A dynamic and committed CEO, with a proven track record of P&L delivery  across a number of verticals and customer groups including private banking, wealth management, insurance, commercial banking, personal financial services and leasing, including Shariah compliant products. An adaptable executive with specific experience of turn-around situations, green-fields, business development and joint ventures. He has worked in a variety of roles within the HSBC Group, including at Board level, and with Gulf Finance Corporation.

Experience Includes

  • Establishing and developing long-term sustainable businesses, implementing business-orientated growth strategies and achieving financial targets
  • Delivering complex projects on time and within budget in challenging operating environments
  • Developing long-term business relationships and managing complex stakeholder groups with divergent interests, including managing relationships with regulators
  • Dynamic leadership and team-working skills with experience of engaging and developing people from diverse cultures, managing talent, leading change and building employee engagement
  • Focusing on serving customers and achieving results. This includes skills of creative thinking, decision making and problem solving, as well as the ability to take tough decisions in the long-term interests of the business.

Profile

  • Experienced CEO with a 30 year international career with leading financial services brands in emerging markets
  • Demonstrable track record of delivery in different financial services businesses across the Middle East
  • Successful creation and development of market leading brands and customer value propositions
  • Development, maintenance and enhancement of long term business relationships, at Board level, with strategic partners, professional services firms, regional regulatory bodies and with family businesses
  • Proven implementer of business plans with the ability to build and lead winning teams and create high levels of employee engagement with diverse employee populations
  • Thorough operational experience in Compliance, Audit and IT
  • Highly regarded for coaching and mentoring senior teams

Executive Career History

2013-2016 Gulf Finance, CEO UAE and Saudi Arabia, and member of Shuaa Group Investment Committee

2012-2013 Gulf Instalments, CEO, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and member ExCo

2011-2012 Gulf Finance Corporation, CEO, Saudi Arabia and member of ExCo

2008-2011 HSBC Bank Middle East, Dubai (HBME), Head of Regional Insurance, Managing Director of SABB Takaful & Chairman of Exco

2007-2009 SABB Takaful Company, Saudi Arabia, Managing Director & Chairman of the Exco

2005-2007 SABB Takaful Company, Managing Director (Designate)

2003-2005 The Saudi British Bank (SABB), Senior Executive Strategy

2002-2003 The Saudi British Bank (SABB), Senior Manager Strategy Implementation

1999-2002 HSBC Bank Middle East, Jordan, Head of Personal Financial Services

1995-1999 The Saudi British Bank, Saudi Arabia, Manager Corporate Banking

1993-1995 Trinkaus & Burkhardt, Senior Representative, Private Banking, Hong Kong

1988-1993 HSBC Group International Management programme, training & postings

Skills and Experience

  • Public company Board level experience with a major Saudi financial institution
  • Extensive expertise in lease finance, commercial banking, private banking, wealth management and insurance
  • Insightful strategic thinker with a proven track record of developing and executing strategic plans and building sustainable businesses, including greenfields, across the Middle East
  • Experience of managing and leading through a range of business and market cycles
  • Deep regional knowledge with high value contacts and extensive network of  business  partners
  • Successful commercialisation of business opportunities to realize value for shareholders
  • Specialist resource for private equity appraisal of investment opportunities in MENA

Non-Executive Roles

2011-2012 Actis Group, Special Adviser

Extra-curricular

Regular speaker and panellist at regional Financial Services conferences.  Authored numerous thought leadership articles on SMEs and initiated the Gulf Finance SME sentiment survey in the UAE

Various other roles have included Chairman of the Board of Governors, The British International School, Riyadh (2008-2009) Saudi Arabia. Fund raiser for SOS Villages, Jordan and Health Poverty Action.

Education

2001 Certificate for Financial Advisors (CeFA)

1993 Financial Studies Diploma, The Chartered Institute of Bankers (DipFS)

1989 Associate of The Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB)

1987 BSc Degree (First Class) in Banking and Finance, Loughborough University

Personal

Date of birth: 09 December 1964

Married: one daughter

Triathlon competitor

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