Torben Hilbertz - Chair of the Audit Committee

Q: Where is Torben based?

Torben is based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and can operate in on-site , hybrid , and remote work models.

Q: What languages does Torben speak?

Torben speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Advanced) .

Q: How many years of experience does Torben have?

Torben has at least 30 years of experience. During this time, Torben has worked in at least 12 different roles and for 12 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 6 months . Note that Torben may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Torben's latest experience?

Torben's most recent position is Chair of the Audit Committee at Tabby L.L.C & Tabby Payments L.L.C .

Q: What companies has Torben worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Torben has worked for Tabby L.L.C & Tabby Payments L.L.C , Infineon APAC , Mondi Group , Westfalen AG , and Fakeeh Care Group .

Q: Which industries is Torben most experienced in?

Torben is most experienced in industries like Aerospace and Defense , Manufacturing , and Professional Services . Torben also has some experience in Real Estate , Telecommunication , and Healthcare .

Q: Which business areas is Torben most experienced in?

Torben is most experienced in business areas like Audit , Finance , and Business Intelligence . Torben also has some experience in Operations .

Q: Which industries has Torben worked in recently?

Torben has recently worked in industries like Aerospace and Defense , Healthcare , and Banking and Finance .

Q: Which business areas has Torben worked in recently?

Torben has recently worked in business areas like Audit , Finance , and Business Intelligence .

Recommended expert

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Check rate

Experience

Jul 2025 - Present

1 year 1 month

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Chair of the Audit Committee

Tabby L.L.C & Tabby Payments L.L.C

Provide strategic governance and financial oversight, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Chairing the Audit Committees of both entities, overseeing financial reporting integrity, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
Overseeing the recruitment of the CAE and development of the Internal Audit function, strengthening the entity’s corporate governance structure.

Oct 2024 - Mar 2025

6 months

Audit & Process Expert

Infineon APAC

Led an order-to-cash review, optimizing internal controls, improving operational efficiency, and mitigating compliance risks through data-driven analysis.

Jul 2024 - Sep 2024

3 months

Corporate Governance Advisor

Mondi Group

Conducted a full assessment of internal audit effectiveness and defined a high-impact audit strategy with measurable performance KPIs.

Apr 2024 - Jun 2024

3 months

Germany

Head of Internal Audit

Westfalen AG

Delivered strategic KPI frameworks, internal control improvements, and best-practice recommendations to optimize financial performance and governance.

Nov 2023 - Present

2 years 9 months

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Member of the Board of Directors & Chair of the Audit Committee

Fakeeh Care Group

Provide strategic governance and financial oversight, ensuring transparency and accountability at the highest level.
Chairing the Audit & Risk Committee, overseeing financial reporting integrity, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
Contributed to achieving a Nasdaq Board Member Evaluation Score of 9.33/10, underscoring excellence in governance, strategic oversight, and board effectiveness.
Led enhanced corporate governance initiatives, improving board efficiency and stakeholder confidence.
Strengthened risk and compliance structures, reinforcing the company's internal control framework.

Apr 2023 - Apr 2024

1 year 1 month

Risk & Controls Manager

MHC Mobility GmbH

Designed and implemented a risk management framework, embedding governance and compliance standards across the organization.
Advised the CFO on internal control enhancements, IFRS integration, and strategic financial oversight to meet SOX/J-SOX requirements.

Apr 2022 - Apr 2023

1 year 1 month

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Group Chief Audit Executive

Finerton DMCC & Group

Built the internal audit and scalable governance framework from scratch, aligning risk controls across multiple jurisdictions.
Standardized and digitized decision-making processes, including UBO Reserved Matters, and integrated governance safeguards for international Family Office holdings.

Apr 2019 - Mar 2022

3 years

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Group Internal Audit Director

Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. (SEHA)

Directed group-wide multinational audit team for 13 hospitals, dozens of clinics, and major projects; advised Management Board on transformation initiatives.
Transformed Internal Audit into a high-performing, technology-driven function with a new vision, mission, and strategy.
Reduced reporting cycle time by over 80% via agile, stakeholder-focused reporting.
Achieved 75% cost reduction in external audit fees within one year.
Integrated big data analytics into continuous auditing, delivering immediate ROI.

Nov 2018 - Present

7 years 9 months

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Board Audit Committee Member – Non-Executive Director

flyadeal

Serving as an independent Board Audit Committee Member, providing robust oversight of financial reporting, risk management, and compliance controls.
Offering strategic guidance on aviation risk exposure, regulatory adherence, and governance frameworks.
Oversaw the recruitment of the CAE and development of the Internal Audit function, strengthening the airline’s corporate governance structure.

Jan 2014 - Apr 2019

5 years 4 months

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Senior Vice President, Internal Audit

Abu Dhabi Airports

Led governance, audit, and risk management for five airports and major capital projects.
Tripled annual audit output from 13 to 45 reports/year; implemented whistleblower mechanism and compliance culture.
Conducted forensic investigations in UAE and UK, improved governance framework for major infrastructure investments.
Developed multi-cultural team through targeted training and mentoring; received Excellence Award as Distinguished Executive Director.
Managed governance and audit functions for five airports and major infrastructure projects in the magnitude of several Billion USD, enhancing transparency and accountability.

Oct 2008 - Jan 2014

5 years 4 months

Zürich, Switzerland

Senior Director, Internal Audit

Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. (SWISS)

Managed global audit function across subsidiaries and 40+ outstations; reported directly to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors.
Quadrupled audit productivity from 7 to 30 audits/year; introduced best-practice one-page executive summaries for board reports.
Reduced catering inventory by 40% and increased supplier discount utilization by CHF 700k/year.
Improved financial accounting processes and revenue recognition accuracy.

Jan 1997 - Dec 2008

12 years

Early Career in Big-4, Audit, Finance & Consulting

Various Companies

Deputy Head of Internal Audit, Oerlikon Textile GmbH: Led global internal audits (80% international travel), rolled out Swiss-SOX across Europe and North America, and managed ICS implementation.
Head of Audit, IVG Immobilien AG: Managed multi-country audit teams, reduced audit cycle times, and improved SAP control environment.
Managing Consultant, Horváth: Redefined management board reporting for a major energy provider and developed controlling visions for insurance clients.
Business Process Finance Expert / Senior Internal Auditor, Alcatel: Led group-wide IFRS implementation, harmonized finance processes, and improved SAP R/3 business processes.
Senior Internal Auditor, Alcatel: Led and participated in international group- and company-level audits covering operational processes, internal control reviews, financial audits, SAP R/3 and SOX compliance.
Business Unit Controller, Elster: Implemented internal control systems and managed group controlling and budgeting for EUR 85M turnover business unit.
Senior Auditor, Arthur Andersen: Delivered statutory audits, M&A due diligence, and IFRS/US-GAAP reporting projects for multinational clients.

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Aerospace and Defense, Manufacturing, Professional Services, Real Estate, Telecommunication, and Healthcare.

Aerospace and Defense

Manufacturing

Professional Services

Real Estate

Telecommunication

Healthcare

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Audit, Finance, Business Intelligence, and Operations.

Audit

Finance

Business Intelligence

Operations

Summary

Delivering Strategic Board Leadership, Audit Oversight & Governance Impact

Proficient Audit Committee Chair, Non-Executive Director, and Governance Leader with over 25 years of international experience across Saudi Arabia, GCC, and Europe. Specializing in board governance, audit oversight, financial integrity, risk management, and compliance, with a proven history across publicly listed companies, family-owned enterprises, and PE backed groups.

Recognized for strengthening corporate governance frameworks, risk cultures, and shareholder trust through effective board leadership and financial stewardship. Proven ability to enhance board efficiency, lead audit committees with impact, and embed robust oversight of internal control and compliance functions.

Adept at driving audit transformation, digital audit innovation, and data-driven decision-making, ensuring board-level transparency and long-term stakeholder confidence.

Key Achievements & Recognitions:

Successfully enhanced board engagement, risk transparency, and regulatory alignment, contributing to shareholder trust and corporate value.
Established state-of-the-art internal audit functions across multiple international organizations, optimizing governance frameworks and risk mitigation strategies.
Led the transformation of audit and compliance functions in publicly traded and family-owned conglomerates, significantly improving risk monitoring and corporate transparency.
Nasdaq Board Member Evaluation Score: 9.33/10, ranked among top-rated Board members for governance, strategic decision-making, and leadership impact.
Audit Committee Leadership Rating: 9.67/10, recognized for financial oversight, risk management, and audit effectiveness.

Skills

Board & Audit Committee Leadership
Ifrs, Sox, Swiss Or & J-Sox Compliance
Corporate Governance & Regulatory Compliance
Digital Audit, Data Analytics & Process Optimization
Risk Management & Internal Audit Transformation
Public-Private Partnerships & Infrastructure Projects
Strategic Financial Oversight & Ipo Readiness
Multi-Industry Expertise: Aviation, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Logistics, Finance
M&A Due Diligence & Post-Merger Integration
Sap S/4hana, Sap R/3, Acl, Idea, Hyperion, Sharepoint, Cognos, Data Analytics Tools

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

French

Advanced

Education

Oct 1992 - Jun 1997

University of Stuttgart

Diplom-Kaufmann (equivalent to MBA) · Stuttgart, Germany

Certifications & licenses

Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)

ISC²

Supervisory Board Training

Directors Academy

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 12

Experience in Aerospace and Defense 18 y

Avg length 3 y 3 m

Longest experience 11 y 11 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 4 (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Switzerland)

Primary country United Arab Emirates

Expertise

Recent roles Chair of the Audit Committee, Audit & Process Expert, Corporate Governance Advisor

Main industries Aerospace and Defense, Manufacturing, Professional Services

Main business areas Audit, Finance, Business Intelligence

Qualifications

Certifications earned 4

Profile

Created

November 2025

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Frequently asked questions

Have questions? Find more information here.

Torben is based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

Torben speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Advanced).

Torben has at least 30 years of experience. During this time, Torben has worked in at least 12 different roles and for 12 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 6 months. Note that Torben may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Based on recent experience, Torben would be well-suited for roles such as: Chair of the Audit Committee, Audit & Process Expert, Corporate Governance Advisor.

Torben's most recent position is Chair of the Audit Committee at Tabby L.L.C & Tabby Payments L.L.C.

In recent years, Torben has worked for Tabby L.L.C & Tabby Payments L.L.C, Infineon APAC, Mondi Group, Westfalen AG, and Fakeeh Care Group.

Torben is most experienced in industries like Aerospace and Defense, Manufacturing, and Professional Services. Torben also has some experience in Real Estate, Telecommunication, and Healthcare.

Torben is most experienced in business areas like Audit, Finance, and Business Intelligence. Torben also has some experience in Operations.

Torben has recently worked in industries like Aerospace and Defense, Healthcare, and Banking and Finance.

Torben has recently worked in business areas like Audit, Finance, and Business Intelligence.

Torben attended University of Stuttgart.

Torben has 4 certificates. Among them, these include: Certified in Cybersecurity (CC), Supervisory Board Training, and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Torben is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

Torben's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.

To hire Torben, click the Meet button on the profile to request a meeting and discuss your project needs.