Sarah al Suhaimi took over as head of Jadwa’s asset management division in June, after the departure of Fadi Tabbara. She has been with the company since May 2007, soon after the bank was set up and a month before it launched its first fund. She was in charge of portfolio management before her recent promotion.
The division has been key to the success of the bank. It is the only area that has managed to grow its revenue every year, from SR15 million ($4 million) in 2007 to SR95.9 million in 2010. Indeed, in 2008 and 2009 it earned more revenue than any other part of the bank. Its growth is helping to bring new clients into the business, expanding from its initial focus on ultra-high-net-worth clients to include Saudi and regional institutional investors.
"In 2011, we won several mandates from insurance companies and large government-linked institutional investors," says Al Suhaimi. The asset management division has 20 funds, which invest in public and private equity, and real estate.