The new chief executive officer (CEO) of Bahrain-based Islamic wholesale bank Bank Alkhair has promised to take the group “to the next level”.

Group CEO Ayman Sejiny will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the bank and for developing and executing the group’s strategy. 

Bank Al Khair includes a number of subsidiaries namely Alkhair Capital Saudi Arabia, Alkhair Capital Dubai, Alkhair Capital Turkey, and Alkhair International Islamic Bank, Malaysia. 

Prior to his appointment as CEO of Bank Alkhair, Sejiny was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Barclays Saudi Arabia. He was also one of Bank Alkhair’s founding members and previously held the position of Board Member and Chief Executive Officer of Alkhair Capital Saudi Arabia (formerly Unicorn Capital Saudi Arabia) and board member of Unicorn Bahrain from July 2002 to September 2009. 

He has served in a number of regional and international organisations including Citi Bank and ABN AMRO affiliates in Saudi Arabia (Saudi American Bank – SAMBA, and Saudi Hollandi Bank).  

Yousef Al-Shelash, Chairman of Bank Alkhair, said: “The appointment of Mr Sejiny is an important addition to the management team. His in-depth knowledge and experience of investment and corporate banking in the local, regional and international markets, in addition to his strong personality, will enable the bank to realise its short term and long term objectives and help capitalise on growth opportunities that will lead the bank through a new growth phase in the New Year and beyond.”  

“Mr. Sejiny has more than 21 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. We are confident that his leadership will enable the Bank to further build our team, and give the Bank the advantage of a wide range of expertise in screening investment and business opportunities.” 

Sejiny said: “I look forward to working with Bank Alkhair’s team to enhance our business across our core markets and to build exceptional value for all our stakeholders. Our strategy for this year will be to ensure sustainability of the bank’s commercial activities in our core markets and to steer the bank’s trajectory to maximise returns for our shareholders and further strengthen the bank’s position. As one of the founding members of Bank Alkhair, I am confident that with the support of the team and the Board of Directors, we will be able to take the bank to the next level.”

Sejiny has successfully completed several development courses in finance and management, besides being a member on several reputable regional committees. He graduated in BA Finance from the Eastern Michigan University. He is a talented speaker and has participated in several seminars and leading conferences, in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Malaysia, the UK and in the World Bank in US. He is fluent in English, Arabic and German.

Bank Alkhair in Bahrain continues to consolidate its multi business lines to focus on management of alternative assets. This involves sourcing and structuring alternative investment opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region and placing these opportunities with the bank’s client base in the GCC. 

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Bahrain, Bank Alkhair (formerly Unicorn Investment Bank) is an Islamic wholesale bank licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain, with an international presence in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Malaysia and Turkey. 

Bank Alkhair has completed several transactions since its inception, including the establishment of t’azur, a regional Takaful company and the acquisition of Bahrain Financing Company (BFC), the oldest and one of the leading foreign exchange and remittance houses in the GCC.