Northern Trust has bolstered its Middle East and Africa senior management team in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Areej Al-Mokbel has been appointed chief operating officer for the Middle East and Africa, responsible for overseeing business operations for Northern Trust’s offices in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
She will be tasked with the day-to-day and strategic management of Northern Trust’s administrative and operational capabilities as it supports the evolving requirements of clients across the Middle East and Africa.
Al-Mokbel has more than 20 years of experience working in the financial services industry, including 12 years in asset management and asset servicing, holding senior management and business leadership positions with HSBC Saudi Arabia.
Prior to that, she held a number of technology management positions with SABB, formerly known as the Saudi British Bank.
Meanwhile, Effat Badeeb has been appointed as deputy country manager at Northern Trust Saudi Arabia, where she will oversee the day-to-day management of the business.
Her responsibilities include business management, talent development and exercising financial and regulatory oversight of business activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, she will lead strategic initiatives to deepen relationships with regulators and key stakeholders, and support the alignment of Northern Trust’s business with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategic framework for the diversification and development of its economy.
Badeeb has 14 years of experience in the financial industry, having previously held senior positions with HSBC Saudi Arabia and BNP Paribas Investment Company. Most recently, she was Northern Trust’s chief compliance officer for the Middle East.
Both Al-Mokbel and Badeeb will report to Michael Slater, head of Middle East and Africa at Northern Trust.
Commenting on the appointments, Slater said: “Financial services continue to develop in sophistication across the Middle East and Africa, and against this backdrop the addition of Areej and Effat further strengthens our management team with local industry leadership and expertise.”
“Their appointment supports our clients’ evolving requirements for asset servicing and asset management solutions that help them meet the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities of future technological and industry change,” he added.
