Standard Chartered Global Private Bank announces a further expansion of its frontline private banking team in the UAE, including the appointment of a new Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Market Head. This expansion in the Private Bank’s UAE team is part of Standard Chartered’s broader strategy to invest USD 1.5 billion in its Affluent business over the next five years.
Commenting on the appointments, Vinay Gandhi, Global Head of GSAC and Regional Head of AMEE, Standard Chartered Global Private Bank, said: “The Middle East is growing at an extraordinary pace, with the UAE in particular experiencing rapid growth in wealth creation amongst high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals who increasingly seek bespoke, cross-border financial solutions for wealth preservation, intergenerational transfers and sustainable growth.”
He added: “As one of the Bank’s wealth hubs, the UAE plays a pivotal role in Standard Chartered’s global strategy. We continue to actively invest in our talent pool, provide tailor-made client solutions and diversify our product offerings to meet the needs of our HNW and UHNW clients. This latest expansion of the team, led by Yahya Ismail, reflects our commitment to accelerating the growth of our private banking business, leveraging our wealth capabilities, global network, and deep local expertise to unlock opportunities and help our clients protect, manage, and grow their wealth.”
Latest UAE Appointments
Yahya Ismail joins as Managing Director, Market Head, Europe, Middle East and Africa. He has over 25 years of banking experience across corporate and private banking, having spent the last 20 years in private wealth management at Julius Baer and ABN AMRO.
Laura Haddad joins as Senior Client Partner, Lead, GCC UHNW. She brings over 20 years of experience in wealth management for ultra-high-net-worth clients and families, working with banks including Julius Baer, Credit Agricole, Citibank, Emirates NBD, and the Royal Bank of Canada.
Samia Shahnawaz joins as Executive Director, Relationship Manager, Private Banking. She has over 20 years of banking experience across private and institutional banking, working with banks including Julius Baer, Bank of Singapore, Barclays and Citibank.
Ramla Mansukhani and Lakshmi Menon both rejoin as Relationship Manager, Private Banking and Client Service Manager, Private Banking respectively. They bring with them close to 20 years of diverse banking experience across international banks.
As a leading international wealth manager, Standard Chartered continues investing in its capabilities and leveraging the power of its network to support its clients’ evolving needs. By the end of 2024, the Private Bank announced a 20% expansion to its frontline banking team in the UAE.
