Who hired in the Middle East in July?

Despite the summer lull and the start of Ramadan, a number of key senior hires were made during July. However, this seems more about shuffling the pack than expansion.

Abu Dhabi Financial Services, the brokerage arm of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi, has hired Mohammad Ali Yasin as its new managing director.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank has hired Arif Usmani to lead its wholesale banking business. He was previously at Citi in Pakistan.

Bank Muscat, the Omani institution, has a new chief executive officer of its Kuwait branch in Osamah al Abdullatif. He previously worked within its corporate banking division. It has also appointed Tamim Al Meaan as head – compliance and plans to make more senior hires in Kuwait this year.

Deutsche Bank has named Sriram Iyer as regional head for CEEMEA in its trust and securities services and cash management for financial institutions division.

Franklin Templeton, the investment manager, has named Adam Quaife as senior director, Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East. He will be based in Dubai.

J.P. Morgan has reportedly hired Rayan Fayez to lead its investment banking business in Saudi Arabia. He was previously head of investment banking and chief executive officer for Goldman Sachs in the kingdom.

LGT Group, the Liechtenstein-based private bank, has hired Tamer Rashad to lead its new Dubai operations. He joins from Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Mumtalakat Holdings, the Bahrain sovereign wealth fund, has named Tony Robinson as its new chief financial officer.

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi has shaken up its senior management team. Abdulla Mohammed Saleh AbdulRaheem takes the role of deputy chief executive officer. Abdulla Bin Khalaf Al Otaiba has also been promoted to the role of senior general manager of the domestic banking division. It has also named Michael Miller as head of investor relations.

Securities & Investment Company (SICO), the Bahraini investment bank, has been given the formal go-ahead to start a new UAE brokerage operation. It’s is its first physical presence outside of Bahrain.

Standard Chartered has appointed Raheel Ahmed as its new head of consumer banking. He succeeds Vishu Ramachandran who takes the role of chief operating officer of the consumer banking division.

Standard Chartered has also named Bejan Roohi as managing director and head of client coverage for Abu Dhabi. He reports to Morad Mahlouji, who recently replaced David Law as head of origination and client coverage for the MENA region.