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a workaholic in the financial services industry, there must be no greater treat than waking up before the alarm. They have a headstart on the day. The markets have opened in East Asia and will stay open in the US late into the Doha night. Theres a full day of exciting and volatile work ahead. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Doha Bank, Dr R. Seetharaman wakes at 4am, and is immediately immersed in what he missed while he was asleep. The markets wait for no man. He went to sleep feeling satiated but hes now playing catch-up. He doesnt panic though. He never has. Dr Seetharaman is a man who values every minute of the day because he knows time is scarce. Each minute is treated with the intensity and decisiveness associated with a critical juncture in a major sporting contest. He reads right up until his eyes droop and is fast asleep before the lightbulb cools off. Not a minute is wasted in analysing the days events like so many of us do. He doesnt second-guess himself. He never has. Unthinkable for the CEO of a major bank in recent years, surely? Opportunities and challenges Dr Seetharaman has been in the hot seat at Doha Bank for ten years now and feels grateful to have held such a position during the recent issues in the financial services industry.

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all in a days work

Dr r. Seetharaman haS been CeO at DOha bank fOr Over ten yearS nOw, yet haSnt relinquiSheD an OunCe Of hiS early enthuSiaSm. the paSt five yearS might have lOwereD the life expeCtanCy Of mOSt bankerS, but nOt thiS CeO; he thriveS On the vOlatility Of the inDuStry. rOry COen talkeD tO him abOut hiS mOtivatiOnS anD expeCtatiOnS.
Indeed he has seen first-hand how Qatar has elevated itself to heights which were unthinkable a decade ago. He explains how he feeds off major challenges and opportunities to become a better professional. I am even more energetic and enthusiastic now, he says when tested about his drive after a decade as CEO. The opportunities in 2002 were not a test for my intellectual frame; I was coasting reasonably well with the changing dynamics of the market. Those days it was about opportunity and hard work. Now, in addition to these, you need to extend your vision to sustain your credibility with the changing dynamics in the global, regional and local space. The experiences I have gone through in the past four or five years are the greatest one can possibly hope to have. Running a local institution such as this, the nuances are so intricate; you have to make sure you run a balanced enterprise. You have to weather all the storms that come across your path. Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What I have learned in the last five years is exciting, and its going to take me further, he explains. Take him further? Does he expect to continue as Doha Bank CEO or are there other challenges and opportunities that tickle his fancy? Can the financial services industry continue to satisfy his intellectual drive and his thirst for innovation? I think so, he answers. I think financial services is very interesting and exciting as long as we stay committed to the knowledge society. No other profession has given the width and depth that finance has given. The economic fundamentals of the region are sound. Qatar is now a society which is intellectually stimulating. Everything boils down to economics; globalisation is now all about the convergence of politics and economics. We are fortunate to be part of this journey. I would have said when I started my career that my intention was to be stimulated, but my primary needs were different. Today, I look at my profile after spending 30 years in banking and having done over 600 research papers and hundreds of interviews and what I need is intellectually stimulating exercises, what I need is to innovate, what I need is to create institutional power excellence which truly reflects global benchmarks in terms of standards by creating values for all the stakeholders. Has he ever felt the need to start up his own business or maybe delve a little into educating young business students from his vault of experience and expertise in the financial services industry? I am sharing my knowledge when I do

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the experiences i have gone through in the past four or five years are the greatest one can possibly hope to have. you have to weather all the storms that come across your path. its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

media interviews. I cant do such interviews unless I continue my education. In the workplace, you have to understand the financial markets. Dynamics of changing circumstances, stock markets, currency markets, bond markets and property markets the local and regional economic fundamentals are always changing. Career highlights Dr Seetharaman has collected some notable awards and accolades in recent months for his contributions to the industry, aside from the performance of Doha Bank as a whole. Most recently he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Civil Law of Honoris Causa by the European University, one of the worlds top business schools in Geneva, Switzerland during its 2012 graduation ceremony, for his unique and valuable contribution to global governance and social responsibility. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2012, during the 229th commencement function of Washington College, for his unique and valuable contribution to society in the field of banking, knowledge management, corporate social responsibility and governance. These awards, he says, are the highlights of his professional career. I think getting recognition from these international institutions was quite gratifying. Washington College, calling me to be one of their alumni after President Bush Senior, was a feather in my cap. I think its a testimony to the commitment to my profession as such. They both recognised somebody for being committed to global governance and transparency in an open market, aside from being the best performer in the bank. I am humbled by these recognitions really, he says. Good ratios And what of Doha Bank itself? Net profit for Q3 2012 recorded a 5% growth against the same period last year while its net operating

income rose by 3% to QR1.8 billion. Total assets increased by 5.6% to QR52.8 billion. Return on average equity was 21.2% as at September 30 the highest return in Qatar. We have been fairly successful in sustaining our credibility, he says. Given the size of the operation, we have always maintained good performance. Thats what matters when it comes to business management. Boom or downturn, we managed to have a sustainable journey. If 2003 to 2007 was a boom period, then 2008 to 2012 is a critical phase for the world and for the region irrespective of the macroeconomic fundamentals in the country, because the true reflection of any institution is global not local. Banking can never be construed as being local or private it is global, it is public this is a widely-held belief. So we have done quite well through both periods. Whats more important is to avoid heavy fluctuations in your returns. Maintaining sustainability is the name of the game and 2012 is not an exception. We managed to maintain good ratios during the first three quarters. If you look at our diversity in terms of our business model corporate, retail, tertiary investments and international we dont just sell products, we advise the customer, which is a definite value advantage. We want to make sure we plan their financial solution, whether they are an individual or an institution. This is the difference we are making in the market. We have recently announced gold loans. If you have gold at home, bring it to us and we will give you money. We can give you a loan of up to 60% of the value of the gold its safe with us, its secure. Instead of keeping it at home, you can optimise your investments and you can recycle the cashflows any way you deem fit. We opened a new branch office in Abu Dhabi in [October]. That will help with cross-border opportunities for Emiratis

doing business here and for Qataris doing business there. Abu Dhabi is a good market, so we definitely intend to enjoy some success there. We have commercial gates all around the world, including South Korea, Singapore, Turkey, London, Frankfurt, Japan and China. We support SMEs and social entrepreneurs by providing working capital finance and insurance, and we are also coordinating with Qatar Development Bank . So if youre an existing businessman and you want to measure your financial plan, you can come to us and we can support you. We can look at your business critically, measure your risk and map this into a solution, he adds. Winding down With time so obviously at a premium in Seetharamans schedule, and work and intellectual stimulation so crucial, how does he unwind? How does he get away from it all and relax? Surely his physician must advise some down-time around his hectic schedule? Does he enjoy his holidays or his time away from the perpetual harvest at the bank? I dont need holidays every day is exciting for me, he trumpets. I cant go to the beach or watch the moon. What excites me is relaxation in the workplace. If you want to imprison me, send me on holidays. I dont mind not getting paid or stepping out of the limelight, but I need intellectual inputs to stay fit in mind and body. I dont believe that you need to detach yourself and spend a holiday as a traditional holiday. Every day is a holiday for me. Every day is relaxation for me. I crack if I dont have an agenda. Even if I organise a time of relaxation or entertainment it has to be very well structured. The intensity at which I am watching a movie, visiting a site or eating has to be programmed so that it is purposeful; everything I do has to be designed to deliver the maximum, he says

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