Donna Benton (born 1975) is an entrepreneur and founder of a UAE-based lifestyle company called The Entertainer.
Biography edit
Originally from Melbourne Australia, Benton was born in 1975.[1] In 2000, at age 26, she moved to Dubai to save money.[2]
Her original job in Dubai proved unsuccessful,[2] so she founded a company The Entertainer, offering discounted lifestyle products. As of 2018[update], her company was operating in fifteen countries across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.[3][4] As well as being the company's founder, she has also served as its CEO and Chairman, a role she currently holds in 2019.[1]
In early 2012, a subsidiary of Abraaj Capital, a regional investment fund, acquired a 50 per cent stake in the company.[5] They announced plans in 2017 to divest their stake.[6]
In May 2018, Benton confirmed the sale of 85% of her company for a nine figure sum to GFH Financial Group.[1][3][7]
Awards edit
Benton received Esquire Middle East's Man at His Best Award for her work through The Entertainer.[8] She was also featured among Forbes Middle East's Most Influential Women of 2018.[9]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "A Dubai-based company was partly sold for Dh367 million". gulfnews.com.
- ^ a b "Donna Benton: are you not entertained?" (Interview). Esquire Middle East. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ^ a b c Webster, Nick (7 May 2018). "Dubai founder of The Entertainer brand sells majority stake". The National. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Inside the chic home of one of Dubai's most well-known business women". insideout. Retrieved 2019-08-03.
- ^ "Dubai-based 'The Entertainer' gets acquired for over $100 million". 8 May 2018.
- ^ "Dubai's Abraaj to sell Entertainer stake, sees IPO for Careem - CEO - Banking & Finance - ArabianBusiness.com". Archived from the original on 2017-01-18.
- ^ Debusmann, Bernd Jr. "The Entertainer stake sold for 'nine-figure' sum, says founder". ArabianBusiness.com.
- ^ "A Woman We Admire: Donna Benton". Esquire Middle East. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ^ "Ten Notable Business Women Made The Forbes Middle Eastern Power List". ExpatWoman.com. September 20, 2018.