Abu Dhabi (May 28, 2013) - The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), the Number One Bank in the UAE, has appointed Mark Watts as the General Manager, Head and Chief Investment Officer of NBAD's Asset Management Group.

Mr. Watts set up the Group's fixed income business when he joined the Bank in 2010. Under his direction, the fixed income business has grown to be the largest in the UAE and one of the largest in the region. He led the launch of successful funds, namely the Cautious Income Fund and Sukuk Income Fund.

"Mark Watts has contributed significantly to distinguishing and differentiating NBAD's Asset Management Group in the market place. The products he helped shape and manage have provided much needed income and growth to our client base," says Rüdiger Von Wedel, the Senior General Manager of Global Wealth of NBAD. "I am convinced that Mark's innovative approach, passion and leadership qualities will continue the Asset Management Groups successful track record."

Mr. Watts is tasked with enhancing the development ofthe investment proposition for NBAD's segregated institutional business and mutual fund products as well as managing theindependent investment process and performance. He also serves on NBAD's mutual fund and REIT board positions.

"I am extremely excited at the opportunity of leading the Asset Management Group. Having worked closely with the team for the last few years, I am convinced that we have the energy, drive and expertise to cement our market leading position," says Mr. Watts. "Over the coming months we look to extend the solid positive track record that our clients have enjoyed and look forward to bringing new and innovative products to the market."

NBAD's award-winning Asset Management Group is one of the largest asset managers in the region with circa AED 6.15 billion under its management as of March 2013.

NBAD's Asset Management Group offers money market products, equity funds, structured products, portfolio services, hedge funds, and advisory. The Group also offers the region's first exchange-traded fund (ETF), NBAD OneShare MSCI UAE ETF, which trades on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) under the ticker 1UAE.

Its list of recent accolades includes being named the Best Asset Management House in the Middle East by International Takaful Awards in 2012 and 2013; and Fixed Income Fund Manager of the Year by Global Investor magazine. Other awards include the UAE Asset Manager of the Year in MENA Fund Manager Performance Awards from MENA Fund Manager magazine, and last year's Best Asset Manager in the UAE, also from Global Investor.

Mr. Watts has over 26 years of asset management experience having worked in London, the US, and with Asian clients. He is a certified financial analyst (CFA) Charter holder and Chartered Fellow of the CISI in London.

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About NBAD
The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), The Number One Bank in UAE, was incorporated in 1968 and is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), under stock code (NBAD).

Ranked as one of the top 50 safest banks in the world since 2009, NBAD currently operates across 19 countries on five continents. NBAD has a network of 124 branches and more than 570 ATMs to provide banking services to customers all over the UAE. Besides bricks& mortar branches, NBAD provides 24 hour internet banking access through NbadOnline and NbadDirect, the SMS-based payment service (Arrow) as well as account access and personalised customer support through its 24-hour Call Centre.

NBAD's overseas network stretches from China and Hong Kong in the Far East to Malaysia in the South East; Oman, UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain in the G.C.C.; Jordan and Lebanon in the Levant; Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan and Libya in Africa; France, Switzerland,  Channel Islands,and UK in Europe; Brazil in South America, and the USA in North America. NBAD has a strategy to expand to 41 countries by 2022.

NBAD provides its customers with a wide variety of financial services targeting all segments of the consumer and corporate markets.

NBAD aims to support the long-term prosperity of our people, our customers and the communities in which we do business by being transparent and responsible. The Bank is ranked 3rd on the S&P/Hawkamah ESG Pan Arab Index out of the top 50 Pan Arab companies based on their performance on nearly 200 environment, social, and governance metrics.

NBAD is rated senior long term/short term A+/A-1 by Standard & Poor's (S&P), Aa3/P1 by Moody's,AA-/F1+ by Fitch, A+ by Rating and Investment Information Inc (R&I) Japan, and AAA by RAM (Malaysia) , giving it one of the strongest combined rating of any Middle Eastern financial institution.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ehab Khairi
Media & PR Manager- VP, Corporate Communication 
National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD)
Tel: +97126111190
Email: ehab.khairi@nbad.com 
Web: www.nbad.com 

© Press Release 2013