Who hired in the Middle East in September?
The month of Ramadan is typically a quiet period for financial services recruitment in the Gulf and this year was no exception. Though a handful of new firms commenced new operations, the majority of recruitment was restricted to replacement hires and internal reshuffling.
Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, the Japanese commercial bank, has started its operations in Bahrain Financial Harbour, 10 months after signing an initial lease agreement.
Banque Saudi Fransi has named Dr. John Sfakianakis as its new chief economist. He joins from SABB.
Barclays Wealth, which has been building its Middle Eastern team throughout this year, has announced the appointment of Sahba Hadipour as director of its international private banking team in the region.
Citi has promoted Steve Donovan as head of its global transaction services division for the Middle East and Pakistan.
D.E Shaw, the investment firm, has been given the green light to open a new Dubai office, which marks its first physical presence in the Middle East.
Doha Bank has added two new assistant managing directors - Gerard Fizgerald for technology, operations and administration and Louis Scotto within its retail banking business.
Dubai International Capital, the UAE sovereign wealth fund, has reshuffled its senior management following the departure of its chief executive, Sameer Al Ansari to Shuaa Capital. Anand Krishnan, previously chief operating officer, has taken the CEO post, while David Smoot - previously CEO, private equity - assumes responsibility for all investment divisions.
Ernst & Young has hired Sherif El-Kilany to head its Middle East tax practice. He will be based in Bahrain.
Gulf Bank has appointed Aly Shalaby as general manager of retail baking. He joins from the National Bank of Kuwait.
Gulfmena, the Middle East focused alternative asset manager, has gained a licence to operate from the DIFC, which it will use as its headquarters for the region.
HSBC has hired David Hunt to lead its insurance business in the Middle East. He was previously managing director from the bank's Saudi Arabia joint venture SABB Takaful, which has just named Philip Head as its new CEO. HSBC also appointed Mahmoud Hadi as managing director of its Middle East Finance Company.
Latham & Watkins, the law firm, has added Mark Morris to its Islamic finance practice.
Morgan Stanley has named Habib Achkar president of its MENA operations following the departure of George Makhoul. He is currently chief executive for the bank's Saudi outlet.
The National Bank of Oman has recruited its third batch of management trainees as part of its ongoing effort to encourage local talent to the financial sector.
Pacific Star, the Singaporean real estate investment firm, has entered the Middle East having gained a licence from the Qatar Financial Centre. It intends to grow this base going forward.
Shuaa Capital has named Sameer Al Ansari, former CEO of Dubai International Capital, as its new chief exec. He also joins its board, along with Martin Angle, who was most recently operational managing director at Terra Firma Capital Partners.
SunGard, the financial services technology vendor, has opened an office in the DIFC.
Warba Bank is a new venture announced by the Kuwaiti government, which received approval to commence operations this month. A 76% stake will be held by the country's citizens, all of whom will own shares in the bank.
