The Tenth Annual WealthBriefing MENA Awards for Excellence 2023

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 of their bi-annual Wealth Management Report. Bruce is now CEO of Weatherill Consulting providing advice on client centricity and wider strategic matters to wealth managers. He is the author of The Value of Trust: the quest by Wealth Managers for Trusted Advisor status and a number of other thought leadership reports. Bruce is chairman of ClearView Financial Media and a non-executive of a number of companies including Fidelity Holdings UK, The Wisdom Council, ComPeer, JDX Consulting and Ten Group.

Jacques-Antoine Lecointre serves as the COO of Santander Private Banking International in the Middle East. He is based in Dubai from where he oversees the regional operations as well as the External Asset Managers platform. Before joining Santander, he had similar positions for BNP Paribas Wealth Management in the Region, for the Global South Asia and Middle East business of Bank of Singapore and for Barclays Wealth Management where he spent more than 10+ years across Europe and the Middle East. Jacques-Antoine brings over 20+ years of experience gained across multiple roles within the front, back and product office.

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 aims to exploit his reputation as a trusted advisor with entrepreneurial families to help drive the bank’s growth in the ultra-high net worth NRI private client segments, principally in the ME and Africa. Patrick’s 20-plus years’ experience in the sector began at Allied Irish Banks where he rose through the ranks to head up its deposit-taking unit in Jersey. His subsequently moved to BNP Paribas, then Bank of Nova Scotia before joining ABN AMRO Jersey where he rose to become head of private banking and later its country head. He moved to Dubai to join Lombard Odier in 2012.

Stela comes from over 20 years of experience in the global financial markets and banking services in Western Europe and the Middle East. She is currently heading Index & Cie, a DFSA-regulated wealth manager, practitioner of the Value Investing philosophy applied to permanent capital of HNWIs. Her management style and ideas brought about a radical change and new drive to Index & Cie in ever-changing market conditions in the UAE and globally.

Prior to her current CEO position, Stela held multiple senior leadership roles for National Bank of Abu Dhabi, now First Abu Dhabi Bank, and acted as Chief Operating Officer for boutique wealth managers in Dubai. She began her career with Citigroup in 2002 in Milan, Italy, where she spent more than 10 years in the Global Transaction Services covering various operational and managerial positions.

As head of Mashreq Private, Vipul ensures that every client receives bespoke wealth management  solutions and a holistic banking experience from anywhere in the world. Vipul joined Mashreq as the  Head of Private Banking after 25 years with Citibank. Over the last five years, in addition to heading  the Mashreq Private, he is also responsible for the bank’s Wealth Products & Platform. 

Vipul brings over 30 years of experience spanning across Consumer Banking and Private Wealth  Management in building businesses, managing change, strategic development, mentoring fintech  start-ups, implementing technology platforms & nurturing leadership talent. 

At Citi, he was responsible for establishing new markets in MENA & Europe and heading several  international businesses including the Global Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Wealth business, the  Consumer Bank for UK and the Citi IPB, Private client wealth business for EMEA. During his tenure, he  developed & grew the NRI Private wealth business in UAE before heading the Global NRI Business. As  head of the UK Consumer & IPB private wealth business for EMEA he was responsible for managing  long-term growth strategy including restructuring the businesses to a digital best-in-class wealth  business for affluent clients across EMEA. 

Vipul has worked across several countries and regions including India, Singapore, Dubai, Bahrain and  most recently London. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance degrees from Institute  of Chartered Accountants of India where he ranked 7th across India & Institute of Cost &  management accountants of India where he was a gold medalist in accounting.

Vivek Gehani has over 20 years of Corporate and Private banking experience gained at leading global financial institutions and has a wealth of experience and industry knowledge of financial markets.
Vivek is currently a Market Head for Bank of Singapore (BOS) in Dubai and is based at DIFC. He joined BOS as part of the
acquisition of Barclays Asia and has served 13 years within one organization, progressing from Banker to Managing Director. He
previously worked at ABN Amro and Merrill Lynch.
In his role as a Head of Sales at BOS, Vivek manages the entire Front Office of Dubai Branch and has responsibility for Global South Asian clients, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and wider Africa Business. Prior to joining Bank of Singapore, Vivek was Managing Director at Barclays Wealth Management in Dubai with responsibility for Global South Asian clients.
In 1998 Vivek graduated with an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Pace University in New York and in March 2020 certified as a Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and also certified in The Leadership Circle SystemTM .
Vivek is a member of YPO organization, an exclusive group of members around the world which provides a platform of
continuous learning, networking and growth.
Vivek is a practitioner of performance coaching and advocates the benefits that teamwork and strong culture bring to the
organization. He also is a student of optimising health with biohacking to maintain peak performance of the mind to benefit
personal and professional wellbeing.

Samira has over 20 years of Wealth Management & Private Banking experience at senior level in MENA, Europe and Asia.

Samira served as Head of Private Banking at National Bank of Dubai and Head of Ultra High Net Worth at National Bank of Abu Dhabi, progressing to MD & Global Head of PB & KCG for First Abu Dhabi bank.

Throughout her tenor, she has remained focused on client propositions and solutions both regionally as well as internationally.

Samira remains instrumental in developing and growing wealth management across the GCC region. In 2019, she was
recognised in the industry as ‘Leading Woman in Wealth Management – MENA’ by WealthBriefing MENA Awards.

Martin Liebi has vast senior management experience in the banking and financial sectors with Swiss and international clients in all parts of Switzerland. Prior to his present role he was a member of the executive committee and head of private banking at Notenstein La Roche Privatebank. Here he successfully managed various growth projects related to private clients whilst strengthening its offices in Switzerland. Before that role he was for seven years a member of the executive committee, head of the Zurich office and head of private banking at Schroders Switzerland, where he was in charge of the entire Swiss and international private client base. Martin has also worked with Lloyds TSB Bank in Geneva, and with Credit Suisse in Lugano.

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. Mannan had previously been managing director of Clariden Leu Asset Management, Dubai which he set up and then led for six years.

Before this he worked for ABN AMRO Bank, where he managed his clients and a team of relationship managers for nearly ten years. Having begun his career in the banking industry in 1984, Mannan’s responsibilities at LGT include developing the business across non-resident Indian and subcontinent markets.

Cécile is the CEO for Trustconsult in Switzerland as well as Head of Private Client for the Trustconsult Group. She has an extensive wealth & estate planning career, earning a solid reputation for her work on international trust & foundation. Her experience includes managing complex & sophisticated trust and corporate structures for private and corporate clients located around the globe, including Latin America and Asia but more specifically in the Middle East.

Cecile is chairing the Wealth Management & Estate Planning focus Group of XLNC, she is also an active member of several significant professional bodies including The International Bar Association (IBA) and The International Tax Planning Association (ITPA). Former Chairwoman of the STEP branch in Geneva and also Former Chairwoman of the STEP Swiss & Liechtenstein Federation, acknowledged as a "prominent figure in the Leading Trustees" category of CityWealth Leaders List. Cécile has also been a presiding judge for the STEP Private Client Awards and for WealthBriefing Awards Switzerland & Liechtenstein for many years.

Cécile has qualifications in company law and practice, tax compliance, international trust
management, trust administration and accounts, and trust creation.

Experienced corporate lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in regulatory and compliance services spanning across the Caribbean, Cayman Islands and in the UAE. Strong knowledge of international business companies’ regulatory frameworks,
financial services (including FinTech as qualified under Oxford/Saïd Business School Fintech Programme) and financial products (particularly Funds). Extensive experience as well as specialized expertise as a certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and FATF trained Legal expert examiner and certified in FATCA & CRS reporting, ADGM OCAB regime.

Achievement: Awarded 2021 Leading Woman in Private Wealth Management by MENA Wealth Briefing Association.
Formerly: Legal Counsel at Cayman Islands Monetary Authority: 2008-2016;
Formerly: Head of Regulations and Operations for RAKICC (IBC Offshore & Free zone Registry): 2016-2017
Former: Prosecutor/ Regulator & Legislative Drafter

Hassen is a Senior Relationship Manager covering External Asset Managers at MCB (DIFC Branch). He relocated from MCB’s Head Office in July 2021 where he was previously responsible for coverage of EAMs and Multi Family Offices in Switzerland, Monaco, the UAE and in Mauritius. Prior to joining MCB, Hassen established the EAM Desk at Afrasia Bank, a boutique bank based in Mauritius. Hassen is an entrepreneurial and solution oriented banking professional with experience in multiple African, Middle Eastern and European jurisdictions who actively leverages on the entire MCB Group capabilities that also include corporate and investment banking, asset management and private equity. He holds a Master of Business Administration from HEC Paris and speaks fluently English and French.

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 on implementing inter-generational wealth transfer strategies and structuring their operational assets and global wealth. He is regularly involved in the ongoing management of such structures – as a board member, council member, guardian or protector. Yann is recommended by all of Chambers & Partners Private wealth, Legal Week’s Private Client Global Elite and Who’s who legal private client. He was the Chair of STEP Arabia from 2015 to 2018

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 the offshore finance industry. Based in the Middle East for the past 28 years he has particular skills and experience in cross border planning, the establishment of offshore trusts, foundations and company formation. Laurence also acts as a Non-executive Director for GSB Capital Ltd in the Dubai International Financial Centre. Before joining Asiaciti Trust he held a number of senior positions within the Trust & Fiduciary industry and more recently was Head of Fiduciary Services, MENAP for a major international financial institution in the Dubai International Financial Centre. In these roles he successfully serviced clients in the EMEA region with their international needs and works closely with other cross border specialists in the establishment of international trusts and a variety of investment structures. Laurence maintains a comprehensive knowledge of legislative changes and industry trends affecting cross-border issues. He is a full member of STEP Worldwide (Society of Trust and Estate Planners) and was the founding Chairman of STEP Arabia.

Yasmine is a family business advisor based in Dubai and has spent more than a decade dedicated to working with family businesses, family offices and wealthy families on supporting them through generational change. Yasmine’s practice focuses primarily on devising multi–generational succession plans and governance systems using region specific tools designed to propagate harmony, fairness and transparency within a family business context. In parallel, Yasmine assists family-owned businesses in creating comprehensive tax strategies that maximize financial benefits, mitigate tax liabilities, and align with the unique goals of each family member and the overall business vision.

An experienced leader in the IT industry, specializing in sales management, innovation and digital transformation on an international scale. For over 20 years of his career at Comarch, he has managed key projects in Europe and the EMEA region, supporting the largest financial institutions and technology companies in the development and implementation of advanced IT solutions. His comprehensive knowledge and innovative approach allowed him to implement projects that drive digital transformation in key sectors.

Author of the strategy for entering foreign markets for the Middle East, which led to the signing of international contracts in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain. His strategic approach to global sales has resulted in success in building long-term customer relationships and creating innovative products that have attracted industry attention. In 2022, together with his team, he was honored with the prestigious WealthBriefing Award for the most innovative use of artificial intelligence.

It also boasts further industry awards, including the award for Best Reporting Platform and Most Innovative FinTech Solution in 2023, as well as for Excellence in Wealth Management Solutions in 2024.

His experience in FinTech and the implementation of modern technologies makes him a valued partner in digital transformation projects. Moreover, it is involved in initiatives supporting startups, such as Greenhouse, and actively participates in steering committees of international projects and building innovative products. In 2023, he served as a jury member in the prestigious Annual WealthBriefing MENA Awards for Excellence competition, supporting the development of innovations in the industry.