Minister Joel Morgan, the Minister responsible for Transport in the Government of Seychelles, and Mr James Hogan, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, have today announced that Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, has appointed Cramer Ball as Chief Executive Officer, with effect from February 1, 2012 under the management contract that it has with Etihad Airways, its new strategic partner.

The Minister stated that the President of Seychelles, President James Michel has welcomed the arrival of a strong management team from Etihad to orient Air Seychelles on a robust and secure footing, in order to position it for future development to serve Seychelles’ tourism industry internationally.

Mr Ball, who was formerly Etihad Airways Regional General Manager Asia Pacific South and Australasia, has been seconded to the Seychelles national carrier as part of the restructuring for Air Seychelles which will be implemented jointly with Etihad Airways.

With a wealth of broad-based industry experience, which encompasses both commercial and financial areas of the business, Mr Ball is a highly respected aviation professional.

Before joining Etihad Airways, in a career spanning two decades, he held senior management positions at Gulf Air, Qantas, Kendell Airlines and Ansett Australia/Air New Zealand.

Commenting on his new role, Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ball said: “This is a very exciting point in the development of the airline. The recently announced strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, backed by the 40 per cent stake the UAE national carrier has taken, will allow us to consolidate our position as a brand leader on the routes we serve.

“Air Seychelles will work closely with Etihad Airways to leverage synergies and create efficiencies that will reduce costs and maximise yields. We will also look to implement strategies that will benefit the economy and support the tourism industry of the Seychelles as a whole.”

Shelley Cole has also been seconded to Air Seychelles to take on the position of Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Prior to joining Air Seychelles, Ms Cole, who is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, was Etihad Airways Regional Finance Manager Asia Pacific, and has also held positions at Shell International Ltd in London and Caltex in Sydney.

Riyadh, 21 January 2012:  Idea Soda Ash And Calcium Chloride Company (“ISACC”) has appointed NCB Capital as Financial Advisor to provide financial advisory services for the establishment and incorporating of the Jubail Inorganic Chemicals Industries Company (“ICHEM”) in Jubail-II Industrial City.

The agreement, which was signed by Eng. Abdulaziz Yahya Al-Muaiyyad, Managing Director and CEO of ISACC, and Mr. Hicham Hatoum at NCB Capital, follows signing with the other consultants including Jacobs Engineering, who will be the main technical consultant overlooking the development of the production facility in Jubail.

“We are very pleased to be acting as Financial Advisor for the ICHEM project since we share with ISACC a commitment to supporting the development of Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy for the long term benefit of the kingdom’s future generations,” said Hicham Hatoum. “In this project, ICHEM and us will be joining hands with top level consultants and we will contribute our unrivalled expertise as leaders in corporate finance, providing advice and guidance for the entire project and incorporation of ICHEM”

Speaking on behalf of ISACC, Eng. Al-Muaiyyad said: “ICHEM is one of the most important strategic projects in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its sources of revenue and reduce reliance on oil exports. As such, we have selected NCB Capital as Financial Advisor in recognition of its outstanding track record as key contributor to the kingdom’s economic development and its renowned expertise and understanding of the Saudi business and capital markets environment.”

To be built at a cost of at least SR1.1 billion, the facility will be the first in the Kingdom and the GCC to produce Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate) and Calcium Chloride. The factory will have a total capacity of up to eight hundred thousand tons a year with all basic materials secured from mines within KSA. ICHEM will provide the Kingdom’s requirements for Soda Ash and Calcium Chloride, used in oil and gas drilling operations and the manufacturing of glass and detergents, which are currently being imported from outside sources.

The Jubail Inorganic Chemicals Industries Company is a joint stock company (under formation) with a paid-up capital of SR 650 million. The company has already completed its feasibility and market studies, selected the technology and signed the necessary agreements to supply all of the raw materials and is now fully prepared and ready to commence the implementation plan of the project.

NCB Capital provides a full spectrum of corporate finance services to its corporate clients, including advisory in debt and equity capital markets, mergers & acquisitions, real estate development and real estate funds. With a team of world class professionals, NCB Capital is well positioned to gauge the market from a unique viewpoint and is the winner of numerous awards. In 2011, NCB Capital won a total of 17 awards including Best Fund Manager by Euromoney, and Best Equity House in Saudi Arabia by EMEA Finance.

NCB Capital is the leading Saudi Arabian wealth advisor and the kingdom’s largest asset manager with over one million clients and SR 44billion (US$ 11.7 billion) assets under management

ICHEM has strong support from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Aramco, and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. Saudi Aramco has allocated the necessary gas and fuel for the facility, while the Royal Commission has allocated a 510,000 square meters plot of land for the factory at Jubail-II Industrial City.

SOL KERZNER TO REMAIN AS CHAIRMAN

PARADISE ISLAND, THE BAHAMAS – January 4, 2012 – Sol Kerzner, Chairman of Kerzner International Holdings Limited (the “Company”), which through its subsidiaries, is a leading international developer and operator of destination resorts, casinos and luxury hotels, is pleased to announce the appointment of Alan Leibman as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately. Sol Kerzner will remain as Chairman of the Company and will work closely with Leibman on the overall corporate strategy and planned growth of the Atlantis and One&Only brands worldwide.

“Over the last 17 years Alan has contributed extensively to Kerzner’s success, and his vast experience in this industry makes him an ideal CEO to lead Kerzner into the future,” said Sol Kerzner, Chairman of the Kerzner International Board of Directors. “Alan has a great deal of passion and commitment to both our employees and our guests. As CEO, Alan will lead the executive management team and will be actively engaged in all aspects of the business. I firmly believe this new organizational structure and focus will best ensure the future success and growth of Kerzner International.”

Leibman joined Kerzner in 1994, and has held positions of strategic importance, including Chief Operating Officer of Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas, President/Managing Director of the early development phase of Mazagan Beach Resort, President/Managing Director of Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai and most recently, Regional President of Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

“I am truly pleased to take on this new role as CEO at this exciting time in the Company’s history,” said Alan Leibman. “I have been fortunate enough to have learned and developed under Sol’s leadership for the past 17 years and couldn’t have asked for a better mentor. I plan to continue executing on the same distinct entrepreneurial vision and spirit that he instilled in the Company. Working closely with Sol and the executive management team, we will continue growing Kerzner as a management company, and getting back to doing what we do best – designing and managing world-class destination and luxury resorts under the Atlantis and One&Only brands. Kerzner has the best and most talented workforce across multiple continents and I look forward to working with them for many years to come.”

Al Qudra Holding Chairman’s Board of Directors His Excellency Sheikh Hamed Bin Ahmed Al Hamed announced that the Company’s Board of Directors is pleased to appoint Mr. Abdulrahman A. Al Harsousi as a new Chief Executive Officer for the company.

Al Harsousi will be responsible on developing the company’s strategy, expanding its investments and building a promising future through the local and international investments that will meet the aspirations of all investors.

Al Harsousi - the new CEO added, “I am delighted and proud for the decision of the Board of Directors, and will diligently contribute to expand the company’s investments in the UAE & abroad over the coming years.”

Al Harsousi holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Master’s Degrees in Business Administration from the United States of America. He worked in the government sector for twenty years, where he gained his managerial and leadership expertise. As well as participated in many national committees, the most recent was the National Committee for the 2011 elections for the Federal National Council.

Oman Air has announced the appointment of Saleem Bin Amanullah Bin Abdul Hussain to the new role of General Manager Customer Services. He will be based at the airline’s headquarters in Muscat and will spearhead Oman Air’s drive for the highest quality in all direct customer contact.

Mr Amanulla was appointed following a 23-year career in aviation, most recently as Chief Executive Officer – Cargo for RAS-ENT, a Canadian GSA based in Toronto. Prior to this, he held a number of positions with Gulf Air, including Head of Airports. In addition, Mr Amanulla holds Airline Pilot and Flight Dispatch certification from AFDTC in Dallas.

On taking up his appointment, Mr Amanulla said:

“I am delighted to be joining Oman Air and to be taking on such an important role at a time when the airline is attracting such widespread acclaim. Effective Customer Services are a vital part of any successful organisation and this is especially the case for airlines.

“I look forward to bringing my extensive experience of the aviation sector, my commitment to delivering a seamless passenger experience and my dynamic approach to management to Oman Air and to playing a role in the airline’s continued and growing success.

Having travelled the world and worked in so many different locations over the years, I am also looking forward to once again working in Oman – it is great to be coming home!”

Don Hunter, Oman Air’s Chief Officer Airport Operations, added:

“We are pleased to be welcoming Saleem to the Oman Air team and to be benefitting from his knowledge and proactive approach. His long experience, both within the Gulf region and beyond, together with his commitment to the highest standards of customer service make him a great choice for Oman Air.”

Saleem Bin Amanullah Bin Abdul Hussain’s appointment comes at the end of a 21-month period in which the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman has received 21 awards, including ‘Best Business Class Seat in the World’ and ‘Service Excellence, Middle East’ (World Airline Awards), ‘Airline of the Year’ (Laurier d’Or du Voyage d’Affaires) and ‘Best Luxury Airline, Middle East (Business Destinations Awards). Oman Air’s focus on the quality of its passenger experience has been accompanied by the introduction of new Airbus A330 and Embraer E175 aircraft, the pioneering of complete inflight mobile phone and wi-fi connectivity and the expansion of its network to include 41 destinations worldwide, the latest of which, Zurich, was launched on 2nd December 2011.

Abu Dhabi- The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), the Number One Bank in the UAE, has appointed Ghadeer Abu Hijleh as Head of Private Banking - Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

In her new role, Ms. Abu Hijleh will focus on promoting and expanding NBAD Private Banking business in the region on par with international standards.

She will be working closely with a complete team of dedicated and experienced senior private bankers to provide high net worth individuals (HNWI) with quality relationship management and appropriate investment solutions through deep understanding of their wealth structuring and needs.

Ghadeer and her team will be supported by NBAD’s Asset Management Group, Abu Dhabi Financial Services (ADFS), the brokerage arm of NBAD, Custody and the newly established Investment Group to deliver innovative products and investment solutions suit clients’ needs according to their risk profiles.

NBAD’s Private Banking offers both onshore and offshore services through its offices in Abu Dhabi, Al–Ain, Dubai and NBAD Private Bank (Suisse), the Geneva- based  NBAD wholly -owned subsidiary. It also provides trust services to clients through another wholly -owned subsidiary; NBAD Trust Company (Jersey Limited).

NBAD is the first and only licensed custody UAE bank and its Asset Management Group is one of the largest asset managers in the region and recently won the best asset manager award in the UAE by Global Investor Magazine, published by Euromoney. Through Abu Dhabi Financial Services (ADFS); clients have access to equity markets with high quality research products and services.

“Ghadeer Abu Hijleh has been a valuable member of our team for the last few years. I am delighted that she is taking a new challenge as the Head of Private Banking for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. I am confident that her skills, experience and dedication would propel NBAD Private Banking to a higher quality in delivering customer service and innovative solutions,” said Ashraf Mazahreh, the Head of Private Banking of NBAD, UAE.

Ms. Abu Hijleh joined NBAD Private Banking in 2007. Prior to her recent appointment, she was the Regional Head of Business Development in Private Banking with focus on the North Africa region.

“I am very excited and proud to be the Head of NBAD’s Private Banking for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. I will apply the knowledge I gained from my years of experience in wealth management to support and develop business growth of NBAD Private Banking in the UAE and other strategic markets by promoting both; onshore and offshore platforms of the Global Private Banking,” Ms. Abu Hijleh said.

Ms. Abu Hijleh holds an MBA and has recently enrolled for a doctorate degree in Business Administration focusing on women leadership in the financial services industry.

Dubai, UAE – Towers Watson, the global professional services company, has appointed Billy Turriff to lead their Data, Surveys and Technology lines of business across the Middle East region.

Billy has a combination of corporate and consulting experience having held senior roles in a number of Towers Watson offices in Europe. He also has extensive experience as a senior manager with Accenture and HR executive roles with the UK Civil Service and UAE State Owned Enterprises. He will be responsible for developing and growing the business in the three service lines as well as managing the delivery of large-scale consulting projects to clients across the Middle East region.

His joining coincides with the latest release (version 7) of Towers Watson’s Talent|REWARD software solution and the launch of the company’s 2011 General Industry Compensation Surveys in the Middle East.

Dr. Ahmad Waarie, Managing Consultant for Towers Watson Middle East, said: “Billy’s appointment follows a strong year for Towers Watson in the Middle East and it will help drive the future growth of our business here, in the key areas of Data Services, Employee Surveys and HR & Talent Management Technology.”

Billy Turriff, Business Leader for Data, Surveys and Technology at Towers Watson Middle East, said: “It is great to have access to such robust technology and data solutions knowing that they are backed by Towers Watson’s industry-leading talent and reward management consulting capabilities.”

Abu Dhabi, 7 December, 2011: Reaffirming its commitment to Emiratisation, Etisalat Group announced the appointment of Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Alhosani as Acting Chief Executive Officer in Etisalat Afghanistan and Mr. Ahmed Khalfan Al Mutawa as Chief Financial Officer for Etisalat Zantel, Tanzania. The appointments are in line with Etisalat’s strategy to develop UAE Nationals’ skills and providing them with the opportunities to manage international projects.

Alhosani is a key asset to Etisalat, having been assigned various management positions after progressing through the ranks since his joining in 1992. He has served as Deputy CEO of Etisalat Afghanistan since 2010. Alhosani graduated from Toledo University in the US and has a Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering.

Ahmed Al Mutawa has held a number of roles within the Corporation in Financial Affairs and Auditing, since he joined in 2001. Before being promoted to Chief Financial Officer for Etisalat Zantel in Tanzania, he served as Vice President for Financial Affairs at Emirates Data Clearing House (EDCH), part of Etisalat Services Holding. Al Mutawa holds a Bachelor degree in Business Applied Administration from Higher Colleges of Technology in Al Ain.

Commenting on the appointments, Mr. Abdulaziz Al Sawaleh, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Etisalat, stated that Etisalat remains committed towards its Emiratisation strategy and the Corporation continues to focus on training UAE nationals and developing their talents and skills, while encouraging them to take leading positions both locally and abroad. He stated that Emiratis have proven their leadership skills in the most competitive markets, time and time again.

Sawaleh also stressed that Etisalat should utilise its successful status to enhance the position of UAE Nationals, and stated that corporations that do not give back and provide opportunities to its local people will not stay successful in the long term.

“At Etisalat, we’re proud to be one of the key organisations in which Emiratisation is a of our strategy, and the corporation is committed to following approaches that focus on investing in human capital, in order to strengthen its position as one of the key recruiters of qualified personnel in the UAE,” Al Sawaleh concluded.

ABU-DHABI, UAE –December 12, 2011 – Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced the appointment of Mr. Saad Khan as its new regional managing director in the Middle East. Based out of the company’s Abu Dhabi office, Mr. Khan is responsible for the overall management and growth of Ciena’s business in the increasingly important region.

Following its recent market entry into the Middle East, which included deploying networks for several key telecommunications service providers in the region and lighting up the Middle East’s first 100G network, Ciena is today focusing on leveraging its dedicated team of sales, services and technical support specialists for sustained, dynamic growth in the region. With more than 15 years in the telecoms industry, most recently as vice president of services group, Middle East & Africa, at Alcatel-Lucent, Mr. Khan brings an impressive combination of extensive industry knowledge and operational management expertise to ensure that Ciena’s success in the region continues.

Mr. Khan has a wealth of experience in managing large implementations and managed services projects – areas in which Ciena’s Middle East operations are increasingly relevant as the company continues to grow its presence in the region. Prior to his time at Alcatel-Lucent, Mr. Khan served several years in Ericsson’s managed services and hosting practice, based out of the Middle East and North America. Before that, Mr. Khan worked in the services and support areas of several US telecommunications service providers.

“I am thrilled to see Saad join our already outstanding Middle East team and look forward to seeing our business in the region continue to strengthen under his leadership,” said Eric Sele, vice president, divisional sales for South and Central Europe, Middle East and Africa. “With our presence in the Middle East now firmly established, Saad adds excellent operational management experience to enable Ciena to continue expanding our regional footprint and building even stronger relationships with local customers.”

“The Middle East is a promising market within Ciena’s global growth strategy, which makes it an immensely exciting time to be joining the company,” said Saad Khan. “Ciena has an unmatched pedigree in building cutting-edge, next-generation networks for telecommunications service providers, government entities and enterprises around the world. With the deep relationships Ciena has with carriers in the Gulf since our entry into the region, I look forward to contributing to continued growth and building on the company’s success since entering this market just two years ago.”

Mr. Khan holds an MBA degree from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Northeastern University, Chicago.

Dubai Investment Group has appointed Silverpeak Real Estate Partners to provide real estate investment management services for its $1.1bn commercial real estate portfolio in the US and Germany.

Silverpeak will manage a portfolio of assets acquired between 2004 and 2008, with a focus on maximising recoverable proceeds to DIG over the remaining investment period.

The portfolio currently consists of 30 hotel, office and retail properties across 11 separate investments in the US and Germany, it said in a statement.

The portfolio includes Manhattan’s famous Essex House hotel — rebranded as the Jumeirah Essex House several years ago, according to reports.
 
“Silverpeak was selected based on its best in class experience as an investor, owner and operator of real estate in the US and Europe,” said Fadel Al Ali, acting CEO, Dubai Group.

“Given the volatility of today’s market environment, it is critical to have solid resources to best serve the needs of a mixed real estate portfolio.

“We believe the Silverpeak team is best equipped for this engagement based on their direct experience in the portfolio’s asset classes and submarkets as well as their experience over the course of ten years operating as a premier institutional fund manager.”

Brett Bossung, managing director and co-founder of Silverpeak, said: “We are pleased to have been selected by DIG to carry out this important mandate and remain focused on improving the portfolio’s operational performance and positioning.”

As part of the mandate, Silverpeak has hired Anthony Juliano, who headed DIG’s US and European investment platform, along with two other staff members previously responsible for the investment and asset management activities of the DIG portfolio.

Silverpeak is a privately held real estate investment advisory business formed in May 2010 by the former management team of Lehman Brothers Real Estate Partners. As of September 30, 2011, Silverpeak manages over $3bn in invested equity comprising gross asset value of over $15bn on behalf of the Lehman Legacy Funds.

Dubai Investment Group is the real estate and asset management arm of Dubai Group, which itself is part of Dubai Holding, the investment holding company owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s ruler.

Dubai Holding is currently restructuring an estimated $6.2 billion in debt taken on to fund an acquisition spurt that abruptly came to a halt following the financial crisis and a regional real estate downturn.