NBB Announces Retirement of CEO Jean-Christophe Durand & Appointment of Usman Ahmed as Group CEO

The National Bank of Bahrain has announced the retirement of Mr. Jean-Christophe Durand from his current position as Chief Executive Officer, effective 31st December 2022 and welcomes Mr. Usman Ahmed as its Group Chief Executive Officer, effective 1st January 2023.

The transition falls in line with NBB’s strategic plans to spearhead a strong and dynamic banking sector, appointing experienced and qualified individuals to propel the bank into the highest tiers of the banking and finance industry, locally and regionally.

Commenting on the occasion, NBB Chairman, Mr. Farouk Yousuf Al Moayyed, said: “We would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Durand for his instrumental contributions to the bank, and for his role in cementing NBB’s position as a leading responsible banking group in the Kingdom. Upon joining the bank as its CEO in December 2016, Mr. Durand has prioritised strategic leadership to ensure effective financial management and business expansion, steering NBB’s transformation into a digitally-driven entity aligned with global digitalisation agendas. He has also successfully guided the bank on its recognised sustainability journey, while strengthening NBB’s role as a value-adding partner to the Kingdom. The bank wishes him a happy, well-earned retirement and the best of luck on this upcoming stage.”

“We would also like to welcome Mr. Ahmed in his Group CEO role, and express our utmost confidence in his abilities to take up the reins of our national institution and to continue steering it towards the highest levels of success in the industry,” he added.

Mr. Ahmed, joins the Bank with over 27 years of diverse international banking experience in emerging markets across the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions. Prior to his most recently held position at Citibank, Mr. Ahmed has held various senior leadership roles over the past 14 years, serving in multiple capacities as CEO, Managing Director and Board Member. His experience spans across regional and country leadership positions, encompassing Corporate & Investment Banking, Capital Markets, Commercial, Consumer and Islamic Banking in vital cities and countries across the globe, including, London, Hong Kong, Dubai, the Philippines, Pakistan, Bahrain and Malaysia.

Mr. Ahmed has also previously served as a Director on various Boards, including the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers, the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, the American Chambers of Commerce in Malaysia and Bahrain, the Association of Banks in Malaysia, the Bahrain International School Association, Injaz Bahrain and the Financial Industries Collective Outreach Malaysia.