Bringing Authentic Flavours to Every Table

Omar Hamam

Founder | Chief Executive Officer

Every great brand starts with one bold idea. Omar’s was simple: serve ridiculously good food, build an unforgettable brand, and never stop raising the bar. With a background in Economics and Business from the University of Manitoba, Omar turned his passion for entrepreneurship into Tahini’s, growing it from a single restaurant into one of Canada’s fastest-growing Mediterranean restaurant brands. Behind every major milestone, menu innovation, and strategic decision has been his relentless drive to keep moving the brand forward.

A true foodie at heart, Omar believes the guest experience begins long before the first bite. Whether he’s refining recipes, exploring new concepts, or improving restaurant operations, he pays attention to the details others often overlook. Always thinking several steps ahead, he balances big-picture vision with genuine care for guests, franchise partners, and the people who bring the brand to life every day.

Humble, thoughtful, and endlessly curious, Omar believes there’s always a better way. His passion for innovation and continuous improvement continues to shape the future of Tahini’s, one bold idea at a time.

Aly Hamam

Co-founder | Chief Marketing Officer

If you’ve laughed at a Tahini’s video, stopped scrolling because of one of our campaigns, or walked into a restaurant that just felt different, there’s a good chance Aly had something to do with it. An entrepreneur at heart, Aly has helped build Tahini’s into one of Canada’s most recognizable restaurant brands by blending creativity, culture, and fearless marketing.

As Chief Marketing Officer, he leads brand strategy, menu innovation, product launches, and the creative vision behind every guest touchpoint, from social media and advertising to the in-store experience. Never afraid to challenge the ordinary, Aly believes the best brands don’t follow trends, they create them. His passion for storytelling, innovation, and guest experience has shaped a brand that sparks conversations, creates loyal fans, and keeps people coming back for more. To him, every campaign is an opportunity to connect with people and create moments they’ll remember.

Behind every bold idea is someone who genuinely cares. Whether he’s supporting his team, celebrating franchise partners, or finding new ways to elevate the guest experience, Aly consistently goes above and beyond. Known for his kindness, generosity, and infectious energy, he has a natural ability to light up a room and bring out the best in those around him. Even after countless hours of work, he leads with the same authenticity, humility, and passion that have helped shape not only the Tahini’s brand, but the culture behind it.

Ahmed Dessouki

Co-Founder | President of Alex Food Service

Ahmed has always been driven by one thing: solving complex problems and building systems that help people succeed. Whether it’s engineering large-scale projects or strengthening one of the country’s fastest-growing restaurant supply chains, he has a unique ability to see the bigger picture while never losing sight of the details.

A licensed Professional Engineer in Canada and graduate of Western University, Ahmed founded Alex Food Service to support the rapid growth of Tahini’s Restaurants. Today, the company oversees sourcing, logistics, distribution, and supply chain operations for Tahini’s while proudly serving a growing network of businesses across Canada.

Known for his calm, thoughtful leadership, Ahmed believes the best leaders remove obstacles, empower their teams, and create systems that allow everyone to perform at their best. He approaches every challenge with an engineer’s mindset, always asking how things can be built smarter, stronger, and more efficiently. For Ahmed, every challenge is simply another opportunity to build something better.

Michael Nadeau

President

Mike brings decades of leadership experience and a people-first approach to every part of the organization. As President of Tahini’s Restaurants, he works closely with every department to ensure the company continues to grow while staying true to the culture and values that built the brand.

From restaurant operations and franchise support to process improvement and organizational leadership, Mike is passionate about building systems that help people succeed. His hands-on approach and deep operational expertise have strengthened Tahini’s foundation, ensuring every restaurant has the tools, support, and consistency needed to deliver an exceptional guest experience.

For Mike, great operations are built with both precision and heart. Behind every process is a person, behind every system is a team, and behind every successful restaurant is a commitment to genuinely caring for franchise partners, team members, and guests alike.

Mike knows that exceptional guest experiences don’t happen by accident. They come from consistent execution, strong operational standards, and teams that genuinely care. His focus is making sure every Tahini’s location delivers on the brand promise, every day, in every restaurant.

Khalid Sariffodeen

Chief Construction Officer | VP Procurement & Tech

Building restaurants is only half the job. Making sure every location has the right equipment, suppliers, and systems to operate successfully is where Khalid thrives. With more than a decade of experience in the restaurant industry, Khalid oversees construction, technology, and key procurement initiatives that keep Tahini’s growing efficiently across North America.

From selecting vendors and negotiating with suppliers to coordinating new restaurant builds and managing national rollouts, he helps ensure every location opens on time and is set up for long-term success.

A results-driven leader with strong operational and financial expertise, Khalid has managed large teams, delivered complex projects under tight deadlines, and built lasting partnerships throughout the supply chain. He believes the strongest brands are built through collaboration, consistency, and always doing right by franchise partners.

Khalid believes the strongest brands are built from the ground up, with the right people, the right partners, and a foundation designed to grow for years to come.

Shawn Saraga

Chief Development Officer

If there’s one thing Shawn knows, it’s franchising. Over the past 20+ years, he’s helped open more than 1,000+ franchise locations across North America, working with everyone from first-time entrepreneurs to some of the industry’s fastest-growing brands.

As Chief Development Officer at Tahini’s, Shawn helps future franchise partners find the right opportunity while building systems that support smart, sustainable growth. He’s also the founder of The Franchise Academy and author of The Franchise Toolbox, where he shares the lessons he’s learned from decades in the franchise world.

For Shawn, franchising is about more than opening restaurants. It’s about helping entrepreneurs build lasting businesses, create opportunities, and become part of something bigger than themselves.