HSBC champions gender diversity in MENA: One in five senior managers is a woman

Abdulfattah Sharaf, CEO of HSBC UAE said: "HSBC is making a real commitment to diversity, in the recognition that it is essential to our business. When I look at the young people who join our Emirati graduate management trainee programme, the calibre of women coming through is truly impressive. With the extra support of our diversity programme, I am absolutely confident we will continue to see an increasing number of female employees working their way to senior management positions in the near future."

Nationalisation of jobs remains one key aspect of HSBC's diversity strategy in the MENA region. In the UAE, HSBC continuously reviews new ways to identify and select outstanding Emirati talent whilst drawing on its global network to develop existing Emirati employees. Currently, more than 66% of Emirati employees in HSBC are women. Overall in the UAE, women represent 43% of HSBC's total work force.

The Women's Networking Forum will give HSBC's female staff an opportunity to focus on their career aspirations and on the development of the skills which will get them there. The forums will include sessions focusing on "Speed Networking", "Personal Branding", "Navigating the Organisation" and "Balance: work and life outside work"

Francesca McDonagh, Regional Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management and Executive Sponsor of the HSBC Middle East Women's Network Forum, said: "After 15 years at the bank in a number of different roles across different regions, I know from my own experience that HSBC offers tremendous employment opportunities for talented and determined women. We offer the experiences and development opportunities of an international bank, together with a stated commitment to identify, support and develop the next generation of female leaders".

Across MENA, 1 in 5 of HSBC's senior managers is a woman. The goal is to improve that to 1 in 4 by the end of 2014. To support its aims in the region, HSBC has introduced a number of market leading employment policies to help women to achieve their career goals including flexible working options, improved maternity leave provision of up to 6 months, diversity awareness training for all managers and career development programmes for women.

"I know from my experience in the Middle East that there are many talented women who perhaps have not considered a role in banking. We aim to dispel any illusion that banking is a career best suited for men. At HSBC we are putting a lot of hard work behind creating a working environment which really motivates and supports women to succeed," Ms McDonagh added.