Unlocking the Secrets of Paul Kenny’s Success as Founder and CEO of Cob

Paul Kenny founded Cobone.com, which revolutionized MENA e-commerce. Founded in 2010, the company promptly earned its status as one of the leading online platforms and thus offered unmatched deals that thrived in dining, beauty, and travel. The entrepreneurial spirit to use technology to solve everyday problems has had a unique signature on the regional ecosystem. Recognized as ‘Most Influential Expats in UAE’ by Forbes, Kenny’s journey-from Cobone to the Managing Partner at ODLA-has basically been constant innovation and success.

Through implementing the group buying model, Cobone offered massive discounts for consumers and caused traffic for local businesses. Tapping into the increasing demand for online shopping and daily deals, the platform assured customers the opportunity to discover and purchase experiences at unbeatable prices. Kenny’s vision for Cobone went beyond discounts; he wanted to make it possible for an extraordinary user experience to be such that going online would become a preferred channel for consumers in the region. Given the successful launch of Cobone, e-commerce activity in the Middle East was set off, and the website became a “go-to destination for online deals”.

Paul Kenny, born in Ireland, was an entrepreneur from quite a young age. Moving to the UAE, there was a gap in an online platform capable of offering daily deals and experiences at discounted prices. Based on this insight, he launched Cobone, scaling it rapidly to be one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the region. Kenny’s role in the MENA start up space has grown significantly from being associated with Cobone alone. Kenny has taken on a very important role as a mentor, board member, and investor to nurture the next generations of entrepreneurs in the region. His involvement in several startups and investments not only resulted in growing assets but also revenues, as his ventures reach $500 million in annual revenues.

Cobone wasn’t lucky, though. It was quite strategic. By 2013, the entity was acquired by Jabbar Internet Group, a major player of the Middle Eastern tech space.). Under Kenny’s stewardship, Cobone was already growing up to serve millions of customers and hundreds of businesses in the region. The focus of Cobone on its customer base, tailoring deals that could meet regional tastes and preferences, kept driving its growth. With all these, it was local culture-combined with Paul Kenny’s knowledge of the digital terrain-and a dominant market position that Cobone managed to sustain for years.

Paul Kenny’s entrepreneurial reach extends far beyond Cobone). He has been exemplary by launching and scaling other e-commerce platforms, such as Danube Online, Saudi Arabia’s largest online grocery store, over the last two decades. He has experience working on digital transformation projects with Fortune 20 companies such as Procter & Gamble (P&G), applying his e-commerce acumen at the global level. He is well known for leading multicultural teams and driving large-scale digital transformations. In 2018, Kenny appeared in Steve Madden’s ‘Self-Made’ campaign, which celebrates entrepreneurs who have transformed their industries. Featured as the first Irishman among the ’30 under 30 shaping the future’ from Ireland marks his global influence as a business leader.

Paul Kenny has high engagement in mentoring and investment. He is continuously making the future of business in the Middle East through managing as a partner at ODLA-the leading digital transformation company. Besides, he is the Managing Director at Afritea & Coffee Blenders, which just happens to be Tanzania’s largest coffee company. Here, he leverages expertise regarding scaling up the business and optimizing the supply chains. Kenny has invested in and advised hundreds of start-ups across the region. His work on venture capital fund building and early-stage company development has fuelled innovation in the Middle East and Africa. As a mentor and sounding board for founders, Kenny’s role in pushing entrepreneurship into the region remains robust.