Veteran Bahraini professionals assume office at Gulf Air
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Two seasoned Bahraini professionals, who have been appointed to senior management positions at Gulf Air recently, began their duties. Well known Bahraini lawyer Mr. Nabeel Mohammed Saeed assumed office as the Executive Vice President Corporate and Legal Affairs, while accomplished human resources professional Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Banna took charge as Vice President Human Resources. “We are very pleased to have Mr. Saeed and Mr. Banna on board as members of Gulf Air senior management team and hope to draw upon their vast experience and knowledge to bring in a paradigm shift to Gulf Air’s corporate function and culture,” says Gulf Air Acting President and Chief Executive, Björn Näf. “As we align ourselves with the growth plans of the Kingdom, and as one of the largest employers of the country, it is important for us to strengthen ourselves with solid legal and corporate processes and, a sound HR and training system. I look forward to their significant contribution in taking Gulf Air on the road to success.” Mr. Nabeel Saeed “I am proud to join Gulf Air, which is one of the important pillars of the Kingdom’s economy,” says Mr. Al Saeed. “As Gulf Air is fully owned by Bahrain and moves forward with its restructuring programme, it is our duty to ensure our corporate affairs and relationship with the government are in the right perspective and more importantly, ensure the transition happens as per law. This all whilst ensuring all our legal issues are addressed in the right manner as per the letters of the law.” Mr. Saeed holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Business Administration from Oxford Brookes University, UK. and holds a Master’s Degree in Commercial Law (L.L.M) from the University of Bristol, U.K. He is a licensed lawyer in Bahrain and has been admitted to the Court of Cassation and the Constitutional Court of Bahrain. He has also lectured on Law at the University of Bahrain, the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance and the Qatar Institute for Banking and Finance. Mr. Ahmed Al Banna “I am very delighted to join our national carrier, Gulf Air,” says Al Banna. “HR is seen by many as a back-office role and a cost-function. My approach would be to change this perception and make it a strategic role and a core management function, contributing directly to the organizational development and profitability.” He joins Gulf Air from the Ministry of Labour, where he was Assistant Undersecretary for Training. He has also held senior HR positions at BAPCO, Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mills Company and, Arab Insurance Group (ARIG). A Science graduate from the University of Riyadh, Al Banna has also earned an MBA from the University of Hull, UK. He has also presented many research papers at various international forums on HR and training issues and policies. Al Banna has also served on the Boards of government and non-government organizations such as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bahrain Training Institute, President of the Bahrain Society for Training and Development and a Board Member of the Bahrain Labour Fund. He is also a board member of the International Federation for Training and Development and was the president of the Asian Regional Training and Development Organisation for the year 2005-2006. About Gulf Air The regional, geographic and cultural values that the airline has embraced over more than half a century are still central to defining its brand and service ethos. Today the airline’s network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 40 cities in 26 countries. The fleet comprises 30 aircraft and has the distinct advantage of possessing the strongest network across the Middle East. A new strategy to create a platform for sustained commercial operation has been put in place as part of a two-phased turnaround programme announced in April 2007 by the airline’s new management. Gulf Air’s onboard service caters high quality products and services, including the innovative, unique and award winning Sky Chefs and Sky Nannies. |