Banking Giant Emirates NBD Appoints Female CEO

The Dubai based bank Emirates NBD has announced that it is appointing Maryam Bahlooq to lead the bank’s subsidiary Tanfeeth, becoming its first female CEO since it was established a decade ago in 2007.

 

                        

Photo tweeted by Emirates NBD under the caption: "Our Maryam Bahlooq: Imagine what would happen if every company takes a small step for inclusion of #PwD #togetherlimitless #mycommunity"

 

Ms Bahlooq has worked with Emirates NBD for seventeen years, in which she has accumulated an impressive record of strategic and leadership roles. She has previously held the positions of head of Human Resources and HR Business Partnership Unit amongst others. She will now take responsibility for over 2,700 employees, heading the subsidiary that manages the banks operations and customer services.

Commenting on the announcement, Abdulla Qassem, Group Chief Operating Officer, Emirates NBD and Chairman of Tanfeeth, said:

 

"Maryam’s experience and track record of guiding and motivating diverse groups to enhance business performance equips her well to lead Tanfeeth. Tanfeeth plays a crucial role within the group and I am confident that with Maryam’s leadership, the team will continue to scale service excellence standards and deliver outstanding support across our business units and subsidiaries.”

 

Photograph taken at the National Career Exhibition 2016 in Sharjah. With the Bank backing The UAE’s pledge to nurture local talent and provide superior training and growth opportunities to Emiratis

 

Gender equality is a political talking point in the UAE, as the state aims to become one of the world’s top 25 countries for gender equality by 2021. The country already has the highest percentage of females in governmental decision-making positions in the Arab world, reaching 30% in 2015. In August Prime Minister and Emir of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed addressed the issue in a tweet reading:

 

“Women empower the UAE society today as: 2/3rds of government employees & university graduates & 1/3rd of our Cabinet”

 

In an official statement from Emirates NBD, Bahlooq expressed her hope to inspire other women leaders:

 

“I am also delighted to be the first female UAE national to assume a CEO position within the Group and hope to inspire and mentor others like me to take on similar leadership roles.”

 

 

 

 

In February, three women took on powerful financial roles in the UAE’s neighbor Saudi Arabia. Sarah Al-Suhaimi was appointed as the chair of the kingdom's Tadawul stock exchange, while Rania Nashar was made CEO of Samba Financial Group and Latifa Al-Sabhan became the CFO of Arab National Bank.