Hani Kablawi (ABA Chairman. Board member since 2010) Hani is an Executive Vice President at BNY Mellon and the head of the bank’s EMEA asset servicing division. He is based in London. Hani previously managed country and client relationships across EMEA for BNY Mellon and was co-Chair of the bank’s Sovereign Advisory Board, which oversees relationships with sovereign wealth funds and central banks globally. He previously worked for BNY Mellon in New York, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Duncan Steele-Bodger (ABA Treasurer. Board member since 2010) Duncan is the Country Head, U.K. and Jersey, for Emirates NBD Bank. He joined National Bank of Dubai in 2004 as their Senior Manager in London and assumed his current role following the merger of National Bank of Dubai and Emirates Bank in 2010. He had previously worked for Barclays, Credit Suisse and Discount Bank. For much of his 29-year banking career, he has been specialised in Private Banking.
Vivien Davies (ABA Company Secretary. Board member since 2012) Vivien is a partner in the London law firm Edwin Coe LLP. She specialises in company, banking and commercial disputes, including complex cross-boarder disputes and international arbitration. In addition to general commercial clients, she regularly acts for foreign banks and enterprises from the hospitality, construction, and healthcare sectors, together with media organisations. She is an active member of the U.K.’s Middle East Association and is fluent in Arabic.
George Kanaan (ABA CEO. Board member since 2009) George was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Arab Bankers’ Association in August 2009. He began his banking career with Citibank in New York in 1975 and spent three years with First Chicago in London from 1984. He returned to Citibank in 1987 to establish and become General Manager of the London branch of Saudi American Bank (which was managed and partly owned by Citibank) and its associated investment company. After leaving Saudi American Bank, he established and managed a family office and acted as a consultant to Arab companies and high net worth individuals.
Ziyad Akrouk (ABA board member since 2012) Ziyad has been Chief Executive Officer of Europe Arab Bank plc, which is part of the Arab Bank Group, since May 2011. He is based in London. He was previously CEO of Citibank’s operations in Kuwait and also held senior roles within Citibank in Bahrain, Poland, Egypt and Jordan. Before becoming a banker, Ziyad spent his early career working as a civil engineer.
Abdulaziz Al-Khereiji (ABA board member since 2012) Abdulaziz has been working within London’s financial services sector for 22 years. He joined Riyad Bank’s London branch in 1996 and is now its Chief Manager. He is also Riyad Bank’s Senior Vice President for Overseas Units, and in this capacity he manages the bank’s international corporate relationships in the United States, Europe and Asia, focusing on clients’ business activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the GCC as a whole.
Farid Barakat (ABA board member since 2010) Farid is the European Regional Manager of National Bank of Abu Dhabi and head of its London branch. He is based in London. Farid joined NBAD in 1977. The bank’s London branch specialises in private banking services and high profile property financing and has a growing corporate and trade finance department.
Fawzi Dajani (ABA board member since 2008) Fawzi is the Managing Director of National Bank of Kuwait (International) plc, the London-based subsidiary and European arm of National Bank of Kuwait (NBK). Fawzi joined NBK in 1985 and held positions in Singapore, Kuwait and London before leaving to take up senior posts at Merrill Lynch International Bank and then HSBC Private Bank. He has been Managing Director of National Bank of Kuwait (International) since 2007.
Mahmoud Difrawy (ABA board member since 2010) Mahmoud is Vice Chairman of JPMorgan Chase MENA with oversight over all lines of business in the Middle East and North Africa. He is based in London. He was formerly Chairman of the Board of J. P Morgan International Bank and a Director of The Saudi Investment Bank. Before moving to London in 2000, Mahmoud spent many years in Bahrain as Chase Manhattan’s Regional Manager for the Middle East.
Gaby Fadel (ABA board member since 2005) Gaby is the London Branch Manager of Byblos Bank Europe. Gaby began his banking career with Credit Lyonnais in Beirut and later moved to the Brussels office of Byblos Bank and then to the London office of Banque Française de l'Orient (which was partly owned by Credit Agricole). In 1999, he returned to Byblos Bank in his current position. Gaby's work has covered international trade finance, property & corporate finance, and correspondent banking as well as dealing with high net worth individuals; and it has taken him not only to the Middle East but also to East, North and West Africa.
Samer Hijazi (ABA board member since 2012) Samer is a Director in KPMG’s Financial Services Audit practice. He is currently responsible for a portfolio of U.K. and international banks, sovereign wealth funds and other asset managers where he provides audit and advisory services. Samer joined KPMG in the UK’s London office in 2000, coming from another Big Four firm in the United Arab Emirates, where his clients included leading local and international financial institutions.
George Kardouche (ABA board member since 1988 for several board terms) George served as ABA Chairman for several years. He began his career with Royal Bank of Canada in Beirut and then worked for Dillon, Read in New York and London developing client relationships in the Middle East. George also worked for United Gulf Investment Bank and Drexel Burnham Lambert before concluding his banking career with Schroders in London. His publications include The UAR in Development; The Competition for Savings (USA); and Wage & Price Controls in Canada?
William (Bill) Playle (ABA board member since 2012) Bill is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ABC International Bank plc., the London-based subsidiary of Arab Banking Corporation, which is based in Bahrain. He has worked for ABC International since 2002 and was previously its Deputy CEO, having also served as its Head of Risk Management. Before joining ABC International, Bill held senior positions in business, risk and general management functions primarily within the Barclays Group.
Amr Turk (ABA board member since 2010) Senior Manager Blom Bank France.
