships come with their own rewards.   What is The Network Effect?   At the heart of Centuro Global’s ethos is helping businesses grow and scale globally. In order to succeed on a global scale, having access to the right knowledge, skills, and local expertise across the globe is imperative. A truly powerful network is one where everyone shares. The more everyone gives, the more everyone will receive.    We wanted to find another way to help not just those in our immediate network grow, but to reach out wider and share the amazing knowledge, insight, and experiences of our highly esteemed network with the wider world.   We are therefore extremely excited to announce the launch of our new show, The Network Effect!    We will dive into the latest global news, expansion best practices, and bring on a range of fantastic guests from the world of venture capital, private equity, and across the business world. Tune in to hear from successful founders, executives, and directors who have successfully taken their businesses global. What were their main challenges and struggles? Where did they fail? And ultimately, what really led to their success?    We will open up our black book of key experts across all continents to share their top tips and advice so this is truly a show not to be missed! Where, When, and How? The Network Effect will be live on LinkedIn every Wednesday at 2 pm BST and on YouTube and all podcast platforms every Thursday.CATCH UP ON ALL EPISODES OF THE NETWORK EFFECT HERE.