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Kuala Lumpur, 9 February 2010. Kuwait Finance House, a leading international Islamic financial institution has appointed Puan Jamelah Jamaluddin as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of its wholly-owned Malaysian subsidiary, Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad (KFHMB). The appointment will take effect from 9 February 2010.
An experienced Islamic banker, having been in the financial industry for 25 years, Puan Jamelah will play a pivotal role as the new CEO of the Bank, in delivering the strategy for the Bank’s operations in the country and in the Asia-Pacific region.
Puan Jamelah rejoins KFHMB from RHB Islamic Bank Berhad, where she served as the Managing Director. She was in the pioneer team of KFHMB in 2005 as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and also headed the Corporate & Investment banking division (CIB). She was responsible for the day-to-day running of CIB which included Treasury, Private Equity, Real Estate, International business and the Research unit among others.
Puan Jamelah was in charge for driving business opportunities within the Asian region for KFHMB, and her main responsibilities included sourcing investors, to subscribe to Islamic capital market instruments for KFHMB’s investments around the world, as well as looking after the provision of financial advisory and structuring services to clients. She also spearheaded the execution of deals with the aim of achieving financial close, and led the treasury management and operations for the Bank.
Prior to her new appointment, Puan Jamelah as the former Managing Director of RHB Islamic Bank Berhad since 2007, had led the operations of the Bank and the overall strategy for RHB Banking Group, in relation to the Group's Islamic business. She had established the Islamic Investment banking division and set-up 12 RHB Islamic branches throughout Malaysia. Her other key achievements include the establishment of the Az-Zahra unit- the only Islamic retail banking branch dedicated to women, and the introduction of Islamic debit cards and credit cards for RHB Islamic Bank.
Her professional history includes assignments as Chief Operating Officer of RHB Sakura Merchant Bankers Berhad and several well-acclaimed financial institutions in the region, namely Macquarie Malaysia (M) Sdn Bhd and Perwira Affin Merchant Bankers Berhad. She holds a Masters in Business Administration in Finance from Central Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Western Michigan University, United States of America.
Puan Jamelah holds the distinction for being the first woman to head a KFH bank as CEO, representing a special milestone and significant breakthrough within the KFH Group.
In making the announcement, the Chairman of KFHMB, Mr Shaheen Alghanem said, “Puan Jamelah’s extensive in-depth knowledge and exposure in both Islamic and conventional banking, coupled with her strong business relationships and her demonstrated ability to understand business dynamics, have made her the best person for the position of Chief Executive Officer for KFHMB. Her proven track record and experience in successfully establishing innovative financial solutions, will not only accelerate, but will grow the Bank’s business further, and propel KFHMB to the next level, to be the leading and preferred regional Islamic bank.”
Mr. Shaheen added, “I am confident that Puan Jamelah together with the support of a high calibre management team, will lead KFHMB to even greater successes. As the regional headquarters of KFH in the Asia-Pacific region, our presence in Malaysia will continue to play an important role, in facilitating two-way investments and trade between the country and the Middle East.”
"I am honoured to have this opportunity and to be entrusted to lead Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad in my new capacity. I thank the Ministry of Finance, Bank Negara Malaysia, as well as the Chairman of KFHMB for their trust and confidence in me. Having been a part of Malaysia’s first foreign Islamic bank at a very early stage, has given me an insight to witness its growth. With the right values and culture, and a dedicated management team, these will provide me a clear vision, from which to launch the next phase of development for KFHMB,” said Puan Jamelah.
“Kuwait Finance House has a strong focus on operational excellence. My goal is build on the core capabilities and Islamic values of the Bank, to continue delivering cutting-edge Shariah-based solutions to all our customers,” added Puan Jamelah.
An experienced Islamic banker, having been in the financial industry for 25 years, Puan Jamelah will play a pivotal role as the new CEO of the Bank, in delivering the strategy for the Bank’s operations in the country and in the Asia-Pacific region.
Puan Jamelah rejoins KFHMB from RHB Islamic Bank Berhad, where she served as the Managing Director. She was in the pioneer team of KFHMB in 2005 as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and also headed the Corporate & Investment banking division (CIB). She was responsible for the day-to-day running of CIB which included Treasury, Private Equity, Real Estate, International business and the Research unit among others.
Puan Jamelah was in charge for driving business opportunities within the Asian region for KFHMB, and her main responsibilities included sourcing investors, to subscribe to Islamic capital market instruments for KFHMB’s investments around the world, as well as looking after the provision of financial advisory and structuring services to clients. She also spearheaded the execution of deals with the aim of achieving financial close, and led the treasury management and operations for the Bank.
Prior to her new appointment, Puan Jamelah as the former Managing Director of RHB Islamic Bank Berhad since 2007, had led the operations of the Bank and the overall strategy for RHB Banking Group, in relation to the Group's Islamic business. She had established the Islamic Investment banking division and set-up 12 RHB Islamic branches throughout Malaysia. Her other key achievements include the establishment of the Az-Zahra unit- the only Islamic retail banking branch dedicated to women, and the introduction of Islamic debit cards and credit cards for RHB Islamic Bank.
Her professional history includes assignments as Chief Operating Officer of RHB Sakura Merchant Bankers Berhad and several well-acclaimed financial institutions in the region, namely Macquarie Malaysia (M) Sdn Bhd and Perwira Affin Merchant Bankers Berhad. She holds a Masters in Business Administration in Finance from Central Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Western Michigan University, United States of America.
Puan Jamelah holds the distinction for being the first woman to head a KFH bank as CEO, representing a special milestone and significant breakthrough within the KFH Group.
In making the announcement, the Chairman of KFHMB, Mr Shaheen Alghanem said, “Puan Jamelah’s extensive in-depth knowledge and exposure in both Islamic and conventional banking, coupled with her strong business relationships and her demonstrated ability to understand business dynamics, have made her the best person for the position of Chief Executive Officer for KFHMB. Her proven track record and experience in successfully establishing innovative financial solutions, will not only accelerate, but will grow the Bank’s business further, and propel KFHMB to the next level, to be the leading and preferred regional Islamic bank.”
Mr. Shaheen added, “I am confident that Puan Jamelah together with the support of a high calibre management team, will lead KFHMB to even greater successes. As the regional headquarters of KFH in the Asia-Pacific region, our presence in Malaysia will continue to play an important role, in facilitating two-way investments and trade between the country and the Middle East.”
"I am honoured to have this opportunity and to be entrusted to lead Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad in my new capacity. I thank the Ministry of Finance, Bank Negara Malaysia, as well as the Chairman of KFHMB for their trust and confidence in me. Having been a part of Malaysia’s first foreign Islamic bank at a very early stage, has given me an insight to witness its growth. With the right values and culture, and a dedicated management team, these will provide me a clear vision, from which to launch the next phase of development for KFHMB,” said Puan Jamelah.
“Kuwait Finance House has a strong focus on operational excellence. My goal is build on the core capabilities and Islamic values of the Bank, to continue delivering cutting-edge Shariah-based solutions to all our customers,” added Puan Jamelah.