Mike leads Horizon Engage’s MENA research and directs the firm’s security-focused products, helping clients navigate political, regulatory, and operational risks in high-stakes environments.

Mike has covered the Middle East for more than two decades and maintains deep networks across governments, communities, and the private sector, with a focus on fragile states. His research supports clients involved in energy and infrastructure projects, offering tailored insights into stakeholder dynamics, informal power structures, and security risks.

Prior to Horizon Engage, he was Head of Research at Olive Group, providing stakeholder and security intelligence to international investors in complex jurisdictions. He is a Senior Fellow at a leading Washington, DC think tank and writes extensively on Middle Eastern security and energy issues.

Mike is the author of several books and monographs on Iraq, Yemen, Iran, and Syria, including The Race for Mukalla: Arabian Elite Forces and the War Against Al-Qaeda (Profile Editions, 2022). He regularly briefs policymakers, corporations, and media on Middle East security affairs.

He holds a BA and PhD in War Studies from King’s College London.