Overview

2014 saw the launch of the WealthBriefing GCC Region Awards asWealthBriefing set to spread the word about the profession’s achievements to a wider audience. The awards have grown year-on-year and 2015 promises to attract in the region of 300 – 350 senior banking and wealth management professionals, to the awards dinner.

The awards are focused around three main category groupings:

  • experts (individuals and teams);
  • products and
  • services for wealth managers and clients and institutions of all sizes and types.

Independence, integrity and genuine insight will be the watchwords of the judging process. This involved specially convened expert panels drawn from both private banks and trusted advisors and support by relevant third-party organisations.

Winning a WealthBriefing award sets firms apart from their competitors and is a tangible demonstration that they have something special to offer, rewarding achievement, showcasing top class performance and innovation.

We look forward to receiving your entries and seeing you at the 2015 awards ceremony.


TIMING

  • Entries open 24 March 2015
  • Entries close 29 June 2015
  • Shortlist announced August 2015
  • Award ceremony 10 November 2015

MEDIA EXPOSURE

Entrants who are shortlisted will be announced on all WealthBriefingmedia, as will the eventual winners.

Additionally, an extensive PR campaign will highlight all the winners and shortlisted entrants to relevant media.


AWARD CEREMONY FORMAT

The culmination of the process will be a black tie dinner on 10th November 2015. This networking event will be conducted in a slick and snappy style. The formalities will not be dragged out unnecessarily as is so often the case at industry awards.

Self-congratulatory pomposity will be strictly off-limits.


PARTNERS

External organisations will be brought into the judging process to further objectivity and to ensure that the views of the industry as a whole, along with ultimate client base, are represented.

These will include specialists in branding, marketing, IT, philanthropy and investment management.


JUDGING PROCESS

There will be two judging panels for the awards.

A panel of trusted advisors who will be responsible for judging the private banking categories.

A second panel of private bankers will judge the trusted advisor categories.

This is to ensure that commercially sensitive information is kept confidential and to avoid conflicts of interest.

Please click here to download the media pack.

Judges

Trusted Advisor Panel

Ausaf Abbas

Ausaf Abbas

Managing Director

Coombe Advisors

Ausaf Abbas founded Coombe Advisors to provide strategic, business and financial advice to a network of clients and associated businesses, with a focus on family offices, the wealth management industry […]

Donald Bradford

Director

Sheffield Haworth

Donald has been active in MENA Financial Services Executive Search since 2007. He and his team at Sheffield Haworth have contributed to the ongoing development of many of the region’s […]

Faranak Foroughi

Founder and Chief Executive

Tharwa Managing Consultancy

As founder and chief executive of Tharwa Management Consultancy, Faranak Foroughi has over 25 years’ experience advising wealthy Emirati and GCC families and working with global institutions such as Citibank, […]

Hugh Cathcart

Director

Sanne – Private Client

As a specialist private client practitioner, Hugh Cathcart is responsible for the continuing development of Sanne’s expertise and service in the private wealth and family office sector. Hugh has over […]

Laurence Black

Regional Director, Client Solutions, MENA

Asiaciti Trust Group

Laurence is the Regional Director, Client Solutions, EMEA for Asiaciti Trust in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He joined Asiaciti Trust in late 2012 and has over 35 years’ experience in […]

Leonie Kerswill

Partner

PwC

Leonie Kerswill is a partner in the Middle East firm of PwC based in their Dubai office where she focuses on private wealth management. She draws on more than 25 […]

Manoj Prasad

Executive Vice Chairman

Que Capital

Executive vice chairman and chief executive officer, Que Capital Limited. Que Capital is headquartered in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Manoj has held senior management & leadership positions at […]

Sabila Din

CEO & Founder

Din Consultants

Sabila is CEO and Founder of Din Consultants, HQ in London and is an accomplished global business management, marketing and gender specialist. She works with global private banks, elite family […]

Tim Casben

Partner

Gowling WLG

Tim Casben is managing partner of the firm’s Dubai office and heads the firm’s corporate practice in Middle East, focusing on corporate structuring, finance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and […]

Valérie Mantot

Regional Managing Director - APAC

Apex Group

Valérie is head of CRM –Asia Pacific based in Singapore and has overall responsibility for business development and the services delivery for the Asia and MENA region. Prior to joining […]

Walid S. Chiniara

Partner

Deloitte & Touche, Middle East

Walid is a partner at Deloitte & Touche and heads its private client services practice in the Middle East. He is an international corporate finance lawyer with 35 years’ experience […]

Warren Luyt

Managing Director

Trident Trust

The Past Chairman of STEP’s Arabia Branch, Warren Luyt is the Managing Director of Trident Trust’s Dubai operations. He joined the Group in 2006 to establish its presence in Dubai, […]

Yann Mrazek

Managing Partner

M/HQ

Yann is the Managing Partner of M/HQ. He chiefly focuses on private wealth and immigration practice. He has vast experience advising successful individuals and entrepreneurial families with Middle Eastern exposure […]


Private Bankers Panel

Ayman Abuhabsa

Mashreq

Ayman Abuhabsa was appointed head of private banking at Mashreq in 2012 where, as a seasoned banker, he deploys over 15 years’ experience across the sector. Prior to this, Ayman […]

Bruce Weatherill

Chief Executive

Weatherill Consulting

Bruce is a chartered accountant with over 37 years financial services experience, previously a partner in PwC, latterly as Global leader of their Wealth Management practice and the key driver […]

Rassem N Zok

Chief Executive Officer

Standard Bank Group

Dr. Rassem N. Zok has over 20 years of experience in investment banking, capital markets and asset management having held senior positions at Credit Lyonnais, Sakura Bank, Merrill Lynch and […]

Gary Dugan

CEO of The Global CIO Office

Purple Asset Management

Gary Dugan is CEO of The Global CIO Office and of Asset Manager, Purple Asset Management based in Singapore. Gary Dugan is a seasoned investment professional with 37 years’ experience working […]

Mannan Adenwalla

Managing Director

LGT Bank (Middle East)

With more than 31 years’ banking experience in the UAE, Mannan Adenwalla assumed the role of managing director of private banking and asset management group, LGT (Middle East) in 2012. […]

Michael Chahine

Founder and CEO

Nexgen Desert Green Consultancy

Michael Chahine invested his 35 years experience in global finance, corporate and investment management in Nexgen Desert Green Consultancy, a management consultancy focused on family businesses and wealth management solutions, […]

Patrick Crowley

Executive Director

Banque Richelieu GCC

Patrick is currently an executive director at Banque Richelieu GCC after joining fromDeutsche Bank Wealth Management Dubai. His previous position was senior vice president at DBS Private Banking Dubai. Patrick […]

Categories

Please click on the category/categories you are interested in entering. Once you have filled in the pop-up application form, a questionnaire giving the detailed questions you need to answer, to complete your nomination, will automatically be sent to you by email.

PRIVATE BANK CATEGORIES

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES PRIVATE BANK Criteria for entry: Local or international private bank with operations in the United Arab Emirates. BAHRAIN PRIVATE BANK Criteria for entry: Local or international private bank with operations in Bahrain. KUWAIT PRIVATE BANK Criteria for entry: Local or international private bank with operations in Kuwait. OMAN PRIVATE BANK Criteria for entry: Local or international private bank with operations in the Oman. QATAR PRIVATE BANK Criteria for entry: Local or international private bank with operations in Qatar. KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA PRIVATE BANK Criteria for entry: Local or international private bank with operations in KSA. ENTERCATEGORYWB

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CATEGORIES

INDEPENDENT WEALTH MANAGER Criteria for entry: This award seeks to recognise independent wealth managers operating in the GCC Region which have a demonstrably client-focused model and which are innovators in the space. FUND MANAGER (REGIONAL) Criteria for entry: Providers of collective investments for the private client community. FUND MANAGER (GLOBAL) Criteria for entry: Providers of collective investments for the private client community. ENTERCATEGORYWB

MARKETING CATEGORIES

ONLINE CAMPAIGN Criteria for entry: Wealth managers or other private client practitioners who have used online channels to promote their services to private clients or to raise their profile either within the industry or to clients. PRINT CAMPAIGN Criteria for entry: Wealth managers or other private client practitioners who have used print media to promote their services to private clients or to raise their profile either within the industry or to clients. BRAND LAUNCH/RELAUNCH Criteria for entry: Most effective and innovative brand launch or relaunch in the private client world, either a whole business unit or a product/service within an existing business. BEST PR PROGRAMME An in-house PR team or agency operating in the GCC Region wealth management sector for the impact of their work (campaign or project). ENTERCATEGORYWB

PRIVATE CLIENT CATEGORIES

INTERNATIONAL LEGAL TEAM Criteria for entry: Law firm team or individual lawyer based in the Middle East dedicated to international private client issues REGIONAL LEGAL TEAM Criteria for entry: Law firm team or individual lawyer based in the Middle East dedicated primarily to regional private client issues TAX/ACCOUNTANCY TEAM Criteria for entry: Team in accountancy firm/consultancy specialising in reporting, transacting or wealth structuring for private clients. INSTITUTIONAL TRUST OR FIDUCIARY COMPANY Criteria for entry: Entries only eligible from trust companies that are part of a non-trust parent. INDEPENDENT TRUST OR FIDUCIARY COMPANY Criteria for entry: Entries are only eligible from trust companies independent of larger non-trust businesses, for instance not part of a bank, law firm and accountancy firm. ENTERCATEGORYWB

WEALTH MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES (OPEN TO TECHNOLOGY VENDORS)

TRANSACTION PROCESSING SOLUTION Criteria for entry: Straight through processing, core banking. PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT Criteria for entry: Technology solution providers specialising in tools for managing clients' investment portfolios. CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTING Criteria for entry: Technology solution providers specialising in tools for wealth managers to communicate with clients. DATA PROVIDER Criteria for entry: Business providing financial data to private banks and other wealth managers. OUTSOURCING SOLUTION Criteria for entry: Third-party organisations providing business processes or systems to wealth management businesses. ENTERCATEGORYWB

WEALTH MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES (OPEN TO ANY ORGANISATION)

CHANGE MANAGEMENT PROCESS Criteria for entry: Banks, wealth managers or system integrators who have successfully implemented multi-functional change programmes to significantly improve client experience and performance. BEST IMPLEMENTATION OF A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION Criteria for entry: A technology vendor or its client. RISK PROFILING SOLUTION Criteria for entry: A technology solution to help wealth managers assess and document the risk appetite of clients. RISK MANAGEMENT Criteria for entry: Technology solution providers specialising in tools for wealth managers to manage risk. CRM SYSTEM Criteria for entry: Client relationship management systems for wealth managers. ONBOARDING Criteria for entry: Technology solutions to help wealth managers bring new clients into their organisation. INNOVATIVE CLIENT SOLUTION This award seeks to recognise institutions which have developed innovative products and services for their clients as part of a solutions-focused service model. ENTERCATEGORYWB

OTHER WEALTH MANAGEMENT CATEGORIES

MULTI-FAMILY OFFICE Criteria for entry: Multi-Family Office business based the in GCC region. Can be an international or local player. ISLAMIC FINANCE OFFERING Criteria for entry: Team from within a wealth management or stand-alone business that offers Islamic Finance to clients. Can be a local or international player. PHILANTHROPY OFFERING Criteria for entry: Offerings from private banks or wealth managers which promote and encourage philanthropic activity amongst clients. FX SOLUTION PROVIDER Criteria for entry: Local provider of foreign exchange services to wealth management organisations or clients. ETF PROVIDER Criteria for entry: Fund/asset manager that makes exchange-traded products available for local wealth management clients. LEADING INDIVIDUAL (BANK) Criteria for entry: Age and experience is no bar but something special should mark out this individual working in the private client world. Entries only applicable from individuals working within a bank. LEADING INDIVIDUAL (NON-BANK) Criteria for entry: Age and experience is no bar but something special should mark out this individual working in the private client world. Entries only applicable from individuals not working in a bank e.g lawyer, wealth manager, accountant etc. RISING STAR Criteria for entry: A private banker or wealth manager under the age of 35 who is not yet in a senior management position but shows the potential to be a leading individual. COMPLIANCE Criteria for entry: The compliance function of a wealth management or private client operation. WOMEN IN WEALTH MANAGEMENT (INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION) Criteria for entry: Women in private banking or wealth management who are an inspiration both to female clients and colleagues. WOMEN IN WEALTH MANAGEMENT (COMPANY CONTRIBUTION) Criteria for entry:Wealth management organisations which demonstrate considerable support for women in their career development. OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO WEALTH MANAGEMENT THOUGHT LEADERSHIP (INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION) Criteria for entry: Individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to thought leadership in wealth management. OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO WEALTH MANAGEMENT THOUGHT LEADERSHIP (COMPANY CONTRIBUTION) Criteria for entry: Organisations who have made an outstanding contribution to thought leadership in wealth management. ENTERCATEGORYWB

Tickets


Finalists

PRIVATE BANKING CATEGORIES

United Arab Emirates Private Bank (Local)
  • Emirates Investment Bank
  • Emirates NBD Private Banking
  • NBAD Global Private Banking
United Arab Emirates Private Bank (International)
  • Barclays
  • Lombard Odier
  • Union Bancaire Privee

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CATEGORIES

Fund Manager
  • NBAD Global Asset Management
  • Russell Investments
  • Union Bancaire Privee

PRIVATE CLIENT CATEGORIES 

Legal Team
  • Fragomen Worldwide
  • M/Advocates of Law
  • Wragge Lawrence Graham
Tax/Accountancy Team
  • M/Advocates of Law
  • Rethink ME
Institutional Trust or Fiduciary Company
  • Coutts Trustees
  • Northern Trust
  • Salamanca Group
Independent Trust or Fiduciary Company
  • Asiaciti Trust
  • Elian
  • Hawksford
  • SANNE

WEALTH MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES (OPEN TO TECHNOLOGY VENDORS ONLY)

Portfolio Management
  • SS&C Advent
  • Charles River Development
  • Eagle Investment Systems
  • ERI Banking Software
  • Profile Software

WEALTH MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES (OPEN TO ANY ORGANISATION)

On-boarding
  • Finantix
  • Profile Software
Innovative Client Solution
  • SS&C Advent
  • Profile Software

OTHER WEALTH MANAGEMENT CATEGORIES

Philanthropy Offering
  • Lombard Odier
  • NPT-UK
  • SANNE
Rising Star
  • Deloitte Private – Family Enterprise Consulting – Yasmine Omari
  • Lombard Odier – Soumaya Hissoussi
  • Wragge Lawrence Graham – Alistair Glover
Women in Wealth Management
  • Citi Private Bank - Carmen Haddad
  • Deloitte - Fiona McClafferty
  • Intertrust Group - Alice Read
  • PwC - Leonie Kerswill
Leading Individual (Advisors)
  • Cornwall & Co Consulting – Kim Cornwall
  • Deloitte – Walid Chiniara
  • DIFC – Jacques Visser
  • M/Advocates of Law – Yann Mrazek
Leading Individual (Bankers)
  • Deutsche Bank - Hugh O’Donnell
  • NBAD Global Private Banking - Gary Dugan
  • Bank of Singapore - Chetan Mehra
In addition to the above categories, we will be announcing some special editor’s awards. These will be revealed at the awards dinner. The lifetime achievement award will be announced at the awards diner.  

About our Sponsors

Sponsors


Winners

PRIVATE BANKING CATEGORIES

United Arab Emirates Private Bank (Local)

  • NBAD Global Private Banking

United Arab Emirates Private Bank (International)

  • Lombard Odier

Qatar Private Bank – Editor’s Award

  • Barclays

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CATEGORIES

Fund Manager

  • Union Bancaire Privee

Independent Wealth Manager – Editor’s Award

  • Brooks MacDonald

MARKETING/PR CATEGORIES

 Brand launch/relaunch – Editor’s Award

  •  Elian

BEST PR Programme

  • Barclays

PRIVATE CLIENT CATEGORIES 

Legal Team

  • M/Advocates of Law

Tax/Accountancy Team

  • M/Advocates of Law
  • Rethink ME

Institutional Trust or Fiduciary Company

  • Northern Trust

Independent Trust or Fiduciary Company

  • Asiaciti Trust

WEALTH MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES (OPEN TO TECHNOLOGY VENDORS ONLY)

Portfolio Management

  • Eagle Investment Systems

WEALTH MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES (OPEN TO ANY ORGANISATION)

On-boarding

  • Finantix

Innovative Client Solution

  • Profile Software

Risk Management – Editor’s Award

  • KlarityRisk

OTHER WEALTH MANAGEMENT CATEGORIES

Islamic Finance Offering – Editor’s Award

  • Tajweez Advisory

Philanthropy Offering

  • SANNE

ETF Provider – Editor’s Award

  • NBAD Global Private Banking

Rising Star

  • Wragge Lawrence Graham – Alistair Glover

Women in Wealth Management

  • Citi Private Bank - Carmen Haddad

Leading Individual (Advisors)

  • Deloitte – Walid Chiniara

Leading Individual (Bankers)

  • NBAD Global Private Banking - Gary Dugan

Lifetime Achievement

  • Andrew Young, OPUS Private