Veteran Bahraini professionals assume office at Gulf Air

Well known Bahraini lawyer Mr. Nabeel Mohammed Saeed assumed office as the Executive Vice President Corporate and Legal Affairs, while accomplished human resources professional Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Banna took charge as Vice President Human Resources.

"We are very pleased to have Mr. Saeed and Mr. Banna on board as members of Gulf Air senior management team and hope to draw upon their vast experience and knowledge to bring in a paradigm shift to Gulf Air's corporate function and culture," says Gulf Air Acting President and Chief Executive, Björn Näf.

"As we align ourselves with the growth plans of the Kingdom, and as one of the largest employers of the country, it is important for us to strengthen ourselves with solid legal and corporate processes and, a sound HR and training system. I look forward to their significant contribution in taking Gulf Air on the road to success."

Mr. Nabeel Saeed

Mr. Nabeel Saeed has more than two decades of experience in commercial, financial and corporate laws, having worked in senior positions with the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, Central Bank of Bahrain and Gulf Finance House. Before joining Gulf Air, he was working for the Haya Rashed Al Khalifa Law Firm.

"I am proud to join Gulf Air, which is one of the important pillars of the Kingdom's economy," says Mr. Al Saeed. "As Gulf Air is fully owned by Bahrain and moves forward with its restructuring programme, it is our duty to ensure our corporate affairs and relationship with the government are in the right perspective and more importantly, ensure the transition happens as per law. This all whilst ensuring all our legal issues are addressed in the right manner as per the letters of the law."

Mr. Saeed holds a Bachelor's Degree in Law and Business Administration from Oxford Brookes University, UK. and holds a Master's Degree in Commercial Law (L.L.M) from the University of Bristol, U.K.

He is a licensed lawyer in Bahrain and has been admitted to the Court of Cassation and the Constitutional Court of Bahrain. He has also lectured on Law at the University of Bahrain, the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance and the Qatar Institute for Banking and Finance.

Mr. Ahmed Al Banna

Mr. Al Banna brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise gained from almost 25 years of experience in Bahrain and abroad, of which 10 years in aviation and airport environment having worked earlier as Human Resources Manager for Bahrain Airport Services (BAS).

"I am very delighted to join our national carrier, Gulf Air," says Al Banna. "HR is seen by many as a back-office role and a cost-function. My approach would be to change this perception and make it a strategic role and a core management function, contributing directly to the organizational development and profitability."

He joins Gulf Air from the Ministry of Labour, where he was Assistant Undersecretary for Training. He has also held senior HR positions at BAPCO, Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mills Company and, Arab Insurance Group (ARIG).

A Science graduate from the University of Riyadh, Al Banna has also earned an MBA from the University of Hull, UK. He has also presented many research papers at various international forums on HR and training issues and policies.

Al Banna has also served on the Boards of government and non-government organizations such as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bahrain Training Institute, President of the Bahrain Society for Training and Development and a Board Member of the Bahrain Labour Fund.

He is also a board member of the International Federation for Training and Development and was the president of the Asian Regional Training and Development Organisation for the year 2005-2006.