Ehsan Abbas
Ehsan’s broad and well-rounded business and banking experience, capacity for strategic planning, strong negotiation skills, solid market knowledge and high level business & government contacts throughout the region have helped to create a successful career.
His major business achievements have been shaped by the invaluable experience gained through his senior banking and entrepreneurial business positions, coupled with consistently high performance that is guided by strategic planning and a mature and level-headed decision making process. These achievements include: Managing the Citibank Corporate Team responsible for booking blue chip credit specifically the Real Estate portfolios, as well as being a senior manager in the Citibank Gulf Remedial Unit which was successful in negotiating large corporate restructuring/workouts in the GCC.
Ehsan’s banking career included 12 years with Citibank/Saudi American Bank (SAMBA) in KSA and the UAE from 1980 to 1991, where he rose to the position of Vice President. He advanced his banking skills in finance, credit and economics through a lengthy and intensive secondment at the Citibank European Training Centre, where he developed the concrete leadership, entrepreneurial and managerial qualities that have successfully informed Ehsan’s professional life since 1980.
After the first phase of his formal banking career, Ehsan spent 8 years as the Chief Executive of an entrepreneurial business venture (1993-2001). This information and research-based venture culminated in the creation of the first global forum on Islamic Banking & Finance, developed jointly with the Central Bank of Bahrain, as well as additional high profile forums in association with key regularity authorities throughout the GCC.
In December 2001 Ehsan assumed the role of Area Director for First Gulf Bank where he was responsible for the Corporate Banking Group in the Northern Emirates and the UAE Corporate Restructuring Unit.
In May 2005 Ehsan accepted a challenging position with NBQ. Reporting directly to the MD he led the overall corporate, retail & investment strategy as well as the daily activities that ensured the effective transformation of this bank.
In May 2007 Ehsan was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Omniyat Holdings where his responsibilities include setting strategy & objectives, human resources & administration, strategic partnerships, policies/procedures & systems and finance across the group.
Ehsan obtained his academic credentials in the USA where he completed a BA in Business Administration and an MA in International Relations.
Ehsan’s intellectual interests cover a broad range of global and regional current affairs, shaping his understanding of economic and political forces influencing the Middle East.
