Dr. Ateeq has over 25 years’ experience in banking, finance, auditing and accounting. Prior to joining VCBank he was Executive Director of Banking Supervision at the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), where he was responsible for the licensing, inspection and supervision of financial institutions, ensuring that all banks and financial institutions, either operating or incorporated in Bahrain, complied with promulgated laws and regulations. Before joining the CBB, he was Assistant Professor at the University of Bahrain. In addition, through his diversified exposure, Dr. Ateeq served in senior posts with a number of reputable firms. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Accounting from the UK.

Prior to joining VCBank, Mrs. Najwa Muhanna held a senior management position with Bahrain Petroleum Company - Bapco (formerly the Bahrain National Oil Company). She was responsible for Reporting & Profit Analysis, Cost & Budget and International Sales. Also at Bapco, she was a co-leader of the Strategic and Business Planning Project, and a key contributor to various major projects and activities related to the merger process. Mrs. Mohanna is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from the Oregon State Board of Accountancy, USA.

Mr. Ahmed Sultan is the Director of Treasury. He has over 14 years of extensive experience in Treasury and Investment activities from working with several leading financial institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Prior to joining VCBank, Mr. Sultan was Head of Investments in the Treasury and Investment Services Division at Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK). Previously, he worked in the Treasury and Investment departments at National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) and TAIB Bank.

Mr. Sultan holds a B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Bahrain and he is a graduate of the Gulf Executive Development Program (GEDP) from Darden School of Business (Virginia, USA) which is sponsored by the Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance (BIBF).

Mr. Abdulla Mohammed Redha Kandi is a Director, Head of IT and Shariah Reviewer of Venture Capital Bank. He holds this position in both fields as he holds a License degree in Al Hadeeth Al Shaif and Islamic Studies from The Islamic University of Al Madinah Al Monawara and Advance Certificates in IT from several reputable institutes from the United States. His previous experience in the IT was with Kuwait Finance House and Al Amin Bank. Before that he held the position of a Researcher in Islamic Studies with the Ministry of Justice and Islamic affairs.

Mr. Murad’s experience spans over 20 year. Prior to joining VCBank, he was a manager in the Operations department at Kuwait Finance House, Bahrain for a period of 6 years, where he participated in establishing the operations at the early stage of the bank. Prior to this, he worked with Arab Bank PLC Bahrain for 14 years as an Assistant Manager at Treasury Back Office and Swift Department.

Mr. Murad holds a Business Studies Diploma and currently enrolled in an MBA program.

Mr. Hisham Abu Alfateh has 10 years of media experience where he worked as a part-time TV Presenter in Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation. Before joining Venture Capital Bank, Hisham was the Head of Corporate Communications and President & Chief Executive Office in Gulf Air. Previously he worked with Promoseven Group, Ahli United Bank and Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, which made him accumulate a diversified experience in Banking, Sales and Marketing (both general and aviation).

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from University of Bahrain and is currently doing his Master in Business Administration from the University of Sunderland, United Kingdom.

Mr. Jomy Aricatt has more than 19 years of experience in the areas of accounting, auditing and compliance mainly in the financial services and industrial sectors. Prior to joining VC Bank, Mr. Aricatt was with Societe Generale Asset Management Bahrain as the Head of Finance and Compliance. He is a Chartered Accountant (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) and holds a first grade bachelors degree in Commerce from the University of Calicut, India.

Mr. Jomy Aricatt joined VCBank as a Principal - Financial Control

Mr. Faisal Al Abbasi is the Chief Investment Officer of the Private Equity & Financial Advisory Division, focusing on sourcing, negotiating and structuring private equity investments. Mr. Al Abbasi has gained extensive experience in private equity and investment banking from working with several leading financial institutions in the Middle East. Prior to joining VCBank, he was a senior member of the Middle East Private Equity team at Unicorn Investment Bank (UIB). Previously, he worked in the direct investment group at Kuwait Finance House Bahrain (KFH), and the investment department of Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK). Mr. Al-Abbasi holds a B.Sc. degree in Accounting from the University of Bahrain.

Mr. Sohail Malik is a Director in the Private Equity & Financial Advisory Division. He has over 12 years of experience in providing advisory and assurance services to the finance, private equity, corporate and investment banking industries in the Middle East and the UK. Prior to joining VCBank, he was an Executive Manager in Ernst & Young (E&Y), in charge of Bahrain’s Business Risk Services Group where he helped enhance the operational, risk and corporate governance frameworks of several leading financial institutions and corporations operating in the Middle East, UK and USA.

A member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the UK, and holder of the Certified Information Systems Auditor, USA qualification, Mr. Malik also possesses a Bachelor of Accounting & Finance degree from the University of Wales, UK.

Mr. Jose Paul Martin is a Director in the Private Equity & Financial Advisory Division. He is responsible for deal origination, evaluation, due diligence and post acquisition monitoring. Mr. Martin has over seven years of experience covering areas of strategy and business development, primarily in the Middle East and Asia Pacific region.

Prior to joining VCBank, he was with the big five audit and consulting firms such as BDO, Ernst & Young and erstwhile Arthur Andersen. During his tenure as a Management Consultant, he focused on advising clients on strategy, growth and organization development for a variety of industries such as oil and gas, contracting and public procurement, construction, private equity, hospitality, healthcare, information technology and shared services. This focus has allowed him to acquire a wide range of professional experience whilst specializing in business plan development and business model evaluation, feasibilities and review of financial projections as well as company valuation. Mr. Martin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Kerala, as well as a Masters in Business Administration in Finance from ICFAI Business School.

Mr. Mahmood Zainal is a Principal in the Private Equity & Financial Advisory Division. He is responsible for deal origination, evaluation, due diligence and post acquisition monitoring. Mr. Zainal has over 5 years experience in investment and commercial banking. Prior to joining VCBank, he was a Senior Supervisor of the Investment team at Kuwait Finance House, Bahrain (KFH). During his tenure at KFH, he gained knowledge in structuring private equity and real estate investments, conducting and preparing due diligence reports, and analyzing and assessing potential investment opportunities. Mr. Zainal holds a Bachelors of Commerce from John Molson School of Business, Concordia University Montreal, Canada. Mr. Zainal is also a CFA level II candidate.

Mr. Biju Menon is a Principal in the Venture Capital & Business Development division. He is responsible for deal origination, evaluation, due diligence and post acquisition monitoring.

He has around five years of experience in investment research and managing portfolios for listed and unlisted equity. Prior to joining VC Bank, He was responsible for the public equity portfolio of Bahrain Middle East Bank. He started his career with JM Morgan Stanley India and worked as a buy side analyst for three years. He has also worked with Emerging Markets Group, London & Mumbai, a boutique investment bank where he was responsible for structuring private equity deals for principal investment firms and private equity funds.

Biju is a CFA charter holder since 2006. He also has a Master in Accounting from Mumbai University and a Master in Business Administration with specialization in Finance from Saint Mary’s University, Canada.

Mr. Saad Alkhan is a Acting Chief Investment Officer in the Real Estate Division. He has over 10 years experience in the field of Islamic Banking. Prior to joining VCBank, Mr. Alkhan was a member of AlBaraka Islamic Bank’s (AIB) Senior Management team. He was the Senior Manager of Investments & Marketing. During his time at AIB, he gained knowledge in Islamic investment banking activities and was successful in establishing a broad network of relationships particularly in the UAE. Mr. Alkhan holds a B.Sc. degree in Accounting from the University of Bahrain.

Mr. Bagaeen is currently holding the position of a Director in the Real Estate Division of VCBank, mainly concentrating on post acquisition and the project management of the bank’s real estate developments.

Mr. Bagaeen has worked in the construction industry for 17 years on projects in Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, with International Construction and Project Management Firms on projects covering all sectors of the industry, hotel and leisure, residential, retail, education and industrial. Prior to joining VCBank, he held the position of Assistant Vice President and Operations Manger of Projacs International, Bahrain Operations, where he was involved in formulating the short and long-term strategy for the company, ensuring the smooth execution of operational matters in Bahrain. Mr. Bagaeen holds a BS.C in Civil Engineering with a major in Project Management and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Mr. Ahmed Al-Abbasi is a Director in the Real Estate Division with over eight years of experience in direct and indirect investments. Prior to joining VCBank, Mr. Al-Abbasi was the Group Head of Direct Investments and a member of the Executive Management of Bahrain National Holding. He was previously responsible for managing a multi-million dollar portfolio of equities, bonds and other hybrid securities. Mr. Al-Abbasi has worked on several acquisitions and start-up transactions, mainly in the Middle East.

Mr. Al-Abbasi holds a B.Sc. in Business Management from the University of Bahrain and a Masters degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Exeter in the UK. He is also a Certified Financial Risk Manager and a Fellow Member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals in the USA.

Mr. Abdulla Nooruddin is a Principal in the Real Estate Division. Prior to joining VCBank, Mr. Nooruddin worked with Gulf International Bank (GIB), Bahrain as an Assistant Manager within the Bank’s Treasury Department.

Mr. Nooruddin has a Bachelors degree in Economics from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, and a Masters Degree with Commendation in Business Information Technology (BIT) from Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK. Mr. Nooruddin is also a CFA level II candidate.

Prior to joining VCBank, Mr. Al-Bastaki was Head of the Islamic Banking Division at BankMuscat International, with a mandate to establish an Islamic banking subsidiary. Before that, he was with JPMorgan Chase Bank for 6 years where he was Head of the GCC Client Management, responsible for the bank’s business with financial institutions, government agencies, and large corporates. Previously, he spent 5 years with Arab Banking Corporation as a Client Relationship Manager in the Islamic banking subsidiary, covering various regions including the GCC, Far East and the Americas, and responsible for syndication finance, and originating and structuring deals. He started his banking career with BBK where he spent more than 7 years in the field of corporate and project finance, investment, and financial institutions. Mr. Al-Bastaki holds a Post Graduate Diploma and a B.Sc. In Business Administration from the University of Bahrain.

Mr. Jehad Qamber is a Director in the Investment Placement Division. Prior to joining VCBank, Mr. Qamber worked for the General Organisation for Youth & Sport (GOYS), and Civil Service Bureau (CSB), in the Kingdom of Bahrain. At GOYS, he held the positions of Director, HR & Finance, and Acting Director, Technical Affairs; while at the CSB, he was Head of Quality Systems Development. During this time, he successfully established a broad network of relationships with businessmen and companies across Bahrain. Mr. Qamber holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Glamorgan, UK.

Mr. Mohamed Abdullah is a Director in the Investment Placement Division, and was previously Head of Corporate Communications at VCBank, having completed the introduction of the Bank’s brand into the market. Prior to that, he worked for ABQ ZAWYA as a Sales and Marketing Manager – Bahrain, Qatar and Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Mr. Abdullah was also Sales and Customer Support Manager at Money Line Telerate for Bahrain/Qatar, and previously, was the Sales Manager at Reuters in Bahrain/Riyadh where he was responsible for prospecting and identifying new clients for the organization while maintaining existing customers. Prior to joining the financial industry, Mr. Abdullah was a first officer (Pilot) with Gulf Air on the Boeing 737 fleet.

Mr. Abdulla holds an Aviation degree for commercial pilot from the University of North Dakota, USA.

Mr. Mohamed Al Shaikh is a Director in the Investment Placement Division. Prior to joining VCBank, Mr. Al Shaikh was the Placement Senior Supervisor for the Saudi Market in Kuwait Finance House, Bahrain. Previously, he was with Taib Bank (Bahrain) in the Private Banking Department which involved marketing a broad range of investment products, mainly concentrating on the market of Saudi Arabia. He also worked with Al Shaikh Group as a Sales Manager. Mr. Al Shaikh holds a BS in Business Administration majoring in Finance and Economics from the University of South Florida.

Mr. Al Hussaini is a Director in the Investment Placement Division. He has over 22 years of Sales and Marketing experience in the GCC Market. Prior to joining VCBank, he was the Director of Sales and Marketing at the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel. Previously, he held the position of Finance and Credit Manager when he was rewarded as the Best Credit Manager in the Chain of Hotels (International) of Forte Grand and Meridian. His experience with Radisson and continuous participation in international and regional exhibitions gave him great exposure in his field. Mr. Al Hussaini holds a Diploma in Sales Management Success, Business Planning, Business Management and Finance.

Mr. Hisham Abu Alfateh has 10 years of media experience where he worked as a part-time TV Presenter in Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation. Before joining Venture Capital Bank, Hisham was the Head of Corporate Communications and President & Chief Executive Office in Gulf Air. Previously he worked with Promoseven Group, Ahli United Bank and Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, which made him accumulate a diversified experience in Banking, Sales and Marketing (both general and aviation).

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from University of Bahrain and is currently doing his Master in Business Administration from the University of Sunderland, United Kingdom.

Mrs. Kubra Mirza is a Director – Head of Compliance of VCBank, with over ten years of experience in Investment Banking and regulations. Mrs. Mirza has a wide experience in regulation and investment banking. Prior to joining VCBank, Mrs. Mirza was the Head of Policy and member of the Regulatory Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Bahrain. Mrs. Mirza holds an Executive MBA from the University of Bahrain, and is a Certified Compliance Officer and a Member of the American Academy of Financial Management.

Mr. Tat Thong Tan has 17 years of banking and financial sector experience of which 14 years were in the areas of Risk Management and Compliance. Prior to joining VC Bank, Tat Thong was Senior Vice President and Head of Risk Management in BMB Investment Bank Bahrain. Before coming to the GCC, Tat Thong served in the Far East as Chief Operating Officer of an investment management company, as well as heading up the Risk Management and Compliance departments at an insurance company and a banking institution. His career began in research, product development and Treasury. He obtained the FRM designation - as accorded by the Global Association of Risk Professionals - in 2003 and holds a Certified Financial Planner license. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Mathematics and Economics from the UK.

Tat Thong joined VC Bank Bahrain as Director, Head of Risk Management.

Prior to joining VCBank, Mrs. Shaima Akbari spent three years at the National Audit Court as a Performance Audit Manager with substantial involvement in all audit phases: planning, field work, and reporting by carrying out examinations into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which any government department or other relevant body has used its resources in discharging its functions. Ms. Akbari has also worked as an auditor for Ernst & Young where her main responsibilities included several audit assignments representing several sizes and types of industries and businesses in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Ms. Akbari holds a CPA from the State of Michigan - USA and a Bachelors degree in Accounting from University of Bahrain

Mr. Shenoy has around 20 years experience in the field of business systems and controls, auditing, accounting, information systems consulting and risk advisory services primarily in the financial services sector. Prior to joining VC Bank, he was Head of Internal Audit in BMI Bank in Bahrain. He has previously worked in Arab Bank Plc, KPMG Bahrain and Ernst & Young India.

Mr. Shenoy is a Chartered Accountant (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) and an Information Systems Auditor (Information Systems and Controls Association, USA). He also holds a bachelors Degree in Commerce from the University of Kerala, India.