28 August 2016
Gopikrishnan Janakaraja named Chief Information Officer Yousuf M. Sandeela appointed as EVP Treasury Banking

Abu Dhabi - Al Hilal Bank announced today key senior appointment at the leadership team level, to further drive the Bank's success and its future growth plans.

Gopikrishnan Janakaraja will take the helm of Chief Information Officer, bringing a wealth of experience of over 19 years in technology and operations to Al Hilal Bank, and a remarkable track record of spearheading transformation for Fortune 500 companies.

Recognized for his technical acumen and depth of business expertise in Banking, Financial services and Insurance, Information Technology Enabled Service as well as  Telecom domains, Mr. Janakaraja will lead Al Hilal Bank's IT strategy, technology operations and engineering, with focus on improving processes, effective cost management and risk mitigating.

Yousuf M. Sandeela, a seasoned financial executive with over 25 years of experience, will assume the role of Executive Vice President for Treasury Banking at Al Hilal Bank. He has a proven track record in building and developing treasury units in local mid-size banks.

Mr. Sandeela led executive roles in renowned financial organizations where he established strong connections and ties with key regulators regionally and internationally, including Malaysia and Pakistan. Mr. Sandeela will be responsible for the Bank's operational treasury including cash and liquidity management, in addition to the corporate finance and funding functions

Commenting on the new appointment, Al Hilal bank's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Khaled Abdulla Al Khoori, said: "Al Hilal Bank is growing on an exponential rate, and these key new appointments come in line with the bank's strategy of attracting new talent to support our future plans.

"As Al Hilal Bank's business model continues to evolve, we believe having Mr. Janakaraja and Mr. Sandeela on board will play a significant role in supporting our plans and responding innovatively to our customers' requirements - enabling Al Hilal Bank to continue to offer premium banking experiences and gaining competitive edge."

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About Al Hilal Bank
Al Hilal Bank was founded in 2008 by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, an investment arm of the Abu Dhabi Government, with the mission of delivering innovative and fresh banking services adhering to core Islamic values with an authorized capital of AED 4 billion.

Six months after formally opening its first four branches, the bank was granted the 'Best Customer Experience' award at the 2008 Middle East Retail Banking Awards.

Al Hilal Bank's vision is to constantly redefine and set new standards in the Islamic banking sector.  Al Hilal Bank now ranks 11th in a highly competitive UAE market shared with nearly 60 other banks and are the first Islamic bank to operate in Kazakhstan.

Media Contacts:
Habib El Joukhadar
Mobile: 052 7922 1656
Email: Habib.ElJoukhadar@viola.ae

Press Release 2016