Delivering Real Estate Asset Management Investment Advisory Solutions

Hisham Alrayes is leading the Group forward towards its vision of becoming the region’s most prominent, diversified financial Group, and one that provides a remarkable platform for delivering superior Wealth Management, Commercial Banking and Asset Management services. With over 23 years of experience, Hisham brings extensive expertise and banking knowledge to the Group and was instrumental in driving the development and execution of the Group’s regional and international investment strategy. Hisham currently chairs and holds a number of directorships in financial, Industrial and real estate companies including Esterad Investment Company, Khaleeji Commercial Bank, GFH Capital and Infracorp.

Hisham holds a Master’s degree with honors in Business Administration from the University of DePaul, Chicago (USA), and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering with honors from the University of Bahrain. In 2021, Hisham was ranked ‘One of the top listed CEOs’ in CEO Today Middle East Awards, ‘Best CEO in Investment Banking Sector-Bahrain 2021’ from the Global Economics. And during 2020, Hisham received  ‘Banker of the Year’ in the MEA Finance Awards 2020 in recognition of his role in steering the Group’s diversification strategy which has seen the Group expand its business lines and geographic reach, while remaining resilient in the face of unprecedented market conditions. He was also ranked one of the top CEOs in Financial Services & Investments in 2019, and named ‘Investment Bank CEO of the Year’ at CEO Middle East 2019.

Mr. Ali Murad is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Pinnacle W.L.L., Bahrain. He also serves as a board member in several companies including EAT App, Wavepoint Publishing W.L.L and Alareen Holding Company.

Throughout the 19 years of experience in his career, Mr. Murad occupied several positions in the banking sectors before he moved into the private sector.  He commenced his banking career at Arab Banking Corporation where he remained for five years. During this time, he held the position of credit analyst of ABC Islamic Bank EC, money market dealer and thereafter, as a deputy manager of the Treasury and Marketable Securities Department. Mr. Murad then joined Unicorn Investment Bank (now, Bank Alkhair) in the Investment Development and Distribution Department and later First Energy Bank as a director in Investment Placement, where he placed numerous financial products and services to high-net-worth individuals, governments and quasi-governmental Organizations, publicly listed and unlisted companies, as well as private banking clients. Mr. Murad was part of the investment team, where he also worked on tailoring customized investment products catering to the tough market conditions at the time. In 2010, Mr. Murad embarked in a career in the private sector and founded Pinnacle W.L.L. as a holding company for stakes in various sectors including technology, music publishing, real estate to name a few. He continues to explore, review and monitor active and potential investments both regionally and internationally.

Mr. Murad holds a Bachelor of Science and Business Administration in Marketing from Suffolk University, Boston, Massachusetts.

A key player in the strategic management of the Group’s core operational functions, Salah Sharif, Chief Operating Officer of GFH, is also responsible for ensuring the highest standards of operational excellence across the Group and its Special Purpose Vehicles and Project Companies. He has more than 30 years of regional and international exposure to conventional and Islamic banking and finance, with experience across commercial and wholesale banking and in industrial and infrastructure advisory sectors. In addition to his executive role at the Group, Salah also serves on a number of investee company boards. He is the Chairman of Falcon Cement Company, Vice Chairman of Infracorp and Vice Chairman of Gulf Holding Company, and a Board Member of Khaleeji Commercial Bank, GBCorp and CapCorp.

Prior to his current role in GFH, Salah was seconded as the CEO of Cemena Holding Company (CHC), an industrial subsidiary of the Group, one of the largest cement holding companies in the MENA region. Previously, he held a number of senior roles in leading, global financial institutions, including American Express and Standard Chartered Bank where he held key executive positions.

Salah holds an MBA from the University of South Wales, UK. And most recently, he completed the Senior Executive Leadership Program offered by Harvard Business School, Boston, USA.

Hammad Younas is the Chief Investment Officer – Private Equity of the GFH Financial Group and leads the overall investment business of the Group including Private Equity, Corporate Investment and Asset Management. Hammad has more than 20 years of experience in corporate finance, investment banking, private equity, real estate, and asset management, and throughout his career he has led various regional and cross-border transactions in MENA, US, Europe and South Asia across multiple sectors and asset classes. His transaction experience includes mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, listings, secondary offerings, private placements and debt raising. In addition, he is a growth strategy and business development expert.

Prior to joining GFH in 2016, Hammad was a Partner at Ernst & Young MENA and their Transaction Advisory Leader for Bahrain. He was also the CEO of Ernst & Young Corporate Finance, Bahrain. Hammad spent more than 13 years with Ernst & Young advising a wide range of clients including financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, private equity and real estate investment firms, governments, family businesses and high net worth individuals on their investment, capital raising, performance improvement, restructuring and strategy.

Hammad is a CFA charter holder from the CFA Institute USA, an ACCA from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of the UK, and ACA from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan.

Suryanarayanan Hariharan, Chief Financial Officer of the GFH Financial Group, works closely with the Group’s executive management team and is responsible for the accounting, financial planning and analysis, and stakeholder reporting, including regulatory reporting, for the Group and its owned subsidiaries. Surya has more than 16 years’ experience in stakeholder reporting, audit services, business process improvement and transition and risk advisory. Prior to his appointment at GFH, he was the Head of Finance for a private equity venture in Abu Dhabi backed by sovereign wealth funds and ultra high net worth individuals. Previous to this he was in audit services and real estate domain at KPMG in both Bahrain and Qatar, and Pricewaterhouse Coopers in India.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Mumbai, India, and is a Chartered Accountant (CA) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, and a Certified Management Accountant, USA.

Fahad Yateem is a seasoned banking professional with over 15 years of experience in banking and banking regulations. He began his career as a Risk Analyst with Bahrain Islamic Bank in 2007. In 2008, he joined the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) as a Banking Examiner, where he was responsible for conducting full-scope examinations of all types of financial institutions. He was then promoted to the position of Director at CBB in 2015, where he oversaw two major sectors: Islamic banks and ancillary service providers. During his time at CBB, he was involved in the creation of numerous regulations and was in charge of overseeing their implementation by relevant institutions.

Fahad currently provides private consulting services in the areas of governance, risk management, compliance and anti-money laundering (AML), Islamic banking, Sharia compliance, financial reporting, and internal controls. He is a graduate of the SOAS University of London, where he holds a Master’s degree in Banking. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Islamic Professional Accountant (CIPA).

Nael is the Chief Executive Officer of GFH Partners Ltd., where he is responsible for developing and executing the firm’s global real estate investment strategy.

With over 30 years of experience in investment banking, Nael has covered the areas of capital markets, corporate finance as well as Shari’ah compliant alternative investments in North America and the Middle East.

Nael is a CFA charterholder and holds an MBA from the University of Edinburgh.

Talal is the Chief Operating Officer of GFH Partners Ltd., bringing more than 18 years of experience in Banking, Strategic Investments and Financial experience to his role.

Prior to his current role, Talal served as the Acting Chief Executive of Infracorp, and was the Assistant General Manager of Investments in Khaleeji Commercial Bank (“KHCB”) where he was responsible for managing investment transactions and restructurings of corporate banking assets.

Talal holds a Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance from the University of Bahrain.

Hugh is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Roebuck and has jointly led the company since inception in 2009. Hugh is responsible for the overall investment strategy of Roebuck, bringing to his role over 17 years of experience.

Hugh is an expert in UK and European capital markets, primarily in the logistics and office sectors and has transacted in excess of €3.25bn. He has extensive knowledge of, and key relationships, with investors, occupiers, developers and lenders, active across all of Roebuck’s target investment markets.

Hugh holds a BA in History from the University of Newcastle, a MSc in Property Valuation & Law from the Cass Business School in London, and is a fully qualified member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Nick is co-founder and Managing Partner of Roebuck and has jointly led the company since inception in 2009. With over 17 years of experience, Nick is primarily responsible for the management of all real estate transactions and corporate operational matters.

Nick has extensive experience in undertaking and structuring complex transactions in both the UK and Europe with a wide range of institutional capital partners. Nick also oversees all tax and corporate structuring during pre-acquisition due diligence and post closing. Over his career he has transacted more than €2.75bn, predominantly in the logistics and offices sectors.

Nick holds a BA in Geography from the University of Newcastle, a MSc in Property Valuation & Law from the Cass Business School in London, and is a fully qualified member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Jason is the Founder and Managing Partner of Big Sky Asset Management. He has spent his career exclusively in the healthcare real estate industry and is a well-established thought leader in the medical office and senior living sectors. Jason began his career as a civil engineer designing hospitals in Nashville, Tennessee. After graduate school, he ventured into medical office development and found his niche organizing physicians into real estate partnerships. Since then, he has developed or acquired over seven million square feet of healthcare real estate in 24 states valued in excess of $2 billion. Jason follows a hands-on approach capitalizing on his deep understanding of the underlying drivers of value.

Jason graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA with honors from Southern Methodist University.

Andy founded Student Quarters in 2013 and has led the firm as President & CEO since its inception.

Under Andy’s leadership, the company has assembled a portfolio of over 9,000 beds and is now recognized as one of the leaders in the student housing sector. Andy’s primary responsibilities include building the Student Quarters’ team and raising capital. In addition, Andy serves on both the Investment Committee and Board of Directors.

Andy earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia in 1992, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia in 1997.