David Ribott is named by the NYC Journal as Abu Dhabi’s Top CEO Coach with over twenty years of experience in boosting the decision-making skills of executives and board members. He is the founder and Managing Director of Ribott Partners. He is currently an Advisory Board Member for Lock & Croft, an Independent Senior Advisor for Heirdrick & Struggles, and an Executive Education Faculty for New York University Abu Dhabi.
As a former semi-pro athlete from the Bronx, New York, USA, David understands the importance of progress. He recognised that just as elite athletes have coaches to keep them consistently achieving greatness, executives needed the same. Achieving a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Walden University, he has worked in various roles outside of the US, being an Executive Coach for Samsung Electronics and an Adjunct Professor and Success Coach at Seoul National University. He then held the position of Chief Success Officer for Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, going on to be a Career Development Manager for Etihad Airways, as well as a Senior Advisor to the Abu Dhabi Police.
He was recognised for the ‘100 Best Global Coaching Leaders’ Award at the 5th World Coaching Congress. He was awarded Abu Dhabi’s 1st Master Coach by the ICF, becoming a Master Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), serving on their independent review board. He also held the post of Vice President of the Board of Directors for the ICF UAE Chapter, going on to volunteer as a Founding UAE Member for the Mediators Beyond Borders International. David’s practical insight is to be further demonstrated in his forthcoming book ‘Informed Leadership’.
David has over 7,000 hours of coaching and advisory experience, working with and supporting CEOs and Board members in times of transformation, succession, and strategic change. He recently completed the Chief Strategy Officer Programme for Executive Education at the National University of Singapore. In his seminar and panel discussion at the ATD Middle East Conference, David spoke about leadership, succession, and organisational alignment. His teaching uses step-by-step approaches and models such as the ‘Corporate Athlete’ to encourage focused and actionable discussions with executives. David would be the perfect addition to any corporate event, providing meaningful and invaluable insight with his deft and informed business acumen.
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
'I had the pleasure of working with David. His guidance has been transformative for my professional growth. David brings a unique mix of expertise, empathy, and actionable strategies that helped me identify my strengths, navigate challenges, and set clear career goals. I highly recommend David to anyone looking to unlock their full potential and achieve their professional aspirations.' - Karim, Vice President, Strategy & Growth (Middle East and North Africa)
'I met David 6 years ago during an executive assessment program. We then kept in touch from time to time. From the time I met David, I sensed his ability to see beyond one’s abilities. He has consistently supported me to do more and push my boundaries. I would recommend David to any aspiring leader who is looking to develop him/herself.' - Marwan, SVP of Science Education, TECOM Group Board Member at Aster GCC
'All of us at a certain point need some guidance to rethink our priorities and our goals. Coaching helps us to make this thinking more rational, ask the right questions, and use the right tools. David has a very pragmatic approach and its have been supporting our senior management team with a great level of satisfaction. Thanks David' - Renato, CEO and Board Member, Insurance
'I strongly recommend David for career coaching. I came to David at a critical point in my career and hence benefited tremendously from it. David has an amazing gift of understanding the personality of his clients. He helped me boost my self-confidence, realize my strengths and improvement opportunities, and the way to use them and achieve great potential.' - Ghazi, Chief Financial Officer, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC
- 2025 - 'Abu Dhabi’s Top CEO Coach', The NYC Journal
- 2025 - Advisory Board Member for Lock & Croft
- 2024 - Executive Education, Chief Strategy Officer Programme at the National University of Singapore
- 2022 - Advisory Board Member for the Women’s Venture Fund
- 2022 - Director of Executive Development (NED)
- 2021 - FT Non-executive Director Diploma Asia
- 2020 - FT Board Director Programme
- 2020 - Independent Senior Advisor for Heinrick & Struggles
- 2020 – Abu Dhabi’s 1st Master Coach, ICF
- 2019 - Executive Education Faculty for New York University Abu Dhabi
- 2017- '100 Best Global Coaching Leaders Award', 5th World Coaching Congress
- 2015 - Senior Advisor for Abu Dhabi Police
- 2015 - Founded Ribott Partners
- 2014 - Chief Success Officer at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi
- 2014 - Career Development Manager for Etihad Airways, UAE
- 2011 - Doctorate Candidate, Higher Education Leadership at Walden University
- 2005 - Adjunct Professor & Success Coach, Seoul National University
- 2005 - Executive Coach at Samsung Electronics in Seoul, South Korea
How to hire David Ribott
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring David Ribott for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
