Bahrain: Solidarity Grooms Local Talent
Solidarity has promoted a number of local executives in several different departments in line with its objective of developing Bahraini talent.
Mr Sameer Ebrahim Al Wazzan, CEO of Solidarity, announced the promotion of Mr Ahmed Radhi, Mr Wiaam A Malik, Mr Ebrahim Khadim and Mr Nasser AL Awadhi from Officers to Assistant Managers; Mr Mubarak Mousa to Accountant and Mr Hameed Ashraf Hussain to Technical Consultant.
Furthermore, the company has appointed Mr Mohammed Shafeeq Ahmed as Assistant Manager/ Underwriting; Mr Ali Mohammed Hassan as Assistant Underwriter; and Mr Asghar Gloom Hussain as Underwriter.
Mr Ashraf Bseisu, General Manager of Solidarity, says that the company is constantly strengthening its human resources “especially with the geographical expansion that Solidarity is witnessing in key international markets and the injection of paid-up capital that will reach US$275 million this year, 2007”.
Solidarity offers extensive training and educational opportunities to its Bahraini staff through financial support for higher education or professional training courses and workshops in and outside the kingdom.
Bahrain: BKIC Appoints New General Manager
Bahrain Kuwait Insurance (BKIC) has appointed Mr Waleed Ahmed Mahmood as General Manager of the Bahrain office. This appointment is part of BKIC’s strategic plan to employ Bahrainis in leading positions. He replaces Mr Gopinath Rao who has completed his services with the company.
Mr Mahmood began his career in the insurance sector with Bahrain Insurance Company (BIC) in 1997 and soon reached the position of Assistant General Manager. In 2004, he was appointed as the General Manager of United Insurance Company. In early 2005, he joined BKIC as Deputy General Manager.
Mr Mahmood has a Bachelor’s degree from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia, and also holds a Master’s degree from the University of Westminster, UK, in the field of accounting and personnel relations. He also has a diploma and an advanced diploma in the field of insurance from the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance.
Dubai: AXA Gulf Appoints Paul Adamson as COO and Richard Morrison is Country Manager for AXA UAE
AXA Insurance has announced the appointment of Mr Paul Adamson as Chief Operating Officer for AXA Gulf, and Mr Richard Morrison as Country Manager for AXA Insurance in the UAE. This is part of AXA’s commitment to the region and efforts to develop the business within the Middle East, the company says.
Mr Adamson will head sales and distribution for AXA in the Gulf while continuing his present position of overall responsibility for Saudi Arabia. He has been based in the region for the last nine years and has held different senior positions within the company.
Mr Morrison will handle UAE’s functions and business development for AXA. He was previously from AXA Bahrain. He was influential in getting the insurance licence for AXA’s operations in Qatar in late 2005. He has spent almost 12 years in the Middle East with AXA Insurance in diverse postings around Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar.
Mr Andrea Rossi, CEO of AXA Gulf & the Middle East, said: “Both Paul and Richard have been performing well in their respective regions and I have no doubt they will keep on demonstrating their efficiency and bring added value to AXA in the region supporting our ambition of tripling our business over the next five years.”
UAE: Nexus Appoints New Strategy Director
Mr Mark Hartigan is the new Strategy Director of Nexus Insurance Brokers. A former senior officer in the British Army, he said: “I am delighted to join a group like Nexus, which represents a powerful value proposition in one of the world’s fastest-growing insurance markets. We are driving the development of a new international financial brand from within the Middle East, and I am confident that we have the knowledge and leadership required to achieve success.”
RFIB Recruits Bob Naudi to Develop its Middle East Presence
RFIB Group, the international Lloyd’s insurance and reinsurance broker, has appointed Mr Bob Naudi to develop its Middle East presence.
Mr Naudi joins RFIB after almost 40 years with Aon both as a Director and later as a Consultant to Aon Group.
Mr Patrick Holcroft, RFIB Group Chief Executive, said: “RFIB’s strategy is to develop international activities in areas where we have the specialist expertise. Bob’s broking experience, knowledge of the Middle East and other markets, exceptional network of contacts and linguistic skills, means that he is an ideal complement to the group’s capabilities in the region.”
The move follows RFIB’s announcement of the opening of a representative office, headed by former British Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Mr Anthony Harris, at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in February 2006 and its announcement in June 2006 of the expansion of its energy team to support the pursuit of fresh opportunities, including those in the Middle East.