The Bank of New York expands Middle East and Africa team

Hani A Kablawi, previously senior representative for the Gulf region, assumes responsibility for the MEA Division. He will continue to be based in Abu Dhabi. William Ghazar also joins the Bank as vice president in the MEA Division in New York, with primary responsibility for client management for the Gulf region and back-up responsibility for the Levant and North Africa.

Mr Kablawi, Managing Director, has been appointed MEA division head, with a team of client executives and staff in the bank's rep offices in Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Cairo and Johannesburg, and division staff in New York and London. He continues to report to William F. Williams, Executive Vice President, who is now responsible for Developing Market relationships globally.

Commenting, Mr. Williams said,

'The Middle East & Africa forms an extremely important part of our developing markets business. Moving MEA division management from New York to the field is a reflection of that, and of our desire to locate Bank resources closer to our clients. Mr. Kablawi, who has expanded our Gulf business over the past four years, is ideally placed to set and implement strategy, taking us into the next phase of our MEA expansion drive.'

Mr. Kablawi said, 'The region is rapidly integrating with the world's capital markets and The Bank of New York is well positioned to help its principal financial institutions and corporate entities in this process. The MEA team's mandate will be to grow existing business and to seek out new opportunities for further expansion - be they traditional, or driven by alliances and partnerships.'

Mr. Kablawi has held a number of senior positions in the bank's Middle East & Africa division both in New York and in Abu Dhabi, culminating in his being named division head in 2006. Prior to joining The Bank of New York, Mr. Kablawi worked at HSBC and at Mashreqbank in New York. Mr. Kablawi is a CFA charter holder.

Mr.Ghazar has held a number of relationship management and marketing roles at Arab Bank and Arab American Bank in New York.

Mr Kablawi continued, 'I am very pleased that William is able to join us at this exciting time in our development in the region. His relationship approach and business acumen will be a valuable addition to the team as we continue to grow our business.'

The Bank of New York has been operating in the Middle East and Africa for over 70 years and offers a range of issuer and investor services, trade, cash management, asset management and global markets solutions.