Global banking group Citi has announced the appointment of Omar Hafeez as the new head of its North Africa, Levant, and Central Asia operations. The move comes after a reorganization of the company’s MENA region, and Hafeez’s transfer from Japan, where he served as head of the corporate banking business, the third largest for Citi worldwide.
Based in Dubai, Hafeez will oversee Citi’s operations in a sub-cluster consisting of Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Israel. With over 20 years of experience in the banking industry, Hafeez is expected to bring his expertise in corporate banking and international finance to further expand Citi’s footprint in the region.
In a statement, Citi’s CEO for the Middle East and North Africa region, Elissar Farah Antonios, expressed confidence in Hafeez’s leadership abilities and said, “We are excited to have Omar lead our North Africa, Levant and Central Asia operations, a strategically important sub-cluster for Citi in the MENA region. His deep knowledge of the industry and proven track record in delivering results will be invaluable as we continue to drive growth and innovation across the region.”
Hafeez’s appointment comes amid growing opportunities and challenges in the region’s financial landscape, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing geopolitical tensions. With his extensive experience and understanding of the region, Hafeez is expected to play a key role in steering Citi through these complexities and maintaining its position as a leading player in the MENA banking sector.
