Pantheon has opened its first office in Abu Dhabi, appointing Firas Mallah as managing director and head of Middle East. The new office, based in ADGM, extends Pantheon's global footprint to 13 locations across four continents, reflecting the firm's strategic focus on the Middle East. Mallah joins from Sagard, where he served as managing director and head of MENA, bringing over 23 years of experience in capital formation and investor relations across the region. He will report to Florence Dard, Pantheon's chief client officer, and will lead capital formation efforts with sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and financial institutions.

"The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing sources of capital in private markets," said Mallah. "Pantheon's reputation as a global leader in secondaries and innovation in private markets solutions closely matches investor demand." The firm manages approximately $84 billion in assets under management.

The Abu Dhabi office underscores Pantheon's commitment to deepening engagement across the wider GCC, serving growing client demand in key markets through its ADGM presence.