Former Vice President of Citibank | General Manager of Saudi American Bank (SAMBA) | Financial Advisor to HRH Prince Nawaf
Bin Abdul Aziz
A longstanding career as a banker, financial consultant and entrepreneur
dealing with HNIW clients and royalties.
Started off as a Citibank International Staff within the corporate bank then
assigned to its subsidiary Saudi American Bank (SAMBA) in Riyadh.
Was responsible for construction, trading, maintenance and manufacturing
finance. Assisted several of the largest Saudi Arabian and international
companies obtain financing for mega projects in the Saudi Arabia.
Transferred to Citibank Private Bank based Paris, responsible for
developing Middle East and Africa (MEA) private banking and investments
across Citibank 7 investment centers in Europe and USA. Marketing and
development responsibilities to sell ranges of HNIW products required to
protect the assets and wealth of supra HNIW individuals from MEA region.
In this capacity he took the senior role in marketing Gulf based clients and
financing of major real estate acquisitions projects in France on behalf of
these clients. Assisted French banks and industrial operators access the
private placement market in the Middle East and Africa.
In 1993 using his worldwide construction finance expertise and the
extensive contacts at the highest political and corporate levels to obtain for
SAMBA the corporate finance and distribution mandates for the Solidere
IPO.
The very complex and high visibility transaction for the reconstruction of
downtown Beirut, after its civil war, raised over $900 million in equity.
In 1995 was invited by the President of the Upper Duma of Russia to give
banking lectures to major Russian banks. The visit was followed by several
other visits with Citibank and SAMBA senior managers to create business
relationships with Russian companies.
In recent years intensively involved in fund raising - real estate projects in:
Gulf Area Levant
North Africa - Africa Europe - Eastern Europe
• Gulf Area: In 2007 -2008 raised USD 450 Million to finance various
projects and assisted large Saudi clients acquire substantial real estate
properties in Dubai, Bahrain and Qatar. As Financial Advisor, managed
billion in financial affairs for HRH Prince Nawaf Bin Abdul Aziz, ex.
Director General of the General Intelligence Directorate of Saudi Arabia.
• North Africa - West Africa: In Senegal (1991), Morocco (1995), Cote
d’Ivoire (2012) and Gabon (2018) took a direct role to arrange banking
facilities, development of various hotels, other real estate and trading
multi-purpose projects as well as social housing and customer funds.
• Levant: Introduced the SAMBA - Speed Cash in Lebanon. Assisted Saudi
investors enter the lucrative hospitality business in Syria with Kempinski.
• Europe - East Europe: In Latvia (2001-2007) intermediated in the
country’s privatization process through bringing in USD 55 Million to
invest in real estate and hospitality projects by introducing Kempinsky to
Latvia. Initiated the residency permit investment law. Approved by the
parliament it helped raise over USD 3.0 Billion. Assisted Saudi clients
invest in Russia and Ukraine.
Academic Background:
BA from the American University of Beirut
MA from the Sorbonne
MBA-Finance from University of West Florida
Diplomatic Background:
Republic of Latvia: Honorary Consul to Rabat - Kingdom of Morocco
Republic of Guinea - Bissau: Ambassador at Large
Humanitarian Activities: Sponsoring Santa Klaus Finland, Mr. & Miss Latvia
and Martial Arts events. President of the Ballet Association of Latvia.
Lecturer in several universities and conferences.
Fluent in: English French Arabic Sports: Karate (7th Dan) Kendo (3rd Dan)