Muscat - Oman Arab Bank (OAB), is proud to announce that Mrs. Asma Ali Ramadhan Al Zadjali, AGM and Head of the Credit Administration Division of the Bank, has been accepted into the National CEO Program (NCP). Asma is one of the only three female candidates to have passed the stringent entry criteria for the program and also the only candidate from the Banking sector. As part of the third batch of the NCP, Asma will be joining 34 other candidates for a comprehensive 9-month training program beginning in September this year at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) Switzerland.

Commenting on Asma’s acceptance into the NCP, Amin Al Husseini, CEO of OAB said, “Everyone at OAB are extremely proud of Asma’s acceptance into the NCP. She is a talented individual and a valued member of our staff who has earned her place in this high profile programme, having passed every qualification stage with flying colours. Her achievement is particularly notable considering there were only 35 seats available and over 800 applicants. We are confident in her ability to exceed all expectations over the 9-month training period and look forward to her taking on greater responsibilities in the Bank on completion of the program.”

Holding a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde, a Chairperson of Strathclyde Oman Alumni and working as a member of the professional women association establishment, Asma has over 19 years of experience working in large companies and banks. She began her career at the Khimji Ramdas Head Office, working in their Human Resources department; following which she started her career in the Banking sector with Habib Bank, followed by National Bank of Abu Dhabi, having worked in the Risk Management department in both. She then moved on to the National Bank of Oman, where she established, restructured and helped strengthened their Corporate Credit Administration Division. Asma joined OAB just over a year ago in her current position as the AGM and Head of the Credit Administration Division. In her time at OAB, she has been instrumental in the centralisation of Retail, Corporate, and Islamic Finance Credit Administration; thereby ensuring asset quality and bringing in the necessary changes to establish better control and improving the turnaround times.

“The Bank, including the management and my team, have been extremely supportive in encouraging me to be a part of this program. I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to each of them. This is a ‘once in a life time’ opportunity and I am looking forward to actively participate in this training program to the best of my ability and thereafter transfer my knowledge and skills, for the betterment and enrichment of our organisation which will also indirectly benefit our nation as a whole,” added Asma Al Zadjali.

Launched under the patronage of the Diwan of Royal Court, by the Public Private Partnership Taskforce (Sharaka), the National CEO Program is a first of its kind initiative in the Sultanate. It has been designed to address the private sector’s growing needs for talented business leaders and executives who are empowered to meet the challenges of the marketplace and embrace the opportunities that the Sultanate’s economy will offer. The 9-month program was founded on best global practices, the latest leadership thinking and learning methodologies, and is being carried out in collaboration with IMD of Switzerland, one of the world’s finest Business Schools.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 57 branches and 8 representative offices across and 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

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© Press Release 2017