UK-based BLME has has appointed Jabra Ghandour as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and board member.

Ghandour, who takes over on March 25, has more than 30 years of experience in private, corporate and retail banking, having managed major institutions across the Gulf. 

He joined BLME in late 2015 and has been instrumental in refining the bank’s strategy and business plan. 

During the last 13 years Jabra held senior positions within the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) Group, latterly as Managing Director and Board Member of the International Bank of Qatar representing NBK. As CEO, Jabra will be responsible for driving BLME’s growing wealth management arm alongside its revitalised corporate banking offering. 

Ghandour succeeds Michael Williams, who was appointed as interim CEO in May 2015. Williams will resume his role as Non-Executive Director on the Bboard of BLME Holdings and the bank. 

 “I’m thrilled to be taking this role at such an important time for BLME. 2015 was a year of positive change for the bank, as it more closely aligned its objectives to ensure that it is best placed to facilitate business and investment activity between the UK and the Gulf. We will be growing our wealth management products and services substantially in order to serve better our clients in the Gulf alongside our established and expert Corporate Banking offering to the UK mid-market,” says Ghandour. 

“Underpinning everything we do is a desire to build strong relationships and be ready and able to provide innovative Sharia’a compliant solutions to a broad range of institutional, corporate and, of increasing importance, to individual high net worth clients. Our strong UK-Gulf links are a major competitive advantage and we plan to build on this further over the coming years. I look forward to continuing the good work started by Michael Williams.”

Adel Al Majed, Chairman of BLME, said: “Jabra Ghandour brings a wealth of experience building market-leading banks. Combined with the role he has played in developing our new strategic approach, he is ideally positioned to leverage BLME’s UK expertise and existing business to create new product and investment opportunities for our Gulf investors. 

“This is an exciting time for the bank, as we come to the end of our major strategic review, and I’m delighted to welcome Jabra as our new CEO. I would also like to thank Michael Williams for his excellent work overseeing our day-to-day activities, driving a period of transition and leaving us in a stronger position to deliver.”

BLME is an independent wholesale Sharia’a compliant bank based in London. Led by a management team of experienced international bankers and experts in Islamic finance, BLME has three key business areas; Wealth Management, Corporate Banking and Treasury providing a  wide range of financing solutions and investment opportunities.