^{Corporate Governance} Executive Management

Jamal Al Awadhi brings over 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles focused on strategic management to drive growth and increase revenue. Before joining Al Hilal Bank, he held several leadership positions across various economic sectors, including financial services, media, information technology and aviation.

He is an INSEAD Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) candidate, holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Suffolk University in the United States.

Aref Al-Ramli joined Al Hilal Bank as Chief Digital Officer in 2022, bringing over 21 years of leadership experience in the finance industry. He is responsible for driving the development and implementation of Al Hilal’s digital bank initiative. This includes formulating strategy, overseeing product roadmaps, and designing innovative customer experiences.

Omar Bouhafs joined Al Hilal Bank in 2024 as the Acting Head of Finance, bringing with him over 16 years of experience in leading financial functions. A certified Chartered Accountant (CAANZ), Omar has a diverse background, having held various key roles in Kuwait’s financial sector and the 'Big Four' accounting firms. His extensive expertise, financial acumen, and strategic insights are invaluable assets to Al Hilal Bank.

Dr. Mohamed Obadah Adi is Head of Shari’ah Supervision at Al Hilal Bank. With almost 23 years of experience in the field of Shariah and banking, Dr. Mohamed is responsible for monitoring and supervising activities to maintain Shariah compliance and assist in developing and creating innovative Shariah investment and financing products and services. Before joining the Bank, Dr. Mohamed was a Supervisor of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language at ADNOC’s Technical Institute. Dr. Mohamed holds a Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Islamic Studies from the University of Wales in the UK and Master’s Degree from Al Azhar University’s Faculty of Islamic and Arabic Studies. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Islamic Studies from United Arab Emirates University.

Hassan Al Khalsan is the Head of Distribution at Al Hilal Bank with 22 years of expertise in personal banking. As Head of Distribution at Al Hilal Bank, he drives strategies, ensures efficient customer service, and explores investment opportunities. Hassan uses his strong management skills to lead teams and develop talent within the organisation by providing ongoing feedback and opportunities. He plays a crucial role in supporting business growth and delivering outstanding results.

Esmaeel Alhashmi was appointed as Chief Audit Officer of Al Hilal Bank in 2025.

He is an accomplished audit executive with over 20 years of experience across the banking and energy sectors. At Al Hilal Bank, Esmaeel leads the internal audit function, driving a risk-based assurance approach to reinforce governance, regulatory compliance and operational resilience.

Before joining Al Hilal Bank, Esmaeel held senior roles at ADCB, First Gulf Bank and Chase Bank, gaining deep expertise in financial analysis, risk management and internal audit. He also led the internal audit function at ACWA Power, where he strengthened governance frameworks and operational controls across international operations.

Esmaeel holds a degree from The Ohio State University, USA, and has obtained multiple professional certifications in risk and internal audit.

Inter-Group directorships: No current inter-Group directorships

External appointments: No current external directorships

Husam Sammur was appointed as Acting Head of Treasury at Al Hilal Bank in 2024.

With a career spanning more than 25 years in Treasury Banking, Husam brings extensive expertise across Global Markets, Foreign Exchange, Money Markets, Capital Markets and Fixed Income, as well as Derivatives. His experience also covers balance sheet management, financial performance forecasting, and providing treasury solutions to support a wide range of business units.

At Al Hilal Bank, Husam is responsible for developing and implementing treasury strategies that enhance efficiency, optimise balance sheet deployment, and deliver sustainable, risk-adjusted returns. Prior to joining Al Hilal Bank, he held senior roles with Arab Bank, Ahli Bank and Bank of Jordan.

Inter-Group directorships: No current inter-Group directorships

External appointments: No current external directorships

Ashok Luharuwalla was appointed as Chief Operating Officer of Al Hilal Bank in June 2025. With over three decades of local and international experience in banking operations and retail banking across the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Ashok brings extensive knowledge and leadership expertise to his role. He has been with the ADCB Group since 2011, serving in key positions including Advisor to the Group Chief Operating Officer and as Head of Group Operations and General Manager – ITMAM.

Ashok’s leadership and contribution to the industry have been consistently recognised, notably through his tenure as Chairman of the Operations Committee of the UAE Banking Federation, a position he held until recently. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM) from XLRI, Jamshedpur, India, and an Executive Leadership certification from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.

Inter-Group directorships: No current inter-Group directorships

External appointments: No current external directorships

Damon McMenamin was appointed as Chief Compliance Officer of Al Hilal Bank in 2025. With a career spanning over 27 years in the finance industry, Damon is a seasoned compliance and risk management leader with deep expertise in regulatory compliance, risk governance, and anti-financial crime strategies. He brings a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory landscape governing Islamic banking in the UAE, coupled with extensive experience across consumer, business, and institutional banking in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Australia. In his role at Al Hilal Bank, Damon is responsible for developing and implementing robust compliance programmes that align with regulatory standards, conducting reviews to ensure best practice in internal policies and procedures, and leveraging technology and analytics to strengthen compliance frameworks. He has a proven track record of delivering digital and data-driven solutions in risk management. Damon’s dedication to ethical banking practices and his proactive approach to risk management contribute to Al Hilal Bank’s standing as a trusted financial institution. Under his leadership, the Bank continues to strengthen its compliance framework, adapting to changes in the regulatory environment, while maintaining its commitment to uphold the highest standards in Shari’ah-compliant banking practices. Damon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Northumbria University, UK.

Inter-Group directorships: No current inter-Group directorships

External appointments: No current external directorships

Nikola brings over 20 years of international experience across the GCC, Asia, and Australia with a strong background in investment banking, corporate and institutional banking, and financial institutions. He has held senior risk leadership roles most recently serving as CRO at Aafaq Islamic finance and previously leading credit and portfolio risk, governance, and analytics at National Bank of Fujairah. He has extensive expertise in enterprise risk management, regulatory engagement, credit and portfolio risk, and governance frameworks. Nikola has a proven track record in strengthening risk culture, leading regulatory interactions, enhancing early warning systems, and delivering robust risk oversight at board and executive levels.

No current inter-Group directorships

External appointments: No current external directorships

Suhail Ahmad is appointed as Head of Human Resources for Al Hilal Bank. With over 16 years of experience in human resources, employee relations, and organisational governance across major UAE institutions, Suhail has built a strong reputation for strengthening HR infrastructure, advancing compliance, and driving people-centric transformation. In his current role, Suhail oversees Al Hilal Bank’s HR strategy and operations, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives while fostering a culture of engagement and operational excellence. His responsibilities include leading initiatives that enhance workforce resilience, optimise processes, and support Al Hilal Bank’s HR agenda. Prior to his appointment, Suhail served as Head of Employee Relations for the ADCB Group, where he led large workforce optimisation projects, and implemented grievance governance and disciplinary frameworks. He played a strategic role in introducing automation to improve process efficiency and establishing structured communication platforms that strengthened organisational culture across diverse business units. Suhail holds a Bachelor’s degree in Media and Communications from Middlesex University (Dubai) and a Diploma in Communication Technology from Dubai Men’s College.

Inter-Group directorships: No current inter-Group directorships

External appointments: No current external directorships