Mishal Kanoo has held his position at the Kanoo Group since 1997 and is one of the most outspoken and divisive voices in Middle Eastern affairs. He sits on the boards of over 15 companies ranging in size from $10 million to over $1 billion and his other positions include CEO of AXA Gulf and Bahrain International Group Services. Kanoo is a regular speaker at Gulf conferences and once taught a course on family business at the American University of Sharjah.