FTI Consulting Builds Healthcare Advisory Capability in the Middle East With Addition of Two Senior Hires to Strategy & Transformation Practice

Rhea-AI Summary

FTI Consulting (NYSE: FCN) expanded its Middle East Strategy & Transformation practice by hiring Oussama Nicolas and Tara Makarem as Senior Managing Directors in Corporate Finance & Restructuring to co-lead a new healthcare and life sciences offering serving the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The hires bring 25 and 12 years of regional healthcare consulting experience respectively and aim to strengthen the firm’s capabilities supporting public- and private-sector healthcare transformation and execution.

Positive

• New healthcare offering covering UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar
• Senior hires with 25 and 12 years of healthcare consulting experience
• Co-leadership expected to strengthen Strategy & Transformation capabilities

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Mr. Nicolas experience: more than 25 years Ms. Makarem experience: more than 12 years Current share price: $176.50 +5 more

8 metrics

Mr. Nicolas experience more than 25 years Healthcare consulting experience across public and private sectors

Ms. Makarem experience more than 12 years Healthcare consulting experience including strategy and transformation

Current share price $176.50 Pre-news price on publication date

52-week range $149.31 – $196.50 Low and high prior to this announcement

Market capitalization $5,524,655,205 Equity value prior to news

Price change 24h -1.36% Move in the session before this news

Volume vs avg 181,473 vs 225,492 Today’s volume vs 20-day average (0.8x)

200-day MA $166.58 Price trading above long-term moving average

Market Reality Check

Price: $173.36 Vol: Volume 181,473 vs 20-day ...

normal vol

$173.36 Last Close

Volume Volume 181,473 vs 20-day average 225,492 (relative volume 0.8x). normal

Technical Price $176.50 sits above the 200-day MA of $166.58 and about 10% below the 52-week high of $196.50.

Peers on Argus

FCN was down 1.36% pre-news while peers were mixed: HURN (-8.53%), DGNX (-17.35%...

1 Up

FCN was down 1.36% pre-news while peers were mixed: HURN (-8.53%), DGNX (-17.35% on the day; +7.62% in momentum scan), ICFI (-1.37%), CRAI (-3.43%), and BAH (+0.82%). Moves do not indicate a unified sector trend.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 05 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 05	Earnings call scheduling	Neutral	+1.8%	Announced date and call details for Q4 and full-year 2025 results.
Feb 05	Senior hires – chemicals	Positive	+1.8%	Added two senior chemicals experts to strengthen Transformation practice in Europe.
Feb 04	Senior hire – procurement	Positive	+1.6%	Appointed procurement and supply chain expert to lead cost and transformation programs.
Feb 03	Senior hire – IP damages	Positive	-3.0%	Added seasoned IP damages expert to Dispute Advisory Services practice.
Jan 21	Authorized assessor role	Positive	+1.6%	Named first IAB Authorized Assessor using IAB Diligence Platform for vendor due diligence.

Pattern Detected

Recent hiring and partnership announcements have generally coincided with modest positive price reactions, with one notable divergence.

Recent Company History

Over the past few weeks, FCN has reported several strategic developments. On Jan 21, 2026, FTI Technology became the first IAB Authorized Assessor, followed by multiple senior leadership appointments in February across transformation, supply chain, and IP damages practices. These items, dated from Feb 3–5, 2026, mostly saw positive 24-hour price moves between +1.56% and , except the IP damages hire on Feb 3, which coincided with a -2.99% move. Today’s Middle East healthcare advisory expansion continues this pattern of investment in specialized expertise.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement adds two seasoned healthcare leaders to build a dedicated advisory capability in t...

Analysis

This announcement adds two seasoned healthcare leaders to build a dedicated advisory capability in the Middle East, extending FCN’s Strategy & Transformation reach across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It follows several recent senior hires and partnerships that expanded expertise in chemicals, procurement and IP damages. With shares trading above the 200-day MA and within a 52-week range of $149.31–$196.50 pre-news, investors may watch how this new healthcare and life sciences offering contributes to future regional growth and client demand.

Key Terms

population health management, accountable care organisations

2 terms

population health management medical

"She has led numerous complex programmes in population health management and care transformation..."

A coordinated approach to tracking and improving the health of a group of people—such as patients covered by an insurer or employees of a company—using data, preventive care, and care coordination to reduce illness and costs. Think of it as proactive maintenance for a fleet of cars: by monitoring performance and fixing issues early, overall reliability improves and expensive breakdowns are avoided, which can lower healthcare spending and stabilize revenue or risk exposure for investors.

accountable care organisations medical

"...care transformation initiatives driving change across accountable care organisations."

Accountable care organisations are groups of doctors, hospitals and other health providers who work together to manage a patient population’s care and share financial responsibility for outcomes. They matter to investors because ACOs change how medical services are paid for—rewarding better health and lower costs instead of more procedures—so they can affect hospitals’ and insurers’ revenues, drug and device demand, and overall healthcare spending patterns.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the expansion of its Strategy & Transformation practice in the Middle East with the appointment of healthcare experts Oussama Nicolas and Tara Makarem as Senior Managing Directors in the firm’s Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment. In their role at the firm, Mr. Nicolas and Ms. Makarem will co-lead the firm’s new healthcare and life sciences offering, supporting clients across the public and private sectors in the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

“Oussama and Tara bring deep sector expertise, strong leadership credentials and a proven track record of delivering complex healthcare transformations,” said Antoine Nasr, a Senior Managing Director and Head of FTI Consulting Middle East. “Under their leadership, our dedicated healthcare and life sciences offering will strengthen the capabilities of our Strategy & Transformation practice, furthering our ability to support governments as they modernise healthcare systems and improve outcomes for populations across the region.”

Mr. Nicolas has more than 25 years of healthcare consulting experience advising both public-and private-sector clients across a range of areas, including strategy, transformation, care model design, capacity planning and large-scale strategy execution. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, he held senior roles at several global strategy advisory firms, where he led complex, multi-country healthcare engagements across the Middle East.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Nicolas said, “Healthcare systems across the Middle East are undergoing fundamental change. I was drawn to FTI Consulting because of the breadth of its capabilities and commitment to tailored services to clients in this sector. Working with Tara and colleagues across the region, I look forward to helping our clients design and implement sustainable healthcare strategies that deliver meaningful and lasting value.”

Ms. Makarem has more than 12 years of healthcare consulting experience, including strategy design, care pathway development, workforce and capacity planning, value creation and transformation management. She has led numerous complex programmes in population health management and care transformation initiatives driving change across accountable care organisations. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Ms. Makarem was a Partner at a global strategy consultancy, where she led strategy, transformation and implementation initiatives for public-sector clients. Before that, she worked at a global strategy and advisory firm.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Makarem said, “FTI Consulting has a strong reputation for helping clients navigate complex change, and I am delighted to work alongside Oussama and the wider Strategy & Transformation team to enhance our offering to healthcare clients. Our focus is not only on strategy but rigorous execution that enables better long-term outcomes for patients and communities.”

About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a leading global expert firm for organisations facing crisis and transformation, with more than 8,100 employees located in 32 countries and territories as of September 30, 2025. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consulting’s services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalised and independently managed. The Company generated $3.70 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2024. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

FTI Consulting, Inc.  
555 12^th Street NW  
Washington, DC 20004  
+1.202.312.9100 

Investor Contact:  
Mollie Hawkes 
+1.617.747.1791 
mollie.hawkes@fticonsulting.com 

Media Contact:  
Helen Obi         
+44 20 7632 5071
helen.obi@fticonsulting.com

FAQ

Who are the new healthcare leaders at FTI Consulting (FCN) and what are their roles?

The company appointed Oussama Nicolas and Tara Makarem as Senior Managing Directors to co-lead the new healthcare and life sciences offering. According to the company, they will lead advisory work across public and private sectors in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

What experience do Oussama Nicolas and Tara Makarem bring to FTI Consulting (FCN)?

They bring extensive regional healthcare consulting credentials: Nicolas has over 25 years and Makarem over 12 years of experience. According to the company, their expertise covers strategy, transformation, care model design and large-scale program execution.

What markets will FTI Consulting's (FCN) new healthcare offering target in the Middle East?

The offering will focus on the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. According to the company, the team will support both public- and private-sector clients on healthcare system modernisation and outcome improvement.

How will the new hires affect FTI Consulting’s (FCN) Strategy & Transformation practice?

They are intended to strengthen the practice’s healthcare capabilities and delivery capacity through co-led leadership and specialised experience. According to the company, this aims to enhance advisory execution for complex healthcare transformations across the region.

Will FTI Consulting (FCN) disclose financial impacts from this Middle East expansion?

The announcement does not provide financial guidance or cost figures related to the hires or offering launch. According to the company, the focus of the release is capability expansion and client support across regional healthcare systems.