Regional Head of GCC, International Banking - Arabic Speaker

Company Description

Join the UAE’s largest bank and one of the world’s largest and safest financial institutions. Our focus is to create value for our employees, customers, shareholders and communities to grow through differentiation, agility and innovation.

We are looking for top talent and your success is our success. Accelerate your growth as you help us reach our goals and advance your career. Be ready to make your mark a top company, in an exciting and dynamic industry.

Job Description

The Regional Head, GCC would be responsible for leading and growing the Investment Banking & Markets & Wholesale Banking businesses within the GCC Region. This includes managing client relationships, driving revenue growth, and ensuring the delivery of financial solutions to corporate, government, and institutional clients. The position requires strong leadership, business development, and stakeholder management skills, with a focus on leveraging FAB’s international network and expertise. 

The Regional Head is responsible for managing the wider GCC region including managerial oversight of offices in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, FAB Capital KSA and Iraq Rep Office with the Country CEOs and Chief Representatives reporting to them.

Key Responsibilities:

GCC Strategy

• Transition the existing business to enhance geographic reach, client diversification and product cross sell.
• Enhance collaboration and “one bank” philosophy, working with global teams to enhance returns.
• Define regional strategy in line with FAB Group’s ambition to further grow its GCC franchise, capitalizing on areas where FAB has a competitive advantage, particularly across trade and finance corridors.
• Define the GCC presence and non-presence strategy, working with all stakeholders to ensure alignment and support.
• Define FAB’s product strategy across Global Corporate Finance, Global Markets and Global Transactional Banking support the client franchise.
• Work with FAB HO and other locations to identify and capitalize on network client flows of business.
• Direct the effective implementation of approved FAB strategies and related strategic plans in accordance with the overall business plan in order to achieve the short, medium and long term objectives.

Regulatory

• Ensuring effective compliance with all regulations; engaging with HO functions to ensure full and aligned support to effectively discharge this responsibility.
• Maintain regular and open dialogue with Regulators to ensure a “no-surprises” relationship is maintained at all times.
• Ensure compliance with prevailing regulations in non-presence countries where FAB seeks to originate business.

Leadership

• Manage the effective achievement of the business objectives through leadership of the GCC business; setting individual objectives, recruiting qualified staff familiar with operating in a global bank operating model; managing performance, developing and motivating staff to work as one team, ensuring open and honest feedback through a transparent and open style, in order to maximise employee and business performance
• Proven ability to operate effectively locally and internationally across internal and external borders
• Actively lives and practices the FAB values: Collaborative, Knowledgeable, Enterprising, Responsible, Adaptable and ensuring these are embedded within the culture of the GCC business

Budget and Plans

• Oversee the formulation of the regional budget
• Actively monitor performance and use MIS to enhance performance and aid strategic decision making, manage areas of under-performance

Client Management

• Actively engage with the client relationship management to set the strategic direction of the client franchise; develop and maintain effective business relationships with all relevant internal and external stakeholders
• Engage with clients at a senior level to better position FAB for an enhanced share of wallet
• Embed the use of CRM to improve the preparation of account planning, call reporting, WIP management
• Build out a comprehensive IB&M and WBG Strategies with Coverage Heads

Policies, Systems and Processes

• Working with Local and Global Heads, direct the development and implementation of department policies, procedures and controls covering all areas of the business across all Group activities
• Review, approve and direct amendments to policies and procedures to ensure consistency of application with FAB Group
• Execute all actions required based on relevant internal and external audits

Organisation Structure

• Define an optimum organisation structure for the Branches/Rep office/Subsidiaries so that resources are used optimally and communication can take place in an optimal manner

Credit and Risk Management

• Plan, direct and drive all initiatives to grow the asset portfolio and the liability base in accordance with approved plans and strategy
• Enhance profitability of the portfolio through targeted deployment of the balance sheet to enhance cross sell
• Direct the in-depth assessment and analysis of credit risk and take responsibility for the preparation of comprehensive limit applications at regular annual reviews in accordance with FAB Group policies and sector regulations
• Direct and ensure the development of credit proposals in alignment with prevailing policies
• Direct the proactive engagement of problem accounts at an early stage and recommend appropriate remedial action

Change Management

Lead and direct the management of change across the GCC business in line with the new operating model to ensure continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 20 plus years’ experience in banking with at least 10 years in a senior role in a Investment or Wholesale Banking environment
• Experience of working within an international bank operating across borders and within a matrix
• In depth knowledge of the banking sector and wholesale banking products, particularly trade finance and debt markets
• Working knowledge of the GCC region with proven relationships
• Experience of working in a regulatory capacity with direct experience of interacting with Regulators
• A proven strategic thinker with the ability to clearly articulate and execute strategy
• Advanced skills in aligning goals with strategic direction
• Ability to define and lead organizational change
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills across cultural boundaries
• Experience in coaching and mentoring
• Strong people management skills and visionary leadership

Additional Information

Fluency in Arabic is a requirement for this role with a preference for UAE National candidates.