Veteran five member board appointed; Dr. Ahmed Al Jawhary named Chairman

Manama - 27 January 2015 -- The Bahrain Asset Managers Association (BAMA) today announced the appointment of its first Board of Directors including the appointment of Dr. Ahmed Al Jawhary, CEO at J Equity Partners, as Chairman and Mr. Munther Al Kooheji, Managing Partner at Alpine Wealth Management, as Vice Chairman.

Joining them on the Board are industry veterans Mr. Talal Al Zain, CEO MENA and Co-Head Alternative Investments at PineBridge Investments, Mr. Ahmed Sultan, CEO at Tadhamon Capital, and Mr. Adel Al Mangrou, Deputy CEO at The Family Office Company.

Appointees to the Board represent BAMA's founding member firms and were elected to serve for a three year term. The five-member Board will oversee the activities of the Association and its efforts to help grow and promote the Kingdom's dynamic asset management industry, which includes both Islamic and conventional financial institutions, specialized in asset management.

BAMA's day-to-day activities will be to develop and maintain close working relationships with all relevant industry and related bodies including regulators, decision-makers and legislators, professional development organizations, and regional and global peers. Key among its objectives will be advocating on behalf of members, working to positively influence and shape regulations governing the sectorandhelping asset managers to enhance operational, professional and ethical standards across the industry to ensure full alignmentwithglobal best practices.

Commenting, Dr. Ahmed Al Jawhary, Chairman of BAMA, said, "On behalf of the founders of the Association, we are delighted to announce our first Board of Directors. These are industry veterans who have helped pioneer the growth and development of the sector in Bahrain and whose experience and contributions span the regional and international markets. With the support of our founding members and the Central Bank of Bahrain, we have established an organization that aims to play an active role in shaping the future of the asset management industry through collaboration, consultation and the representation of our members on a local, regional and international basis."

The establishment of BAMA was officially announced in May 2014 by the Central Bank of Bahrain, under whose supervision it now operates. It will now commence with the induction of additional member firms with invitations being extended toall investment firms and other financial institutions licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain.

BAMA is also in the process of announcing a calendar of events and activities for the 2015 year including a series of round table sessions with its international and regional affiliates and counterparts and sector specific forums to be hosted by the Association. It will also participate in major banking and financial conferences both in the region and globally in effort to promote the sector, build awareness and effectively introduce and position the organization.

About the Bahrain Asset Management Association
The Bahrain Asset Managers Association (BAMA) is a professional body established to represent and promote the interests of Bahrain's asset management industry - including both Islamic and conventional financial institutions specialized in asset management.

The Association was established in May 2014 with the approval and support of the Central Bank of Bahrain and its founding members comprised of five leading asset management firms:  Alpine Wealth Management, J Equity Partners, PineBridge Investments, Tadhamon Capital and The Family Office Company.

The Association's mission is to support the development of the asset management industry in Bahrain and the region and contribute to its elevation on a global level. Its main objectives are to:

o   Work with regulators and legislators to positively influence and shape regulations governing the sector;

o   Promote the sector by establishing solid linkages with relevant think tanks, research centers, sister associations and professional bodies from around the world;

o   Form and represent the sector's views in relevant forums and with decision makers;

o   Act as a forum for debate and research;

o   Encourage professionalism, integrity, ethical practices and quality;

o   Support the sharing of information and training in order to enhance the talent pool and human capital within the sector;

o   Represent and advocate on behalf of members.

The Association is governed by a five-member Board currently comprised of its Chairman - Dr. Ahmed Al Jawhary, CEO at J Equity Partners, Vice Chairman - Mr. Munther Al Kooheji, Managing Partner, Alpine Wealth Management and Board Members Mr. Talal Al Zain, CEO MENA/Co-Head Alternative Investments, PineBridge Investments, Mr. Ahmed Sultan, CEO, Tadhamon Capital and Mr. Adel Al Mangrou, Deputy CEO, The Family Office Company.

It operates under the supervision of the Central Bank of Bahrain and its membership is open to all investment firms and other financial institutions licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain.

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FinMark Communications
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© Press Release 2015