Adel El-Labban, Group CEO & Managing Director of Ahli United Bank, was named ‘‘Arab Banker of the Year 2009”, the industry’s most prestigious regional award, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of banking and finance in the Arab world.
The award was formally presented to Mr. El-Labban by the Chairman of Union of Arab Banks, Mr. Adnan Ahmed Yousif, during the annual International Arab Banking Summit, held this year in Istanbul, Turkey on 17-18 June 2009. The award ceremony gathered governors of central banks, eminent dignitaries and top bankers from across the Arab world.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Adnan Yousif said: “This year’s award celebrates the distinguished career of a distinguished banker and one of the most respected names in Arab banking. El-Labban has earned regional standing and international praise for his groundbreaking efforts in raising the bar for excellence and innovation in regional banking and for his influential role in piloting some of the most successful banks in the Middle East”.
“A man of both vision and action, El-Labban has been an active financial bridges builder ever since he helped found Ahli United Bank. His M&A ‘Connecting for Growth’ strategy helped steer the transformation of AUB into a full fledged regional banking network spanning key markets across the Middle East and beyond, further strengthening financial ties between regional markets and with international markets at large. El-Labban’s pioneering role was no less in evidence a decade earlier when he led what was to become Egypt’s largest private bank and its most profitable financial institution. He was widely credited as the architect of the move that set in motion the privatization process and structural reforms of Egyptian banking”, Mr. Yousif added.
Accepting the award, Mr. El-Labban said: “It is both humbling and gratifying to receive this esteemed recognition by esteemed peers, an honour I share with fellow colleagues, from days past and current, whom I had the distinct privilege to work with at institutions where I was honoured to serve. To these colleagues I remain immensely grateful for their unstinting support all through challenging and eventful times. This award is a collective recognition of their contribution and achievements over the years”.
“This award is equally a tribute to those of us who always strive to do the job that is entrusted to us to the maximum of our abilities, as we continually seek to meet the challenge of building an Arab banking industry which is good enough, big enough and innovative enough to lead the way, not only in meeting our customers’ need for products and services that are at par with the best anywhere, but also in adding real economic value by funding growth where it is regionally needed today and in so doing contributing to the prosperity of tomorrow”, added Mr. El-Labban.
The ‘Arab Banker of the Year’ is widely recognised as the industry’s highest bestowed honour. Nomination and selection is carried out by a select committee of high powered banking executives. Criteria for the award include contribution to the development of banking in the Arab world, an established track record of personal and institutional achievements and the fostering of inter-regional financial and economic integration.
