Gulf International Bank (GIB) has recently made new senior leadership appointments in both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Khaled Abbas, who currently serves as the Group Wholesale Banking Head, has been selected to be the CEO of GIB Saudi Arabia, while Sara Abdulhadi, the Group Chief Investment and Treasury Officer, has been appointed as the CEO of GIB in Bahrain.
Abdulaziz Al-Helaissi, the Group CEO of GIB, expressed his confidence in these appointments, stating that Khaled and Sara will contribute to strengthening and diversifying the leadership structure of the bank. He emphasized the talent and exceptional performance shown by both individuals, highlighting their suitability to lead the operations in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. Al-Helaissi looks forward to collaborating with them in this new chapter for GIB.
As part of these changes, Abdulaziz Al-Helaissi will continue to oversee the Group’s strategy and the expansion of regional and international businesses while holding the current CEO positions. The appointments of Khaled and Sara will come into effect starting from March 3, 2024.
Khaled started his journey with GIB in 2018 as the UAE Country Head, later taking on the role of Group Wholesale Banking Head in 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Studies from the Lebanese American University and has completed various leadership programs from renowned institutions such as INSEAD, Darden Business School, and Harvard.
On the other hand, Sara joined GIB in 2019 as the Group Chief Investment and Treasury Officer, overseeing activities in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE. She brings a wealth of experience, holding a BSC in Accounting from King Saud University, an MSC in Investment Management from Bayes Business School, City University, London, and an AMP from Harvard.
These changes in leadership reflect GIB’s commitment to promoting internal talent and driving growth in the region. The bank is looking forward to a successful future under the guidance of Khaled Abbas and Sara Abdulhadi.