Manama: The Board of Directors of Al Baraka Banking Group BSC (BSC), the leading Islamic banking group based in Bahrain, has announced the appointment of Abdullah Saleh Kamel as Chairman of the Board, to succeed the late Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel, the Founder of the Group who passed away last month. The Central Bank of Bahrain has approved this appointment.
Abdullah Saleh Kamel is considered to be one of the first personalities to have been part of the establishment of the Group, and he had served as Vice Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Executive Committee for several years, and has been amongst those who have actively contributed to the development of the Group’s diversification and expansion strategies and supervised their implementation throughout these past years.
Abdullah Saleh Kamel is credited with many of the Group’s achievements alongside his father, the Group’s Founder, may God have mercy on him.
Abdullah Saleh Kamel is the Chairman of Aseer Company, Chairman of Amlak Real Estate Development and Finance, Chairman of Okaz Press and Publishing Corporation and Vice-Chairman of King Abdullah Economic City Emaar.
He has previously held various executive positions at Dallah Al Baraka Group, culminating in the position of Vice President for Business Sector until 1999. He has over 30 years’ experience in key business, investment and banking positions.
“I extend my thanks and appreciation to my brothers in the Group’s Board of Directors, who have honored me to Chair the Group’s Board of Directors, the position in which I believe I have a great challenge, because I succeed the Founder and Captain of the Group and the leader of its march, our father and the father of all, Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel, may God have mercy on him, who was known to all as the pioneer of modern Islamic banking and the founder of its renaissance in many Islamic countries. We have pledged ourselves to stick to his principles, approach, and follow the noble values in continuing the successes and excellence of the Group. We also express our thanks and appreciation to all official and regulatory authorities in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the countries where our units operate, and to all our partners and employees, who, thanks to their cooperation, we will continue to march, God willing,” Abdullah Saleh Kamel on his appointment said.
“While we feel the enormity of our loss with the departure of the Group’s Founder, Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel, may God have mercy on him, we would like to express our gratitude for the acceptance of Abdullah Saleh Kamel to assume the Chairmanship of the Group’s Board of Directors, with the blessing of the board of directors and the supervisory authorities in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This acceptance provides a sure guarantee that the Group will continue with the same approach its late Founder chose for it. Abdullah is also one of the founders of the Group, which he has led with all dedication and sincerity in its path throughout these years, and we are expressing our full confidence in his wisdom in leading the Group that will continue to pioneer the Islamic banking industry regionally and internationally,” Adnan Ahmed Yousif, President and Chief Executive of Al Baraka Banking Group, while welcoming the new Chairman, said.
