Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim is the vice chairman and CEO of Wasl Asset Management Group and is responsible for leading the organisation’s transformation into a world-class asset management company. He is also the vice chairman and managing director of Emirates NBD, chairman of Emirates Islamic Bank (EIB), one of the leading Islamic banks in the region and Emirates NBD Egypt SAE and Emirates NBD Capital KSA – all subsidiaries of Emirates NBD.
Al Qassim’s leadership role at Wasl has seen him spearhead asset management, real estate, hospitality and project development. This portfolio of achievements, combined with a wealth of financial sector experience from over 20 years in the banking industry, has made him one of the most experienced CEOs in the region.
Under Al Qassim’s stewardship, Wasl has achieved remarkable success in the management and ownership of large-scale real estate projects undertaken for the government of Dubai. He was responsible for restructuring and developing a clear mechanism for the group’s provision of high quality services, which included operating three key subsidiaries; Wasl Properties, Wasl Hospitality and leisure and Dubai Golf.
Wasl Properties is a leading real estate company that manages over 40,000 units across Dubai. Wasl Hospitality and Leisure owns and manages 15 international hotel chains in Dubai, while Dubai Golf is home to two world-ranked golf courses across the emirate.
Al Qassim’s current chairmanship roles at Emirates NBD, EIB and Emirates NBD Egypt reflect his prominent role in shaping the future direction of these prestigious institutions. Al Qassim’s experience include serving as general manager at the National Bank of Dubai, during which he developed new strategies in retail and corporate banking as well as treasury and trade finance. His innovations led the bank to become a leading financial institution in the UAE.
Al Qassim is an advocate for the importance of recognising and developing local talent. This commitment to nurturing home-grown skills and abilities led him to becoming one of the founders of the Young Arab Leaders organisation and a board member of the National Human Resources Development Committee in the banking and financial sector in the UAE.
He is also chairman of the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS), Dubai Sports Corporation and vice chairman of Dubai Autism Centre. His other board memberships include Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Authority, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat), DIFC Investments, Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, National General Insurance Co, Amlak Finance, Pak Telecom Mobile, Pakistan Telecommunication Company as well as the International Humanitarian City in Dubai.
His educational qualifications include a Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Finance and a Master’s Degree in International Business Management.
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