:Donna Benton
{{Short description|Entrepreneur and founder of The Entertainer}}
Donna Benton (born 1975) is an entrepreneur and founder of a UAE-based lifestyle company called The Entertainer.
Biography
Originally from Melbourne Australia, Benton was born in 1975.{{Cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/a-dubai-based-company-was-partly-sold-for-dh367-million-1.2217372|title=A Dubai-based company was partly sold for Dh367 million|website=gulfnews.com}} In 2000, at age 26, she moved to Dubai to save money.{{cite web|url=https://www.esquireme.com/content/25602-donna-benton-are-you-not-entertained|title=Donna Benton: are you not entertained?|date=2 January 2018|website=Esquire Middle East|language=en|format=Interview|accessdate=3 August 2019}}
Her original job in Dubai proved unsuccessful, so she founded a company The Entertainer, offering discounted lifestyle products. {{As of|2018||df=}}, her company was operating in fifteen countries across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.ae/uae/dubai-founder-of-the-entertainer-brand-sells-majority-stake-1.727913|title=Dubai founder of The Entertainer brand sells majority stake|last1=Webster|first1=Nick|date=7 May 2018|work=The National|accessdate=3 August 2019|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://insideoutmagazine.ae/homes/in-the-uae/article/1107/inside-the-chic-home-of-one-of-dubai-s-most-well-known-business-women|title=Inside the chic home of one of Dubai's most well-known business women|website=insideout|language=en|access-date=2019-08-03}} As well as being the company's founder, she has also served as its CEO and Chairman, a role she currently holds in 2019.
In early 2012, a subsidiary of Abraaj Capital, a regional investment fund, acquired a 50 per cent stake in the company.{{Cite web|url=https://www.menabytes.com/the-entertainer-acquisition/|title=Dubai-based 'The Entertainer' gets acquired for over $100 million|date=8 May 2018}} They announced plans in 2017 to divest their stake.{{cite web| url = https://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-s-abraaj-sell-entertainer-stake-sees-ipo-for-careem-ceo-659986.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170118215332/http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-s-abraaj-sell-entertainer-stake-sees-ipo-for-careem-ceo-659986.html| archive-date = 2017-01-18| title = Dubai's Abraaj to sell Entertainer stake, sees IPO for Careem - CEO - Banking & Finance - ArabianBusiness.com}}
In May 2018, Benton confirmed the sale of 85% of her company for a nine figure sum to GFH Financial Group.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/media/395873-the-entertainer-app-stake-sold-for-nine-figures-sum-says-founder-chairman|title=The Entertainer stake sold for 'nine-figure' sum, says founder|last=Debusmann|first=Bernd Jr.|website=ArabianBusiness.com}}
Awards
Benton received Esquire Middle East's Man at His Best Award for her work through The Entertainer.{{cite news |title=A Woman We Admire: Donna Benton |url=https://www.esquireme.com/content/25794-a-woman-we-admire-donna-benton |accessdate=3 August 2019 |work=Esquire Middle East |date=8 January 2018 |language=en}} She was also featured among Forbes Middle East's Most Influential Women of 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.expatwoman.com/dubai/jobs-in-dubai/working-in-dubai/ten-notable-business-women-made-forbes-middle-eastern-power|title=Ten Notable Business Women Made The Forbes Middle Eastern Power List|date=September 20, 2018|website=ExpatWoman.com}}
References
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Category:Australian women business executives
Category:Australian businesspeople in retailing
Category:21st-century Australian businesspeople
Category:Businesspeople from Melbourne
Category:Australian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates