Mark Aitchison

Mark Aitchison is the founder and CEO of EIGHTClouds, a private equity company based in the UAE that focuses on empowering the product, brand, and founder’s story for the consumer market.  

Born and raised in the UK, Mark has called Dubai home for nearly 14 years, and has led an ambitious and versatile career prior to founding EIGHTClouds in the UAE. With a passion for entrepreneurship, Mark saw the immense potential in startups and innovative concepts specifically for consumer-facing brands. He thus set up a consultancy business in 2004 to provide corporate services for overseas businesses looking to access and set up operations within the GCC and Asia. Bringing a wealth of knowledge in multiple fields, Mark began investing in businesses to build a diverse portfolio of equity stakes, including construction, property development and retail, leading him to co-found the successful barbershop brand, Chaps & Co, in 2015. Today, Chaps & Co has expanded to 10 locations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the USA.  

As the founder and CEO of EIGHTClouds, Aitchison guides and empowers the team to achieve the vision of the company. He takes charge of all elements of the business, from managing high-level corporate strategy and positioning, to managing the organization’s structure and communication with executives and board members. Believing in leading by example as a cultural cornerstone, he continues to build trust and transparency among his team members and the board committee. With EIGHTClouds, Mark hopes to continue building brands that last and provide a platform for entrepreneurs to innovate and take their vision global. Believing in building strong relationships with his partners, he looks to further expand with new avenues such as franchising, partnerships, or joint ventures across the fields of apparel, beauty and wellness, hospitality, real estate, technology, sustainability, and beyond.