Olive Rock Partners, a distinguished private equity firm in the region, is excited to declare a key investment in the evolving field of corporate training and educational technology (EdTech). By acquiring a substantial ownership in LEORON Institute, the firm is set to boost LEORON’s expansion across the GCC and surrounding areas.
With its headquarters in Saudi Arabia, LEORON stands as a top-tier provider of corporate training and EdTech services in the EMEA region. It offers an extensive array of learning and development programs catering to key business areas such as Corporate Finance, Human Resources, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Technology, Quality, Operations, and Engineering.
LEORON’s inception 14 years ago by founders Arben and Val Jusufi, with the backing of investors like Dr. Khalid Al Tawil and Mr. Saeed Al-Ghamdi, has seen the company burgeon into a leading player in the EMEA market, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Boasting an impressive selection of accredited courses and digital learning solutions, LEORON is well on its way to becoming the preeminent EdTech enterprise in the region.
The organization contributes to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by equipping the local workforce with top-tier professional training from international institutions, imparted by esteemed global experts.
“The infusion of capital and strategic support from Olive Rock Partners will empower us to enrich and diversify our educational services,” noted Arben Jusufi. “With this partnership, LEORON is poised to spearhead the corporate training and EdTech domain, delivering unmatched value and innovation in professional development,” he added.
Val Jusufi expressed enthusiasm about the investment, stating, “Olive Rock Partners’ investment significantly amplifies our ability to innovate and grow. This collaboration will enhance our educational technology services and allow us to serve our clients in the GCC more effectively.”
This investment signifies Olive Rock’s inaugural venture into the Saudi market via its Olive Rock Partners Equity Fund I, LP. The fund focuses on growth capital and late-stage investments in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Muhannad Qubbaj and Abdullah Shahin, founding partners of Olive Rock, will join the LEORON board to contribute their expertise towards further advancement and inventive endeavors.
“With the corporate training market in KSA expected to burgeon at a CAGR of 7%, surpassing the $2 billion mark in the next few years, LEORON is strategically positioned to capitalize on this growth,” Abdullah Shahin remarked.
Muhannad Qubbaj shared his enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are eager to work alongside Arben, Val, and their adept team to foster LEORON’s regional development and dedication to client success. Their solid and distinct platform is ideally suited to extend their service offerings and skills training to a broader audience of institutional, corporate, and individual partners. We are looking forward to driving LEORON’s expansion both regionally and globally.”
In this transaction, Olive Rock was counseled by the UAE practices of Grant Thornton and Eversheds Sutherland. LEORON received guidance from Maven Investment Partners.
LEORON Institute is acclaimed as the premier corporate training and EdTech entity in the EMEA territory, providing a vast spectrum of learning and development solutions across strategic corporate functions. Annually, its cadre of skilled instructors imparts over 1200+ programs, empowering more than 30,000 professionals with relevant education and cutting-edge technological solutions.
