European Islamic Investment Bank Plc appoints head of its Bahrain office

Toby joins EIIB from Nomura Investment Banking in Bahrain where he has been Director, Head of Equity Derivatives Marketing, Middle East, with specific responsibility for business development, marketing of equity, fund, hedge fund and commodity derivative products throughout the Middle East.

Prior to joining Nomura Investment Banking in early 2005, Toby worked for BNP and BNP Paribas in Bahrain from 1996 where he held a number of roles including responsibility for marketing and product development of equity derivative, cross-product business development for institutional and private clients across the GCC as well as pioneering a range of Sharia'a compliant equity derivative products.

Commenting on the appointment, John Weguelin, Managing Director of EIIB said, "We are delighted to have found someone of Toby's caliber to join EIIB to lead the establishment of our presence in the GCC. Toby brings considerable marketing, business development and product skills to our team which will greatly assist in building EIIB's reputation in Islamic investment banking.

"Toby will be responsible for building our marketing and sales team for the GCC from our Bahrain office which we recently opened. We anticipate that when fully staffed the office will number approximately 8 - 10 sales and marketing staff offering institutional as well as private clients alternative Islamic, treasury, capital markets and asset management products."

EIIB recently opened an office in Bahrain following its opening for business in London in April this year. It recently launched several fund products, including a pan-European Real Estate Fund and a Secured Equity Fund.

EIIB also plans to develop a range of its own Sharia'a compliant investment funds during the coming year, covering the hedge fund, private equity, and real estate asset classes, including capital-protected structured products.