Bank ABC set to expand its international network

23/06/2016 01:23 AST

BAHRAIN-based Bank ABC has recently hired a number of senior bankers with extensive regional and international expertise in support of its growth plans and its strategic objective to become MENA’s leading international bank.

The bank has announced plans to expand its international network of offices by seeking regulatory approval for opening branches in Dubai’s DIFC and in Singapore as part of its international wholesale banking client strategy and linking MENA to Asian markets. It has also introduced several new initiatives to expand the international services and delivery offered to clients, including the development of a fully-fledged global capital markets platform.

To propel its expansion initiative, Bank ABC has recently attracted new specialized talent to further strengthen its top team and deliver on the development plans.

Christopher Wilmot has joined Bank ABC as Group Head of Treasury and Financial Markets in succession to John Eldredge who will continue to assist with specialized assignments until the completion of his contract with the Bank by the end of the year. Christopher is joining Bank ABC from First Gulf Bank (FGB) Abu Dhabi, where he was Executive Vice President and Head of Treasury and Global Markets Group. He has extensive treasury leadership experience within the region, including periods as Group Treasurer of Ahli United Bank, Bahrain, and General Manager Treasury of Saudi Hollandi Bank in Saudi Arabia.

Bank ABC’s overall Capital Market’s business will be headed by Rajat Sapra, who joins Bank ABC from Standard Chartered Bank where he spent the last 11 years performing a variety of senior roles in the region including Regional Head of Capital Markets for MENA and Head of Corporate, Institutional Clients and Financial Markets, Qatar. He is a seasoned banker with over 25 years of experience with leading international banks operating in MENA and India.

Bank ABC has also strengthened its Risk infrastructure to support business growth by appointing Paul Howard as Group Chief Credit and Risk Officer. Paul is a risk career professional with a long and successful track record with Royal Bank of Scotland in the US and UK. Prior to moving to his new role in Bahrain, Paul successfully helped Bank ABC in the UK to further strengthen its risk management frameworks.

Paul will be assisted by Stephen Thomson who joins Bank ABC as Group chief credit officer. He joins from JP Morgan in Saudi Arabia, where he has worked as Credit and Risk Officer. His previous experience includes working with premiere banks such as ABN AMRO in the UK and Japan, Saudi Hollandi Bank and Bank of New York-London.

Saudi Gazette