Manama: The Bahrain Asset Managers Association (BAMA) announced the appointment of its first board of directors led by Dr. Ahmed Al Jawhary, CEO at J Equity Partners, as Chairman and Munther Al Kooheji, Managing Partner at Alpine Wealth Management, as Vice Chairman.
Joining them on the board are industry veterans Talal Al Zain, CEO MENA and Co-Head Alternative Investments at PineBridge Investments, Ahmed Sultan, CEO at Tadhamon Capital, and Adel Al Mangrou, Deputy CEO at The Family Office Company.
Appointees to the board represent BAMA’s founding member firms and were elected to serve for a three year term. The five-member Board will oversee the activities of the Association and its efforts to help grow and promote the Kingdom’s dynamic asset management industry, which includes both Islamic and conventional financial institutions, specialized in asset management.
“BAMA’s day-to-day activities will be to develop and maintain close working relationships with all relevant industry and related bodies including regulators, decision-makers and legislators, professional development organizations, and regional and global peers. Key among its objectives will be advocating on behalf of members, working to positively influence and shape regulations governing the sector and helping asset managers to enhance operational, professional and ethical standards across the industry to ensure full alignment with global best practices,” BAMA in a statement said.
“On behalf of the founders of the Association, we are delighted to announce our first board of directors. These are industry veterans who have helped pioneer the growth and development of the sector in Bahrain and whose experience and contributions span the regional and international markets. With the support of our founding members and the Central Bank of Bahrain, we have established an organization that aims to play an active role in shaping the future of the asset management industry through collaboration, consultation and the representation of our members on a local, regional and international basis,” Dr. Ahmed Al Jawhary, Chairman of BAMA, said.
The establishment of BAMA was officially announced in May 2014 by the Central Bank of Bahrain, under whose supervision it now operates. It will now commence with the induction of additional member firms with invitations being extended toall investment firms and other financial institutions licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain.
BAMA is also in the process of announcing a calendar of events and activities for the 2015 year including a series of round table sessions with its international and regional affiliates and counterparts and sector specific forums to be hosted by the Association. It will also participate in major banking and financial conferences both in the region and globally in effort to promote the sector, build awareness and effectively introduce and position the organization.