Moez Bonkheila

Moez Bonkheila was born in Libya in ‘69’, “a particularly good vintage that year” he says with a knowing twinkle in his eye! Indeed, one would need this level of self-assurance to ride the continual flux, that is part and parcel of the position Moez presently holds as Chief Trader Manager at Commercial International Investment Company, CIIC.

Moez spent his childhood years moving between his ancestral home in Libya and Italy the chosen heartland of his parents. “I feel as if I’m half European” he states. Due to the four to five months spent in Italy each year and a large portion of his early education spent in Milan, Moez experienced the rich and colourful diversity inherent in this migrational lifestyle. “I love my birth-country, its culture, its beauty, but Italy has had a profound effect on me, you get to keep the good parts of each culture, if your smart, you find a balance”!
At the age of 17, Moez set his sails for England, “I believe London to be the heart of the world”! he exclaims. It seems akin to a mythological journey. Moez’s only accompaniment was his pioneering spirit and an intense curiosity that would bear rich fruit indeed, with the passage of time. “Landing in London alone and making my own way, studying and then working in London, was the greatest adventure of my life, it shaped my character”! It seems times were tough at the beginning, but an older brother played the role as guardian/rescuer assisting Moez in finding his way.

After graduating from the American College in London and attaining a Business Degree, Moez applied his hard-earned knowledge in the family Real Estate Co., with his two older 
brother’s, specializing in Boutique hotels, restaurants, buying, selling and letting residential properties. As his skills developed, his confidence grew through his numerous successes within the industry. Moez’s appreciation for his adopted country became established, “I enjoyed the ‘Brit’s’ sense of humor, their history and culture, it all seemed to fit me like a glove” he states.
So why make Egypt your home? 

“Most of my friends in London were Egyptians, because as a family we had strong ties with Egypt. They were continually telling me exciting stories about the impending market boom in Egypt, of boundless opportunities for those in the right place at the right time”.
So it seems that the dye was cast for Moez, his history being steeped in close familial ties to Egypt, his own Arab heritage and fond memories of childhood holidays in Cairo. Last but not least a strong inner calling to the place that he would eventually call his second home. “If you gave me the opportunity to name a third home, then, without a doubt I would choose England”!

Today’s world, for Moez, is action-packed with excitement and challenges. Now, he is in his fourth year with CIIC, “I am a trader by nature, when working in London with my brothers in Real Estate, my job was to buy and sell, to front-line it, go out there and get the best price ever”! The tools he wields to succeed are a fierce determination, focus and dedication. “I love what I do”, he states, the constant stimulation of having to stay on top, a profession that knows no boundaries. There are many risks involved for Moez, when working on a project the fundamentals must be grasped, the homework done, and a willingness to abide by certain rules that do not pertain to many other professions. As the clock strikes twelve and decision time is nigh, he says “ you listen to no-one, not a written text, not your boss, its time to trust your instinct, your gut feeling 

The risks can seem gargantuan, with all odds stacked against you”. This could be akin to the ‘Grail’ myth, indeed, this is where trust reigns supreme, perhaps where the winners and losers are defined and revealed. “If by chance you make a mistake and you lose, then there must be no regrets. The intelligent response is to go over your process, and re-evaluate all relevant steps, perhaps you overlooked or misread important data, during the initial stages or were too quick or to slow to react, it is all a learning process”.

So how does one relax, while immersed in a cutting-edge career like his, one may ponder?
“With my friends”, says Moez with ease, “I have a great circle of friends, we travel to the seaside together most weekends, we have fun, people are important to me”. 
The study and practice of the art of meditation has also had a profound affect on Moez, who professes to have always had an avid interest in eastern philosophy. The manifold rewards he has experienced are the capacity to focus the mind, heighten the intuition and balance the emotions. To invest in a practice that provides these benefits seems to be a wise choice, indeed.