Kuwait Finance House (KFH) celebrated the graduation of a new cohort of the Leadership Excellence program in partnership with Headspring. The program was organized in Kuwait and in Madrid, Spain with a joint venture between IE Business School and the Financial Times, covering 50 leaders from KFH Group and its group banks and subsidiaries.

In his speech in the graduation ceremony, KFH Executive Manager Talent Management, Mohammed Al-Musalam expressed his honor for the new Leadership Excellence graduates, who have been prepared to meet their ambitions, enabling them to continue KFH’s successful journey.

He stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to solidify expertise and professional competencies by investing in developing leaders and building a culture of leadership that contributes to improving performance in partnership with top-tier universities and training institutions worldwide.

Al-Musalam added that these types of qualitative and tailored training programs have become a part of the talent development strategy in order to empower talents and future leaders at KFH. Additionally, these programs provide participants with the necessary learning resources and exceptional capabilities to make a difference, keep pace with KFH's growth, and maintain its leading standing as the largest bank in Kuwait and the world's leading Islamic financial institution.

He highlighted the significance of sharing the knowledge and experience gained during the program with teammates and colleagues at KFH, noting that this leads to various benefits, paves the way for creative ideas, and enhances employee engagement.

He went on to say that the talent development team spares no effort to invest in enhancing employees' career paths, evaluate its effectiveness, and update it to expand the knowledge of KFH leaders.

Al-Musalam indicated that the Leadership Excellence Program has been tailored based on the latest trends in the banking industry and leadership programs, capitalizing on numerous extensive learning sessions that keep pace with KFH Group as a leading banking group. It is the flagship program designed to equip KFH Leaders with the tools and latest thinking to enhance their effectiveness as Leaders.

The program also embodies various traits such as interdependence, resilience and inclusiveness, enabling participants to collaborate and concurrently address challenges by working together.

It is worth noting that all KFH Group leaders went through an intricate selection process to ensure KFH talent pipeline is further supported with this new cohort.

Antonio Montes, Chief Executive Officer at Headspring, said: "Headspring is proud to partner with Kuwait Finance House to design and deliver the Leadership Excellence Program, a fully customized learning experience that underscores KFH's dedication to investing in its future. By upskilling and developing its current and future leaders, KFH not only ensures its continued success but also futureproofs its position as a market leader. Together, we build resilience, inclusiveness, and interdependence, empowering KFH to maintain its leading standing as a powerhouse in the Islamic Finance sector."

He added: “We work with many organisations in the GCC and are committed to support their vision of driving transformation and responsible leadership. Our partnership with Kuwait Finance House stands as a testament of our shared commitment to positive change in the region.”

Bassém Banna, Headspring’s Vice President of Corporate Partnerships in the Middle East & Affrica, added: In the Middle East and in particular the Gulf region, we are witnessing a structural and cultural shift in the financial sector where leaders are realising the importance of preparing their future workforce, building future skills and training, retaining and attracting top talent to foster innovative cultures. With KFH, our partnership is strategic, and we are committed to supporting the group in maintaining its leadership position and navigating the uncertainties of the future. In this programme, we have tailored the design and the methodology to align with KFH values and the latest leadership trends in the banking industry, ensuring KFH leaders are equipped with cutting-edge tools and insights to grow as individuals and as business leaders."