Saudi Arabia: bank chiefs

03 August 2010

Six key people leading the development of the kingdom’s banking sector: Muhammad al-Jasser, Sajjad Razvi, Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz al-Rajhi, Abdulkareen Abu al-Nasr, Jean Marion and Robert Eid

Muhammad al-Jasser

Position Governor, Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (Sama)

Biography Muhammad al-Jasser was appointed governor of Sama in February 2009, having served as vice-governor since 1995. He began his career at the Finance and National Economy Ministry in 1981, as head of financial and economic analysis in the budget department. By 1995, Al-Jasser was acting deputy minister of finance and national economy. He served as an adviser to the executive director of the International Monetary Fund in Saudi Arabia from 1990-95, and was a member of the Saudi negotiating team for accession to the World Trade Organisation. Al-Jasser graduated with a degree in economics from the University of San Diego in the US, and obtained a master’s degree and doctorate in economics from the University of California. His appointment as Sama governor was welcomed by local and international bankers, who see him as a proactive manager.

Contact Tel: (+966) 1 463 3000

Sajjad Razvi

Position Managing director and chief executive officer (CEO), Samba Bank

Biography Sajjad Razvi took over as managing director of Samba in January 2010. His appointment was part of a management reshuffle following the multibillion-dollar defaults by local conglomerates Saad Group and AH al-Gosaibi & Brothers. Saud Abdulaziz al-Gosaibi left his position as chairman of Samba to be replaced by then-managing director Eisa al-Eisa. Former corporate banking head, Razvi was promoted to managing director and CEO of Samba. He is now in charge of one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest and most profitable banks. Prior to joining Samba, he worked for the US-headquartered Citigroup. In 24 years with the bank, he acted as country head for Pakistan and later the UAE, becoming country head for Hungary in 2006. Previously, he also worked for Citigroup in Saudi Arabia when it held a significant investment in Samba.

Contact Tel: (+966) 1 477 4770

Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz al-Rajhi

Position Chairman and managing director, Al-Rajhi Bank

Biography As the largest individual shareholder in Al-Rajhi and also its chairman and managing director, Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz al-Rajhi holds sway over Saudi Arabia’s most profitable bank, and the world’s largest Islamic bank. It is also the largest bank in Saudi Arabia without state ownership. His career can be traced back to his upbringing in the Nejd desert, where he and his brothers built up a business empire offering foreign exchange and remittance services to pilgrims and expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia. The Al-Rajhi family now has interests in industries from cement production to packaging and agriculture. Now in his 90s, Sulaiman al-Rajhi remains an influential figure in both the business and banking sector in the kingdom. He also founded a charitable organisation, the SAAR Foundation, and is chairman of the National Agricultural Development Company.

Contact Tel: (+966) 1 460 3333

Abdulkareen Abu al-Nasr

Position Chief executive officer (CEO), National Commercial Bank

Biography Abdulkareen Abu al-Nasr was appointed CEO of National Commercial Bank in 2006. It is Saudi Arabia’s biggest bank by assets. Al-Nasr joined the bank in 1995 as head of private banking in the Western Region and quickly rose through the ranks. After two years he was promoted to head of private banking and by 1999 was heading up retail banking. In 2001, he became deputy general manager, and was appointed general manager in 2005. He is now leading an aggressive expansion of the state-owned bank. Prior to joining National Commercial Bank, Al-Nasr worked for the local Citigroup affiliate, Saudi American Bank, which is today known as Samba Bank. He has an MBA from the American University in Cairo, and an MS in Business Administration from California State University. He also sits on the board of NCB Capital, the bank’s investment banking arm.

Contact Tel: (+966) 2 627 9666

Jean Marion

Position Managing director, Banque Saudi Fransi

Biography As managing director of Banque Saudi Fransi, Jean Marion is responsible for the operations of the largest Saudi bank with a foreign investment partner. Banque Saudi Fransi is 31 per cent owned by one of France’s largest banks, Credit Agricole, with whom it partners on local investment banking activities. Marion has been working for the Credit Agricole group since 1984, largely in overseas markets. He was previously senior country officer for the bank in Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Africa and the US. Before moving to Saudi Arabia in 2004, he was senior country officer for Hong Kong, China and Taiwan. Earlier this year, he led the bank on an international fundraising exercise that raised $650m. The deal was the first international bond issue by a Saudi bank since the financial crisis, and was priced below other banks in the region, including National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

Contact Tel: (+966) 1 408 9089

Robert Eid

Position Managing director and chief executive officer, Arab National Bank

Biography Robert Eid has been running Arab National Bank since December 2005. He is also chairman of ANB Invest, the bank’s investment banking subsidiary, and a director of Saudi Home Loans, a mortgage finance company, and cranes and equipment leasing firm Arabian Heavy Equipment Leasing. Prior to moving to Saudi Arabia, Eid spent more than 22 years with National Bank of Kuwait, mainly based in London. He headed up the international operations and subsidiaries of National Bank of Kuwait, including its UK-based subsidiary, and was vice-chairman of its Lebanese subsidiary. Eid was a director of the International Bank of Qatar, and the Arab Bankers Association between 1997 and 2003. He has a doctorate in money and banking from the Sorbonne University in Paris and a master’s degree in economics from the American University of Beirut.

Contact Tel: (+966) 1 402 9000

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