ARC Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Bell as Chief Operating Officer. In this capacity, Mr. Bell will lead the continued strengthening of the firm’s global operating platform, with responsibility for infrastructure, governance, technology integration, and scalable growth across all divisions.
Mr. Bell steps into the role at a defining moment in ARC Group’s evolution. Having established a differentiated cross-border platform spanning capital markets, M&A advisory, asset management, and consulting, the firm now turns its focus toward institutional scale, operational rigor, and long-term enterprise value creation.
“Over the past decade, we have built a strong foundation across markets and service lines,” said Andrew Bell, Chief Operating Officer. “The priority now is to ensure our infrastructure, governance, and internal systems are fully aligned with the scale of our ambitions. Sustainable growth requires operational strength at every level of the organization.”
As COO, Mr. Bell will lead the continued build-out of the firm’s operating architecture, with particular emphasis on technology integration, internal process optimization, and talent development. A central initiative under his leadership will be the deployment of proprietary AI-enabled tools designed to enhance execution capabilities across advisory and capital markets activities.
“We are focused on embedding data and intelligence into the core of how we operate,” Mr. Bell continued. “By integrating AI into our origination processes, regulatory workflows, and internal knowledge systems, we can reduce friction, accelerate execution timelines, and deliver more consistent outcomes for our clients. Operational excellence is not a back-office function; it is a competitive advantage.”
Beyond infrastructure and technology, Mr. Bell underscored that talent will remain the firm’s most important long-term investment.
“The next ten years of ARC will be defined by the quality of the people we attract and develop,” he said. “Our objective is to create an environment where high performers think and operate like owners. That means providing clear governance, real accountability, and the tools necessary to succeed. When the infrastructure is strong, talent can operate at its highest level.”
Under Mr. Bell’s leadership, ARC Group will further reinforce its integrated global platform. The firm’s model allows clients to access advisory, capital solutions, and long-term strategic partnership within a single coordinated framework. This diversified structure supports resilience across market cycles and enables the firm to allocate resources dynamically across business lines.
“Our strength lies in being both integrated and agile,” Mr. Bell added. “We are not reliant on a single product or market cycle. By ensuring that each division operates with equal institutional depth and collaborates seamlessly, we create stability in volatile environments and opportunity in constructive ones.”
Background
Before becoming Chief Operating Officer, Andrew served as a Director at ARC Group and was a Founding Member of the firm’s UAE office, which he joined in 2023. He played a central role in establishing and scaling ARC’s regional presence, leading strategy, partnerships, and the delivery of the firm’s full suite of financial services in the UAE.
Prior to ARC, Andrew was UAE Country Manager and Group Finance Manager at Beehive, the UAE’s first regulated peer-to-peer lending and SME crowdfunding platform. He led regional growth across the GCC and supported the successful majority sale of the business to e& enterprise, part of the e& group.
Earlier in his career, Andrew spent over a decade in the United Kingdom as an accountant and auditor, gaining experience across assurance, taxation, forensic accounting, and complex litigation matters.
The appointment of Mr. Bell as Chief Operating Officer reflects ARC Group’s commitment to disciplined execution, institutional maturity, and innovation-led growth. As the firm enters its second decade, the COO function will play a central role in aligning operational infrastructure with strategic ambition, ensuring that ARC Group remains positioned to compete at the highest level of the global mid-market advisory landscape.
