Oman Arab Bank Celebrates Graduation of New LEAD Batch
Muscat, March 17, 2019: In its latest step towards the development of its Omani staff, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) recently organised a special ceremony to celebrate the graduation of the second batch of employees who have now successfully completed the Leadership Enhancement and Development program (LEAD). The ceremony was held under the patronage of H E Hamad bin Khamis al Amri, Undersecretary for Labour Affairs in the Ministry of Manpower, and was overseen by Rashad Al Musafir, the CEO of the Bank, together with several members of the executive management and senior staff of the Bank. The ceremony, organised at Bait Al Zubair, witnessed the handing over of graduation certificates to each of the 20 ‘LEAD 2’ candidates.
Commenting on the graduation of the second batch of LEAD, Rashad Al Musafir noted, “We are proud to see our second batch of employees completing LEAD, a program which has been designed specifically to develop young talent and reinforce the executive management of the Bank with highly competent staff at all levels. This will ensure our ability to keep up with rapid changes in the banking world and grow to become the leading bank in the sector.”
Adil Al Rahbi, Head of Human Resources Division at OAB further added, “The six-month training program, designed in cooperation with the globally renowned leadership and management consultant firm, Inspirational Development Group, combines the best international practices in order to empower the participants with the required managerial skills and knowledge to assume leadership positions within the Bank in the future. The graduation of the second batch of LEAD candidates today is a reflection of our commitment towards empowering our future leaders. The majority of LEAD graduates will take upnew managerial and leadership roles within their respective divisions across various branches of the Bank. This focus on developing our Omani staff is further reflected in our position as a sector leader with regards to Omanisation.”
The ceremony included a short presentation showcasing the participants’ journey during LEAD 2 over the past few months. Gerry Woods from Inspirational Development Group then delivered a speech in which he said, “The excellent relationship between OAB and IDG continues to exemplify our joint effort and dedication towards delivering leadership excellence through the LEAD programme. A great degree of credit for the success of LEAD has to go to the CEO’s personal leadership and vision for the programme and as well as the close involvement and stewardship demonstrated consistently by Mr Adil Al Rahbi as the Head of the Bank’s HR division.”
Ayman Al Shihi, a LEAD graduate from the Human Resources Division gave the graduates speech, in which he said, “The LEAD programme has challenged us in terms of financial and organisational management. This has notably improved our ability to analyse obstacles, understand them, and then come up with the appropriate decisions and steps required to overcome them. In doing so, we have gained greater insight into the key elements and qualities required to ensure success within the banking sector. On behalf of all my colleagues, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Board of Directors, the Executive Management, and the Human Resources Division of the Bank for providing us with such a valuable opportunity.”
The chief guest handed over the certificates to the graduates together with the CEO, who congratulating the participants said, “On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Executive Management of OAB, I would like to congratulate each one of the LEAD 2 graduates, and hope their achievement will serve as inspiration for their colleagues to work hard and put in greater efforts in order to get an opportunity of their own to apply for the upcoming batches of the program.”
The LEAD 2 graduation ceremony also witnessed the introduction of its new LEAD 3 candidates. The 20 candidates included staff from across various departments of the Bank and had already begun training on the first workshops of the program in February. In the coming months, they will be provided with opportunities to interact with some of the best and most experienced leadership development experts in the industry, ensuring career development and growth for years to come.
The Human Resources Division conducts an annual online 360-degree evaluation of the leadership capabilities of its employees across all departments of the Bank in order to select potential candidates for the program. This program aims to build a team of highly qualified staff as part of the Bank’s management and at the same time contribute towards the development of human capital within the Sultanate as a whole.
The ‘LEAD’ programme has been designed in cooperation with Inspirational Development Group (IDG) and is facilitated by a team from IDG, a globally renowned leadership and management performance consultancy. The company has channelled its long history of experience delivering high-quality and intensive work programmes to some of the most prestigious organisations in the world. Closely affiliated with the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, IDG has worked with some of the most important public and private sector companies in the region from its Middle East office based in Muscat.
Oman Arab Bank is proud to have achieved the highest Omanisation percentage within the banking sector, nearing 96%. It is also one of the first banks to be established in Oman with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 65 branches and representative offices and 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB also provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate, and investment clients.
