Abdali Mall…
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Abdali Mall…
The magazine of the Kuwait Projects Company (Holding) Abdali Mall… a unique shopping experience soon in Amman! Issue 38: July 2012 KIPCOLife A testament of an excellent execution of the corporate strategy Burgan Bank Group has been recognized as the “Best Banking Group in Middle East & North Africa” for 2012. This award by “Global Banking and Finance Review” comes in recognition of the group’s turnaround process that delivered a solid financial performance across the region, making Burgan Bank Group your trusted partner in the region. Members of Burgan Bank Group: For more information call Burgan Bank on (+965) 22988400, or visit www.burgan.com The magazine of the Kuwait Projects Company (Holding) Issue 38: July 2012 KIPCOLife Abdali Mall… a unique shopping experience soon in Amman! Contents 2 KIPCO VC meets representatives of int’l financial institutions 4 KIPCO joins NBK and Zain to form ME-IR Society Kuwait Chapter 7 Burgan signs agreement to acquire Eurobank Tekfen 14 KIPCO announces 2012 employee awards 25 PKC group goes river rafting! 28 Al Haqhaq: Burgan’s financial performance is solid 33 Chef Samer… a story of success! 36 Abdali Mall… Jordan’s largest project Head Office: Kuwait Projects Company (Holding) P.O. Box 23982 Safat 13100 Kuwait www.kipco.com For inquiries please call (+965) 1 805 885 ext. 1615 or email [email protected] KIPCO NEWS KIPCO Vice Chairman meets representatives of international financial institutions KIPCO’s Vice Chairman, Mr Faisal Al Ayyar, recently met with a number of delegations to discuss the strengthening of relations and the challenges brought about by the global financial crisis, as well as areas for cooperation. The Vice Chairman and KIPCO representatives met with a delegation from Credit Suisse at the Chairman’s Club. Credit Suisse Group is a world-leading financial services company, advising clients in all aspects of finance, around the world, around the clock. It provides companies, institutional clients and high-net-worth private clients worldwide with advisory services, comprehensive solutions and products. Credit Suisse operates in three global divisions – Private Banking, Investment Banking and Asset Management. 2 Photo above, from left: KIPCO Group CFO, Mr Pinak Maitra; KIPCO Manager – Financial Controls Department, Mr Anuj Rohtagi; Credit Suisse Head for Media and Telecoms – EMEA, Mr Alastair Blackman; Credit Suisse Director – Investment Banking Department, Mr Marc Tohme; KIPCO Group COO, Mr Samer Khanachet; KIPCO CEO – Investment, Mr Tariq Abdulsalam; KIPCO CEO – Banking, Mr Masaud Hayat; Credit Suisse CEO – EMEA, Mr Fawzi Kyriakos; KIPCO Vice Chairman, Mr Faisal Al Ayyar; Credit Suisse MD & Co-CEO MENA, Mr Bassam Yammine; and KIPCO Senior VP – Technology & Media, Robert Drolet. KIPCO NEWS Mr Al Ayyar also met with representatives of Tiger Management Corp. Tiger Management is a privately owned hedge fund sponsor. The firm invests in the public equity markets across the globe. Tiger Management was founded in 1980 and is based in New York. Photo above, from left: KIPCO Group Treasurer, Mr Declan Sawey; KIPCO Group CFO, Mr Pinak Maitra; KIPCO CEO – Investment, Mr Tariq Abdulsalam; Tiger Managing Partner, Mr John L. Townsend, III; Tiger Co-Founder, Mr Julian H. Robertson, Jr.; KIPCO Vice Chairman, Mr Faisal Al Ayyar; Tiger Managing Partner, Mr Alex Robertson; KIPCO Group COO, Mr Samer Khanachet; and Mr Faisal Sarkhou of KAMCO. KIPCO’s Vice Chairman met with a delegation from Societe Generale, a large European bank and a major financial services company with global presence. Mr Eric Meyer; KIPCO Vice Chairman, Mr Faisal Al Ayyar; Chairman, CEO & President of the French Banking Federation & French Banks’ Association, Mr Frederic Oudea; Societe Generale MD – Head of Financial Institutions in ME, Mr Fouad Salame; KIPCO CEO – Investment, Mr Tariq Abdulsalam; and KIPCO Group CFO, Mr Pinak Maitra. Photo above, from left: Societe Generale Chief Executive – ME, Mr Eric Wormser; Societe Generale Senior Banker for Kuwait, 3 KIPCO NEWS KIPCO announces KD 8.5 mln profits in Q1 KIPCO announced net profit of KD 8.5 million (US$ 30.6 million), or 6.51 fils (US$ 2.34 cents) per share for the first three months of 2012 - an increase of 5% compared to the KD 8.1 million (US$ 29.2 million) profit, or 6.49 fils (US$ 2.34 cents) per share, reported for the same period last year. KIPCO’s total revenues for the first three months of 2012 increased by 16% to KD 108.4 million (US$ 390.3 million) from KD 93.2 million (US$ 336.2 million) in the first quarter of 2011. The company also reported a year-on-year rise in operating profit to KD 24.1 million (US$ 86.8 million) for the first quarter of 2012 - an increase of 32% from the KD 18.2 million (US$ 65.6 million) in the first quarter of 2011. KIPCO’s consolidated assets increased in the first quarter of 2012, to KD 6.1 billion (US$ 21.9 billion) from KD 5.8 billion (US$ 20.8 billion) for the year end 2011. Mr Tariq Abdulsalam Mr Tariq Abdulsalam, KIPCO’s CEO – Investment, said KIPCO’s first quarter results were in line with the expectations outlined by the company at its recent Investor’s Forum. “At our Shafafiyah Investor’s Forum in April, we said we expected growth from our financial services and media businesses during this year. This expected growth is now beginning to emerge and its impact is reflected in our first quarter results. We expect these growth trends to continue and perhaps accelerate, as the year progresses. If this happens, we hope to meet - or even exceed – the expectations we have for our year-end results.” KIPCO joins NBK and Zain in forming ME-IR Society Kuwait Chapter The Middle East Investor Relations Society (ME-IR Society) has launched the Kuwait Chapter with KIPCO, NBK and Zain forming its Board. The informal supervisory Board will aim to improve the quality of investor relations practices and related educational resources in Kuwait. The Board is chaired by Zain’s IR Director Mr Mohammad Abdal, and the members are Mr Mazen Hawa of KIPCO and Mr Amir Hanna of NBK. Representing the IR Society on the Board is Rothschild and Bank of New York Mellon. The Kuwait Chapter will focus on promoting investor relations as a distinct and essential part of the corporate landscape, and will seek to enhance the reputation, efficiency and attractiveness of Kuwait’s capital market. Commenting on the launch, Mr Paul Reynolds, Chairman of the ME-IR said, “We are very pleased to welcome to the Society our brothers and sisters in Kuwait. We look forward to working together with them to strengthen the practice of investor relations and enhance the reputation of the capital markets both in Kuwait and the wider region. Through the partnership, the Kuwait Chapter of the MEIR Society will organize workshops and host annual IR conferences in line with its other chapters. ME-IR Society 4 From left: Amir Hanna of NBK, Declan Sawey of KIPCO, Mazen Hawa of KIPCO, Mohammad Abdal of NBK, Ahmad Al Omani of Global, Majed Al Mesmari of Rothchild, and Peter Gotke of Bank of NY Mellon conferences typically discuss the practical and strategic challenges of operating dedicated IR departments whilst inviting members to discuss tools and solutions for effective investor relations. ME-IR Society Certified Investor Relations Officer training courses will be announced in the near future, along with literature explaining the role of the committee and joining details for companies in Kuwait. The ME-IR Society Kuwait Chapter recently held its inaugural meeting to brainstorm ideas on ways to add value to the society’s members and supporting them with IR programs, strategies and techniques. KIPCO NEWS KIPCO appoints Group Chief HR & Admin Officer Mr Khaled Al Sharrad has been appointed as KIPCO Group Chief Human Resources & Administration Officer. He was previously Senior Executive VP, Head of HR & Admin Division at KAMCO. Mr Samer Khanachet, KIPCO’s Group COO, said, “We are delighted that Khaled has joined us. This is the first time we have appointed a head of human resources and administration across the KIPCO Group to oversee our HR and administration activities. Khaled will bring his vast experience and excellent management skills to bear on our organization and throughout the KIPCO Group.” On his part, Mr Al Sharrad said, “I am very pleased to be joining KIPCO because its corporate culture focuses on people and the sustainability of economic and social goals. I am looking forward to my new position where I will assist group companies develop their organizational culture to help employees to do their jobs even better”. Mr Khaled Al Sharrad UGB appoints Acting CEO UGB announced the appointment of Mr Rabih Soukarieh as the new Acting CEO following Board of Directors approving the retirement request of the Mr Mohammed Haroon. Mr Soukarieh, Head of Asset Management and Investment Banking at UGB, has worked extensively over the past 21 years in Canada, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Qatar. Prior to re-joining UGB in 2009, he held senior operating positions in KIPCO Group Companies. Mr Soukarieh is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds an MBA from Northeastern University, Boston and a BSc in Finance from Indiana University, Bloomington. UGB’s Chairman, Mr Masaud Hayat, said, “On behalf of Board of Directors, I would like to pay tribute to Mr Haroon’s major contribution to the business growth and strategic development of UGB. We thank Mr Haroon for his dedicated commitment to the bank over the past 30 years. We are delighted that he has agreed to continue as the Advisor and Secretary to the Board of Directors so the bank will continue to benefit from his unique experience and expertise.” He added, “We are also delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Soukarieh as the new Acting CEO. His vast knowledge of credit and capital markets will enable him to continue UGB’s track record of creating shareholder value and profitability.” Mr Soukarieh said, “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead UGB. The bank has a strong regional network and proven capabilities. I look forward to strengthening our presence and extending our capabilities in asset management and investment banking.” Mr Rabih Soukarieh 5 KIPCO NEWS KIPCO Group’s internal audit departments attend training Participants in the internal audit training program KIPCO’s Internal Audit Department organized the first professional training program for the internal auditors of the KIPCO Group companies. The two-day training program was administered by PricewaterhouseCoopers and took place at the AUK, and was followed by a one-day Group Internal Audit Conference. KIPCO’s Group COO, Mr Samer Khanachet, welcomed the participants and emphasized the valuable role that the internal audit function continues to play within the Group. The internal audit provides assurance of the effectiveness and efficiency of controls within the Group and highlights the potential risks and recommended remedial actions for mitigating such risks. Mr Khanachet noted that back in 2007, internal audit was the only function that was conducting Group-wide meetings for its members to share experiences and expertise, and that now other functions have followed suit. The interactive training program focused on the basic principles and practices of good corporate governance, with emphasis on the role of internal audit. The program covered the foundations of corporate governance, the Kuwaiti corporate governance regulations, as well as other matters related to internal audit and corporate governance. Representatives of the Group’s finance and accounting departments were also invited to participate in this event, bringing total number of participants to 22. Congratulations to AUK’s Class of 2012! KIPCOLife would like to congratulate the 435 graduates of AUK’s Class of 2012 and wish them success in their careers! 6 KIPCO NEWS Burgan Bank signs agreement to acquire Eurobank Tekfen JKB gets a new banking system JKB Chairman, H.E. Mr Abdelkarim Kabariti (second from right), with ICS and JKB representatives JKB and ICS Financial Systems Ltd (ICS-FS) signed an agreement to provide the bank with a new banking system that includes a core system, supplementary programs and applications that cover all of the bank’s banking, monitoring, financial and administrative needs. The system will be implemented in all of JKB’s branches in Jordan, Palestine and Cyprus. Mr Majed Al Ajeel, Burgan Bank Chairman (left), and Nickolas Karamouzis Board Member, EFG Luxemburg, signing the agreement Burgan Bank has entered into an agreement with Eurobank EFG to acquire a 99.26% stake in Eurobank Tekfen, Turkey. Under the terms of the agreement, Burgan Bank has agreed to acquire the stake for a consideration value of TRY641 million (KD99 million) representing 0.98x based on September 30, 2011 shareholders’ equity. In addition, Burgan Bank has also agreed to acquire an additional portfolio of Turkish loans from EFG amounting to EURO 214 million (KD78 million). The total consideration will be funded fully from Burgan’s existing internal cash resources. The final execution of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals from Central Bank of Kuwait and Turkey’s Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency. Eurobank Tekfen was established in 1989 by Tekfen Group as an investment and finance bank. EFG acquired a 70% stake in the bank in 2007 to further its regional presence. As at September 30, 2011, Eurobank Tekfen had total assets of TRY5,428 million, net customer loans of TRY2,190 million, customer deposits of TRY2,075 million and shareholders’ equity of TRY660 million. The bank has extensive geographic coverage within Turkey through its network of 60 branches. The Turkish economy and banking sector have continued to demonstrate significant positive performance and resilience throughout the global financial crisis and offer opportunities for continued long term expansion. Turkey’s large, growing and young population, combined with strategic positioning between Europe and the Middle East offers strong potential for further economic growth in the medium-to-long term, with increasing business flows with the Middle East. Citigroup Global Markets Limited acted as the exclusive financial advisor for Burgan Bank on this transaction. This paradigm shift adopted by the management will offer the bank’s clients highly efficient services, as well as comprehensive and coherent banking and administrative processes. The new system will also offer supplementary applications and measurement tools in addition to advanced financial, statistical, analytical and monitory programs. An execution and implementation plan has been put into place to have the new system fully implemented by the first quarter of 2013 at the latest. KIPCO World.. a glimpse of our operations across the region KIPCO has released the first edition of ‘KIPCO World’ – a new publication that celebrates KIPCO Group’s geographical and sector presence across the MENA region. With operating subsidiaries in 14 countries from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea and employing over 8,000 people, KIPCO is now one of the largest and most successful investment companies in the region. The publication, which contains 120 pages, is available in both Arabic and English. Categorized geographically, KIPCO World takes you through the operating companies in Kuwait, the Arabian Gulf, the Levant and North Africa, telling KIPCO’s success story – a testament to what the entrepreneurial spirit of our region can achieve. We hope that you will enjoy reading this first edition of KIPCO World, which is also available on our website (www.kipco.com). 7 KIPCO NEWS Burgan Bank selects ICS BANKS for new banking system From left: Mr Menon, Mr Gostuski and Mr Malkawi Burgan Bank has selected ICS BANKS, the universal banking software from ICS Financial Systems Limited (ICSFS), the global software and services provider for banks and financial institutions. The signing, which took place in Kuwait, was attended by Burgan’s Group COO Mr Adrian Gostuski, COO Mr Venkatakrishnan Menon, and Executive Director for Business Development of ICSFS Mr Wael Malkawi. Commenting on this milestone, Mr Gostuski stated, “Choosing a comprehensive banking system that is in harmony with Burgan Bank’s regional and global expansion strategy was one of the most essential objectives for the past couple of years. Selecting ICS BANKS will play an important role in growing our footprint worldwide, as well as supporting our vision of becoming the region’s leading banking group through providing high standards of financial services in the banking industry.” QPIC participates in two petrochemical conferences Mr Fuad Akbar, Director of QPIC’s Project Management Department, speaking at the conference in Dubai Mr Fuad Akbar (center) with international delegates at the Zurich conference As part of the strategy of Qurain Petrochemical Industries Co. (QPIC) to contribute effectively to local and international petrochemical events, the company recently participated in two international conferences. The first conference was ‘Polyester & PET Chain 2012’ which was held in Zurich, Switzerland, and the second was the ‘Middle East Petrochemicals 2012’, which was held in Dubai, UAE. sector’s main players, investors and decision-makers. QPIC took the opportunity to explain its future strategy and its contribution to the development of the petrochemical sector in the region. The two conferences brought together the petrochemical 8 QPIC is keen on participating in such events in order to support its ongoing strategy, and it actively seeks new petrochemical investment opportunities in partnership with well-reputed entities and major financial consulting agencies. KIPCO NEWS JKB signs financing agreement with NEPCO JKB signed a JD 50 million financing agreement with the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO). The agreement was signed by Mr Mohammad Yaser Al Asmar, General Manager of JKB, and Dr Ghaleb Maabreh, General Manager of NEPCO. Dr Maabreh expressed his gratitude and appreciation towards the bank and its professional approach in handling and executing the agreement and hoped for future cooperation between both parties. On his behalf, Mr Al Asmar added that this agreement comes as a culmination of the good relation between JKB and NEPCO as well as a confirmation of the bank’s commitment in supporting the national economy through providing funding to effective and productive sectors of the economy and in particular the energy sector, which is witnessing developments and rapid growth despite the challenges being tied to global energy prices. JKB’s GM (left) and his counterpart at NEPCO sign the agreement KAMCO, Burgan & Markaz issue KD 26.5 mln bonds for Al Argan From left: Mr Manaf Al Hajri, CEO of MARKAZ; Mr Khalid Al Mashaan, Chairman & MD of Al Argan; Mr Sadoun Ali; Ms May Al Mudhaf; Mr Faisal Sarkhou of KAMCO; and Mr Salem Al Haroun, Senior Manager – Investment, Burgan Bank Al Argan International Real Estate Company, KAMCO, Burgan Bank and Kuwait Financial Centre (MARKAZ) recently announced the issuance of KD 26.5 million bonds for Al Argan. The timing of the issuance of the Al Argan bonds was highly opportunistic given the recovery of the local real estate bonds market, which had not had a bond issuance since June 2010. The bonds were rated BBB- by the ratings agency ‘Capital Intelligence’. The maturity period for these bonds is five years, issued in two tranches; the first worth KD 23.2 million with a fixed interest rate of 6.25% annually; and the second worth KD 3.3 million with a floating interest rate of 3.50% annually above the Central Bank of Kuwait discount rate. KAMCO’s former CEO and Managing Director, Mr Sadoun Ali, said, “We are very proud to have taken part and lent our assistance and expertise to such a project, and believe that the bond market will bring forth significant returns to all investors. We at KAMCO have a firm interest in the development and support of the issuance of bonds and sukuks to diversify debt restructuring instruments to local businesses.” Burgan Bank’s former Senior General Manager, Investment Banking and Treasury, Ms May Al Mudhaf, added, “The issuance of these bonds encourages companies with solid financial position to issue bonds, sukuks, and even bank loans to offer companies the solvency they need. We are confident of Al Argan’s success and thank them for trusting us in managing the issuance alongside KAMCO and Markaz and look forward to continued shared success.” 9 KIPCO NEWS Burgan brand rated as AA with positive outlook Brand Finance – the international brand valuation company – has rated the Burgan Bank brand as AA with positive outlook. The rating places Burgan Bank brand at second place amongst the most valuable banking brands in Kuwait. The brand ratings and values were recently published in ‘The Banker’ magazine featuring the Brand Finance’s annual report on the world’s most valuable 500 banking brands. Burgan Bank brand has climbed to the 500 global banking brands list and ranked as 397 globally and 19th across the GCC. Bashir Jaber, Burgan Bank’s Assistant GM – Corporate Communications said, “We are pleased with our latest brand ratings, and this achievement echoes the deep levels of trust amongst our stakeholders to whom we are thankful.” “In modern business conditions, the brand is essentially important for business strategy success and strategic brand management is a vital component of Burgan Bank’s corporate strategy. There is an increased desire from leading organizations to fully understand brand equity as well as brand value when making strategic decisions. Burgan Bank brand has been created on a solid platform of trust and partnership, and one that ensures the delivery of international best practices across our operations,” added Jaber. Bashir Jaber Arab Orient takes part in Bupa conference at Dead Sea Participants in the conference Bupa International, one of the world leaders in health insurance, held a special four-day conference for its partners and distributors at the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar at the Dead Sea, Jordan. Arab Orient Insurance Company, Bupa International’s partner in the Hashmite Kingdom of Jordan, was present to welcome the guests and be a part of this fascinating journey through the famous sites of Jordan and the world of health insurance with Bupa International. 10 Mr Melhem (center) with insurance delegates Representing Arab Orient at the event were Mr Mustafa Melhem, Deputy CEO – Medical Insurance and Customer Care, and Mr Ahmad Abdo, Director – Business Development and PR Departments. Commenting on this occasion, Mr Melhem said, “I was pleased to participate in such a significant event, and to get to connect with Bupa International distributors and partners from all around the world. What added to my excitement was the opportunity to communicate and cooperate with current and potential business partners in the health insurance field.” The conference shed light on the exponential growth the insurance industry and highlighted case studies from 2011. The Bupa team recognized the partners and distributors with the best achievements for the same year and offered innovative strategies to provide flexible health insurance for individuals and families. Mr Melhem was one of the representatives who received recognition. KIPCO NEWS OSN launches new platform to watch TV online, anytime, anywhere OSN has announced the launch of OSN Play, the region’s first online TV platform, allowing its customers to watch the latest movies and series over the Internet on a variety of devices, anywhere, anytime at no extra charge to OSN subscribers. The launch of ‘OSN Play’ comes as consumers widen the devices they use for viewing entertainment, showing increased usage of the Internet and social networking. New research shows that 40% of consumers would like to watch TV on their laptops, with a further 38% wanting to use their iPad or tablet device. An additional 19% would like to watch their favorite program on their mobile phones. Mr David Butorac, CEO of OSN said, “OSN Play will allow customers to get the best out of their OSN subscription. It’s a great way to put viewers in charge of their entertainment and experience the TV they love wherever and whenever they choose. OSN remains committed to being at the forefront of technological advancement and OSN Play will continue to expand to a wide range of digital devices in the coming weeks.” OSN’s exclusive deals with major studios including Warner Brothers, Fox and Disney guarantees viewers a line-up of the biggest and best movies and series from Hollywood and beyond. The recent research shows that if they could use any device, anywhere, 39% of consumers would watch movies, 13% would watch series, and a further 12% would watch sports. With the launch of the new OSN Play platform, customers will be able to do just this, and have more control and choice over how, when and where they enjoy their favorite programs. OSN Play will have full parental control that allows users to set content ratings to ensure only appropriate content can be viewed. In addition, to support the launch, a full portfolio of online support information with simple guides on how to enjoy OSN Play is available for customers. Access to the OSN Play platform will be limited to two registered devices at any one time. OSN Play will be rolled out across a variety of devices including iOS (Apple products), Smart TV, Android tablets, mobile devices and Game Consoles throughout the year. Cake & Bake gets a face-lift! Cake & Bake is executing one of the most notable and exuberant brand facelifts in Kuwait! Adapting to its constantly evolving market, Cake & Bake has redesigned their brand identity to create a fresh and vibrant look. The new and contemporary brand look and feel is derived from the brilliant products created by the vibrant Cake & Bake team of bakers and designers. The brown, orange and copper color tones of the previous brand remain as the primary color tones of the new brand as a symbol of reverence to the company’s past. Tones of orange, pink, and green are among the new colors that have been introduced representing the variety of Cake & Bake products satisfying all flavor and presentation preferences. With the new higher design esthetic, not only will customers be able to witness the design evolution of Cake & Bake but also experience the festive facelift which will surly delight and brighten all of their memorable occasions. To experience the new brand, customers can now visit the Salmiya branch of Cake & Bake. The other branches will be revamped throughout the year. Another interactive way of experiencing the new brand is by visiting the easy-to-navigate official website www.cakenbake.com which allows visitors to browse all their products, take advantage of current promotions and make purchases. The bilingual website is the most sophisticated website in Kuwait’s retail confectionary and bakery industry, where customers can view the latest Cake & Bake products, placing the order, and having the product delivered to their home or office, all within a couple of hours. In addition to browsing the range of flavors, sizes and cost of everyday cakes, pastries and chocolate, visitors have the luxury of surfing through the Special Orders page of the Cake & Bake website. Prefer an out of the box concept? The Special Orders page contains a variety of remarkable theme cakes specially designed by Cake & Bake’s brilliantly skilled Chefs and suitable for all memorable occasions like baby showers, graduations and weddings. 11 KIPCO NEWS KIPCO sponsors Arab Media Forum KIPCO Group COO, Mr Samer Khanachet, receives a trophy from H.E. the Minister of Information H.E. the Minister of Information visits the KIPCO booth H.H. the Prime Minister at the KIPCO booth KIPCO was a Gold Sponsor of the ‘Second Arab Media Forum for Youth’. The event, organized by the Arab Media Forum, was held under the auspices of H.H. the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah. The event discussed ‘The Arab Spring of Media’. KIPCO and representatives of KIPCO Group companies – including Burgan Bank, Gulfnet and Marina FM – took part in the job fair held alongside the event, which was inaugurated by the Representative of H.H. the Amir, H.E. the Minister of Information Sheikh Mohammad Al Abdullah Al Mubarak Al Sabah. KIPCO also sponsored the ‘Ninth Annual Arab Media Forum’, which was held under the auspices of H.H. the Prime Minister 12 Eman Al Awadhi, Assistant Manager, KIPCO Marketing and PR Department, said, “KIPCO operates many businesses in the MENA region, and as part of our corporate social responsibility activities we are keen on supporting events that address the concerns of the Kuwaiti and Arab societies. We thank the organizers for giving us the opportunity to exchange ideas with the young people and media representatives that have come to take part in the two events.” KIPCO NEWS Burgan Bank wins two prestigious awards Mr Eduardo Eguren Burgan Bank Group has received the prestigious ‘Best Banking Group in MENA 2012’ award by Global Banking & Finance Review, one of the world’s leading global banking and finance online publications. The award comes in recognition of the group’s turnaround performance and delivery of sound results across its operations in Kuwait, Jordan, Algeria, Iraq and Tunisia. Mr Eduardo Eguren, Burgan Bank Group’s CEO said, “We are very pleased with our recent achievement of being recognized as the ‘Best Banking Group in MENA 2012’. This accolade is a testament to our turnaround process that delivered a solid financial performance across the group.” JKB recognized at Queen Alia CSR competition Mr Raed Al Haqhaq Burgan Bank also received the coveted ‘Best Corporate Bank in Kuwait 2012’ award from Global Banking & Finance Review. The bank’s most recent achievement comes in recognition of the Corporate Banking Group’s superior performance and expanding on its strategic objectives of maintaining growth levels. Mr Raed Al Haqhaq, Chief Banking Officer - Senior GM at Burgan Bank said, “We are pleased to have been recognized as Kuwait’s ‘Best Corporate Bank’ in 2012. The award demonstrates our continuous pursuit of offering innovative products and services that meet the various needs of our clients while also supporting them at every stage of their business cycles.” Bank of Baghdad named ‘Best Local Bank in Iraq’ Board Member, Adel Al Hasson, receives the award on behalf of BoB The Bank of Baghdad has been named the ‘Best Local Bank in Iraq 2012’ by the EMAE Finance Magazine – the complete information source for the finance industry in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. Abdel Wahab Samman of JKB’s PR Department (right) receives the guild from Princess Basma Under the patronage of HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal of Jordan, an award ceremony was held to honor the winners of the Queen Alia Competition for Social Responsibility 2011. The theme of this year’s competition was to shed light on the most current and important environmental issues and their implications. In recognition of JKB’s effective and outstanding role and contributions in the service of the community and environment within the framework of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal presented JKB with a guild at the ceremony. BoB Board Member Adel Al Hasson received the award on behalf of the bank at a ceremony held in Dubai. The bank’s success in recent years is attributed to a focused strategy that invests in the training of its employees, as well as enhancing the efficiency and performance of its processes through implementing new banking systems using the latest technology. Commenting on the winning the award, BoB Chairman, Mr Isam Al Sherif said, “We are delighted to accept this award. This honor has made us more determined and committed to continue to hold a premier position in the Iraqi market. We will continue our strategy of investing in our local employees, whom we consider to be the bank’s real assets. We are also committed to providing added value to our Iraqi and international clients through further development of our client services and presenting a wide range of new products and services that cover their banking needs.” 13 KIPCO NEWS KIPCO announces 2012 Employee Awards Kuwaiti opera singer, Rahmani, performing 14 KIPCO NEWS Guests enjoyed an amazing light show This year’s KIPCO Gala Dinner kicked off with an exciting light show by a group from the UK that had the invitees at the edge of their seats. The 350 KIPCO Group employees who attended the event, which took place at the Sheikha Salwa Al Sabah Ballroom, were then treated to an amazing performance by Kuwait’s own opera singer Abdulrahman Al Mahmeed, Rahmani, and his band. The highlight of the event was the announcement of the 2012 KIPCO Employee Awards. The awards were presented by KIPCO Board Member, Mr Abdullah Bishara, and KIPCO Group COO, Mr Samer Khanachet, in recognition of the employees who displayed outstanding performance throughout the year. The winner of this year’s ‘Best Employee of KIPCO Group 2012’ award was Mr Wout Matthijs, the CEO of SADAFCO. The award was in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the commercial success of his company. The ‘KIPCO Group Company of the Year 2012’ award went to United Networks, and it was accepted by the company’s Chairman, Mr Mahmoud Al Sanea. The winner of ‘KIPCO’s Best Employee of the Year 2012’ was Senior Vice President, Technology & Media, Mr Robert Drolet. KIPCO also introduced a new employee award for 2012. The ‘KIPCO Group Young Achiever Award’ – given to an employee Abeer Al Omar of KIPCO’s Corporate Communications Department announcing the winners who demonstrates potential and progress in their work – was given to Ms Moudhi Al Rashed of KIPCO’s Finance and Accounts Department. The trophies presented to the award winners were custommade in the United States by Wasma’a Al Shorbaji, an artist from New England famous for her ceramic designs. 15 KIPCO NEWS KIPCO Group Awards 2012 Gro up Best C ompany United N of the Yea etworks r Award: Accepted Mahmou by Chairm d Al Sanea an, : of the Year p Employee KIPCO Grou CO AF D ijs of SA l Wout Matth to commercia contribution “Outstanding mpany” success of co Young Ach iever Aw ard: Moudhi A l Othman Al Rashed “Demonst of KIPCO ration of pr ogress with in the year ” 16 KIPCO NEWS KIPCO Group Employee of the Year Awards Gulf I nsura nc Moha mmad e Co.: Al Tar “Excep akma tional perfor mance ” .: surance Co Gulf Life In b ee at Taher Al Kh ” expectations “Exceeding Marina FM : Humoud Ad el “Outstanding innovation & high quality work” Burga n Ban k: Shaym a Al S ultan “Incre asing client winnin portfo g new lio & busine ss” Gulfsat: Rabih Salim “Outstanding co ntribution to business” Gulfnet: an Taghrid Othm l ms & professiona “Work on syste nt” developme United N etworks: Ahmad A l Saleh “Strategic contributio n & track as team w record orker” OSN: Anthram Rivzi “Team leadership – represents OSN’s very best!” ns: olutio ated S tion Integr a ontribu Kolt ity & c il b Shady a l a ization gram” “Organ on pro reducti t s o c to 17 KIPCO NEWS Pulsar Knowled ge Centre: Amit Jain “Positive attitu de & team spirit ” Estate: United Real Al Orifan ab ah Abdulw luable essional, inva of pr “Proactive, r” team membe KUC M: Joy ce F igu “Co ei m offic mitme ra n em ana t & sup gem e ent rb skill s ” United Industries Co.: Nabil Fayed “Consistency in achieving objectives” .: cts Co Proje d Oil Unite vity & , creati Basha ttitude Noor a l a n ssio “Profe g” workin team Unite d Fatem Gulf Bank : a Al J ahrom “Work ethic i & exc ellent attitu : emicals Petroch Qurain s a bility d Abb responsi Mohame ke extra ta to ss e “Willingn nce” performa & overall de” KAMCO: waja Shahab Kh ribution inking & cont th ic eg “Strat s” w busines to winning ne 18 KUFM: Mohamed Mu stafa “Organizationa l abilities, long-term track record” KIPCO NEWS North Africa Holding: Abderrahm an Hamroun i “Dedication, commitmen t & initiative” stment Co.: Manafae Inve Baker o Ab d ou Mahm onships with excellent relati & t en tm “Commi ers” business partn Kuwait Catering Co.: Samer Hamed “Effective management of central kitchen & progressive attitude” : ort Services Safir Supp e fa Ri Khalid Al , dedication der pressure “Working un clients” g on am n tatio & high repu Safat Catering Se rvices: Mohammed Avari an “Financial & busine ss skills – one of the company’s major ass ets!” Cake & Bake: Maher Al Sharif “Impact on sales” : otels gal ait H harhan Kuw R & le S on H s Al k a r b o b A lw derfu ” “Won – a guru! s e issu KIPCO: Robert Drolet : ’s Club airman The Ch ra a n a K llent Nishad e, exce s servic u o e rt u ” “Co work & team attitude 19 KIPCO NEWS 20 KIPCO NEWS 21 KIPCO CARES Burgan Bank hosts annual employee gathering Burgan employees with the management Burgan Bank recently held its yearly event to recognize the efforts of its employees, and reward them for contributing to the bank over the years. The event was attended by Burgan Chairman Mr Majed Al Ajeel, KIPCO Group CFO and Burgan Board Member Mr Pinak Maitra, Burgan CEO Mr Eduardo Eguren, the bank’s executive management as well as employees who UGB sponsored team wins TradeQuest championship work across different departments and branches. The event included a wide range of exciting activities, quiz games and a grand raffle draw. The evening was not only about showcasing gratitude, but aimed more at involving each employee in the evolving progress and future plans of the bank. AUK donates to KACCH Sigma Tau Delta members and their volunteers who worked on the KACCH book drives in 2011 and 2012 The winning team with UGB representatives UGB announced that the Ibn Khuldoon National School (IKNS) Team that it sponsored has won the TradeQuest 2011-2012 Championship. This is the second year in a row that UGB has sponsored the winning team. The awards were given out by H.E. Mr Rasheed Al Maraj, the Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, in the presence of Ms Afnan Al Zayani, Vice Chair of the Bahrain Bourse, and Mr Fouad Al Rashid, Director of the Bahrain Bourse. The program was initiated 15 years ago and provides students of Bahraini schools the opportunity to participate in a simulated trading program with shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Bahrain Bourse. This year, the competition was held amongst teams from six schools. Mr Rabih Soukarieh, Acting CEO of UGB, congratulated the winners and thanked the Central Bank of Bahrain and the Bahrain Bourse for the patronage of TradeQuest. “We are firm believers in corporate social responsibility and fostering the development of young people. UGB has supported the program for the past nine years and will continue to do so,” he said. Ms Deepa Chandrasekhar, Chief Compliance Officer and Investment Advisor of the IKNS team, expressed her delight at the team’s performance. “It is very gratifying to see the students develop their financial acumen and their presentation skills, and grow into confident speakers during the course of the program,” she said. 22 The AUK Chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Society won the organization’s Service Award for 2012 in recognition of a book drive held on behalf of Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH). “The project was deemed both well-organized and extremely valuable as a social outreach that would benefit many persons who, in a particularly vulnerable time of their lives, would find some relief through reading,” said William C. Johnson, Sigma Tau Delta’s Executive Director. Sigma Tau Delta promotes literacy in ways that exhibit service to society. Each year the organization recognizes one or more chapters whose service projects exemplify what it means to serve society by fostering literacy. “This year the Sigma Tau Delta judges were pleased to recognize the Alpha Rho Eta Chapter at AUK for exemplary service to KACCH,” Johnson said. Chapter members accepted the award at the annual convention which was held in New Orleans, LA, USA. As part of this honor, the chapter received a plaque and US$200 to buy children’s books for KACCH while in the USA. The chapter presented those books to KACCH. This gift follows the donation of roughly 676 books from a three-day book drive at AUK which concluded. With this gift, the AUK students have donated over 1,000 books to KACCH since the first book drive in the spring of 2011. “This project has always been dear to me because of my love of reading. As a child the book was the ultimate source of not only escape but of imagination as well as creativity,” said Alia Mustafa Aref, the chapter President and principal organizer of the award winning book drive. KIPCO CARES Arab Orient takes part in ‘Free Medical Day’ AUK students participate in ‘Women as Global Leaders’ conference A patient receiving free treatment In an effort to bring services and spread medical awareness in the southern areas of Jordan, the Arab Orient Insurance Company (AOIC) partnered with the Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) to take part in a ‘Free Medical Day’ at AlDissi government health care facility in Wadi Rum. AOIC recently signed a contract with ACT to cover over 3,500 ACT employees and their family members. This is not the first time AOIC contributes to the local community; the firm’s numerous efforts to increase insurance and medical awareness amongst people are reflected in the events that the company sponsors. “Our commitment to our society is the drive that stirs our progress. And our efforts to build public and medical awareness are exactly the kind of initiatives society needs,” said Mr Isam Abdelkhaliq, the CEO of AOIC. “We encourage a safe healthy life style. Make the most out of life!” AOIC provided ACT with 20 boxes of medication. And as a part of their medical awareness program, a medical team of the AOIC-Aqaba Branch was present on site and distributed 6,000 basic health awareness pamphlets providing simple medical information for effective prevention and health care. The AUK delegation AUK selected five female students to attend the ‘4th Women as Global Leaders’ conference at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. The event was sponsored by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak. This year’s conference theme ‘Creating a Sustainable Future for the World’ focused on social, environmental, and economic aspects that would lead to a sustainable future. Delegates of the conference were encouraged to attend assorted workshops and panel discussions with centric focus of the conference theme. One of the most rewarding aspects of this conference was having the opportunity to network with prominent women as well as female students from all around the world. The conference was a great experience for the AUK delegation, allowing the students to learn about women around the world, and obtain a deeper understanding of leadership education. Cake & Bake celebrates ‘Family Day’ Celebrating with the Dalsan Women Association Customized cake for children at the Care Houses Cake & Bake recently celebrated ‘Family Day’ with the Dalsan Women Association at the Embassy of Somalia in Kuwait. The participation is out of Cake & Bake’s belief in the import role that women play in their societies. Also in celebration of ‘Family Day’, Cake & Bake customized a cake and presented it to the Family Nursery of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor’s Child Care Houses. The Cake & Bake team distributed gifts and cake to the children and their supervisors. 23 KIPCO CARES KIPCO Ladies play in softball tourney in Dubai KIPCO Ladies with their coaches The KIPCO Kuwait Ladies softball team took the fields once again in Dubai to defend their Middle Eastern Softball Championship. This year’s tournament, the last to be held at the Metropolitan fields until after major hotel renovations, would prove to be a very special tournament because of the untimely deaths of the Ladies’ coach Kevin Scott, and Ben Davine who played on the Kuwait men’s team and was an ardent fan of the Kuwait Ladies. Five women’s teams were vying for the 2012 title: defending champions KIPCO Kuwait Ladies, Doha Storm, NSA Bahrain, Shu Mushkila-Dubai team, Dubai Chick and the Kuwait Sandy Sox. The tournament began with the seeding games with the Ladies convincingly winning both games, 19-5 versus Doha Storm and 21-2 versus Shu Mushkilla. Going into the double elimination tournament, the Ladies faced their friendly nemesis Doha Storm. In a defensive battle with umpires calling the game due to time, the Ladies were defeated 5 to 3. The loss placed them in the losers’ bracket which meant the Ladies would have to win the following game in order to make it to the championship round. The next game featured Kuwait versus Shu Mushkila once again with the Ladies winning by a score of 14-4. The win meant the Ladies would once again face Doha Storm. In order to retain the championship, the Storm would have to be defeated twice. Winning wasn’t in the cards this year, the KIPCO Kuwait Ladies were defeated by the Doha Storm in the championship game by a score of 9 to 8 ending the 4 year championship winning streak. Tournament highlights include KIPCO Kuwait Lady shortstop Louise Lodge winning the Kevin D. Scott accuracy throw. Pitcher Carol Ross-Scott’s strike percentage was 93% for the tournament. Team batting average for the tournament was .525. On defense, shortstop Louise Lodge turned two double plays and threw out three tagged runners at 3rd base. The 3rd baseman contributed 1 double play in the games. All players played strong offense and defense throughout the grueling tournament. AUK participates in Beirut Unisports Fesival AUK participated in its second Beirut Unisports Festival hosted by The Université Saint-Joseph. A total of 32 studentathletes represented AUK while competing against 26 different universities from 10 different countries in several sports. The four-day tournament gave AUK studentathletes the opportunity to play against a more diverse group of competitors. They showed an overwhelming amount of AUK and Kuwaiti pride at each game, as the gymnasium was filled with energy from students’ cheering, drumming, and singing in support of all the AUK teams that participated. AUK was awarded the Best Team Spirit at the end of the tournament. AUK student-athletes 24 KIPCO CARES PKC group goes river rafting! PKC rafting group “When I look back I feel the trip to Rishikesh was one of the best times I had with my colleagues from Pulsar Knowledge Centre (PKC). The group had a mix of rafting enthusiasts as well as first timers making it an interesting blend,” says Senior Consultant, Garima Arora. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, Rishikesh is known as ‘The Gateway to the Himalayas’. With the Himalayas as the backdrop, one can unwind amidst the natural beauty of mesmerising and serene Ganges. Speaking to KIPCOLife, she recounts the bus drive after a hectic day at work, riding overnight to reach their destination in the early morning. The PKC team camped at ‘Riverwilds’, 27 km above Rishikesh in the Himalayan Foothills. They arrived famished and couldn’t wait to have their sumptuous breakfast at the beach. According to Garima, Rishikesh is one of the most popular spots for white water rafting in the world given that Ganges offers medium to rough rapids, making it exciting for all kinds of rafting enthusiasts. “Rafting in Rishikesh provided us the ultimate thrilling ride and excitement of being in charge of controlling and overcoming white water rapids ourselves. Imagine freezing water trying to push you off the boat like a bull does to a cowboy. I know it sounds crazy but trust me once you do it, you can’t get enough of it!” Describing the trip as “adventurous to the core,” Garima also noted that it was blissful being so close to the nature. “One must experience river rafting in Rishikesh at least once in his or her life!” 25 KIPCO REPORT 26 KIPCO GREEN AUK participates in REUSE 5.0 AUK participated in the annual REUSE 5.0 exhibition, held this year on the premises of the Australian College of Kuwait (ACK). Program at AUK. AUK’s Environmental Studies Program is the first of its kind in Kuwait. During the exhibition, a number of AUK students and professors showcased their work under two categories; the ‘Social Programs’ category and the ‘Community’ category. The AUK exhibits included artwork made of reused or re-purposed materials that promote environmental conservation. The AUK delegation was led by Professor William Andersen of the Art and Graphic Design Program, and Professor Charles Cange of the newly introduced Environmental Studies Minor Organized by the En.V Initiative, the fourday REUSE 5.0 featured a dynamic mix of art galleries, music, short films, a lounge, trendy eco- fashion, accessories and more. The last day of the event celebrated Earth Day, bringing in the renowned Moroccan artist and photographer Hassan Hajjaj and the award winning Graphic Designer, Tarek Atrissi, who both gave short inspirational talks on incorporating eco-friendly thought into creative art projects. AUK Professor Charles Cange with students and visitors Artwork of AUK students AUK professors with students AUK Professor William Andersen with visitors 27 KIPCO INTERVIEW Al Haqhaq: Burgan continues to deliver solid financial performance 28 Burgan Bank was recently named the ‘Best Banking Group in MENA 2012’ by the Global Banking & Finance Review. Now the bank is expanding its Group by entering the Turkish market through acquiring a stake in Eurobank Tekfen. KIPCOLife had the opportunity to speak with Chief Banking Officer - Senior GM at Burgan Bank, Mr Raed Al Haqhaq, about the bank’s performance and expansion activities, as well as future prospects. KIPCO INTERVIEW o Committed t st executing be hods practice met of social y responsibilit Performance “We are proud to belong to one of the most revered investment groups in the region. As a principal operating company under the umbrella of KIPCO, the bank’s performance impacts not only the status of KIPCO, but also its investment proposition,” Mr Al Haqhaq said. “Burgan Bank Group continuously delivers solid financial performance despite the slow economic activity in the region, hence further strengthening the image of the bank itself and KIPCO at large. We are very proud to be part of the KIPCO Group.” Regional bank Commenting on the status of Burgan Bank as a regional bank, he said that this transformation meant that the bank now had a foothold across the region. “This is part of our expansion strategy. The objective was to diversify revenue streams and distribute risks, obtain a speed of growth that cannot be obtained by focusing on Kuwait alone due to its small market size, and of course to add scale to the operation.” “ Burgan’s corporate strategy is to expand its regional foothold through acquisitions Turkey Burgan Bank recently announced the agreement with Eurobank EFG to acquire a 99.2% stake in Eurobank Tekfen. Asked about how this would enhance Burgan Bank’s strategic market growth, Mr Al Haqhaq commented, “The Turkish economy and banking sector have continued to demonstrate significant positive performance and resilience throughout the global financial crisis and offer opportunities for continued long term expansion. Turkey’s large, growing and young population, combined with strategic positioning between Europe and the Middle East, offer strong potential for further economic growth in the medium-to-long term, with increasing business flows with the Middle East.” He said that in-line with the objective of Burgan Bank’s corporate strategy of expanding its foothold, scale and capabilities through strategic acquisitions “the consideration of acquiring Eurobank Tekfen represents a unique opportunity to enter a key market with a fully operational and diversified banking platform at an attractive pricing level. The deal is accretive from day one to Burgan shareholders with excellent growth potential.” CSR Commenting on the bank’s extensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) portfolio and how this enhanced the image of the bank in the communities in which its Group operated, Mr Al Haqhaq said, “At Burgan Bank, we believe that any successful organization must enjoy an effective CSR program that is directly linked to its corporate governance structure. Our social responsibility initiatives are about using innovation to find creative and value-added solutions to the challenges we face in our society.” He added that the ultimate aim would be to build elements of sustainable development as well as credibility and trust in society. “Burgan Bank is committed to developing and executing best practice methods of social responsibility, a core component of its corporate governance framework that has paved the way for the bank to attain prominent accolades which demonstrate its leading position.” Future prospects In response to a question about whether there were any future business opportunities that Burgan was looking into, he said that the bank would continue its focus on driving in-organic growth through strategic acquisitions whilst continuing to gain more local market share with profitability to drive organic growth. 29 “ KIPCO HOSPITALITY Marina Hotel… fun under the sun! Enjoy a dip in the infinity swimming pool and then a snack at the Waves Pool Bar Pool area With summer in full swing, what better way to enjoy yourself than out at the beach or by the pool side? At Safir Marina Hotel you can enjoy both! KIPCOLife will take you on a tour of the outdoor area of this beautiful property, so put your sunscreen on! Surrounded by lush landscaping, shaded alcoves and umbrellas, the three pools offer respite from the city. Hotel guests and members of the club can enjoy a dip in the infinity swimming pool, or an aquatic workout in the two-meter lap pool, before relaxing in the whirlpool! Children’s pool A children’s play pool and special play area is nearby for the exclusive use of four to 12 year-olds. This pool is half a meter long and your children can have hours of fun under the sun! All pool facilities are open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and there are three lifeguards to make sure that your day out is a safe one! Beach Whether from the privacy of the balcony of your hotel room, or by taking a walk along the golden sand, you must enjoy the 300 meter stretch of private beach. As you walk, the clear waters of the Arabian Gulf will lap at your feet, making it impossible to resist a dip into its waters! 30 Marina Hotel offers fun under the sun with its private beach & pool KIPCO HOSPITALITY The golden sands of the private beach “ “ Three pools surrounded by lush landscaping and shaded alcoves Waves Pool Bar Swimming under the sun can make you hungry. Time to head to the ‘Waves Pool Bar’, where you can enjoy a variety of drinks and snacks! If you want to sit by the beach, then an attendance will be more than happy to bring your order to you. BBQs and functions If you’re thinking of throwing a BBQ party, then there is no better place to do it than by the pool. The area can seat 220250 people if you set up chairs and tables, but if you’re having a stand-up arrangement then you can invite up to 350 guests! The beach is the perfect place to hold an ‘Open Day’ event! The area can hold 500 people in a seated arrangement and up to 2000 standing! Reservations Go on and enjoy the summer out at the Safir Marina Hotel. For bookings call +965 222 30030 or email the Reservation Desk at [email protected] Marina Hotel’s three pools offer respite from the city 31 32 KIPCO SUCCESS Chef Samer.. a story of success! 33 KIPCO SUCCESS Chef Samer with some of the Central Kitchen staff Wondering how Chef Samer became the head of this huge catering operation at such a relatively young age, KIPCOLife asked him to tell his story, a request he graciously obliged. 34 “ “ The Central Kitchen at Kuwait Hotels Co.’s new headquarters in Dhajeej area is where much of the catering operations take place. Walking through this extensive food preparation area, you will be struck by its immaculate cleanliness and organization despite the huge number of dishes being prepared simultaneously! If that doesn’t impress you then surely the synchrony with which the kitchen staff work will! Under the command of the Central Executive Chef, Samer Hamed, the staff members work harmoniously to produce colorful masterpieces with every dish. From butchery to heading the Central Kitchen in just eight years! Childhood dreams “My father came to Kuwait in 1963 to work as an ‘oriental chef’ in one of the large hotels. In the weekends he would take me with him to his workplace and that was how I discovered the art of cookery,” he said. Beginnings At the beginning of his career, Chef Samer worked at the meat grill in one of the local restaurants. By the time he left them three years later he was heading the butchery department. “In this profession, everyone starts small and we have to earn the right to advance up the ladder,” he explained. KIPCO SUCCESS “ The butchery.. where it all began “ Dedication and team support are the ingredients for success Chef Samer helps out wherever he can! Working for KCC His career with Kuwait Catering Co. began in 2003. “When I applied for a job with KCC I had to do a three-day food tasting for the Swiss chef who was heading the kitchen at the time. At the end of the three days I was given the lead job at the butchery,” Chef Samer said. For those of us who think cutting up meat is an easy task, think again! “My success in running the butchery was directly related to cost control. Instead of the traditional way of estimating the weight of meat by size, I made sure that everything I sent out to the different kitchen sections was carefully measured on the scales. This made a huge difference!” Career opportunity The butchery brought Chef Samer in contact with all the sections of the kitchen, and because he was so interested in cooking as an art he started observing and then assisting the staff in their different tasks. In 2009 he had his true career break when the position of ‘sous-chef’ opened up. The head chef had long supported Chef Samer and appreciated his dedication and great career ambitions. In the food tasting Chef Samer excelled in preparing Oriental and Kuwaiti food. Family spirit Loving your work gives you motive to put in hours of hard work and effort, but without the support of your colleagues and the management you may soon lose your steam, Chef Samer explained. “At KCC I support the people around me and they support me. We work together as one family, and this is what makes me happy and content to head to work every morning.” Tips for success So what did Chef Samer have to say to the readers of KIPCOLife who are looking to excel in their careers? “Regardless of your profession, there are five things you must remember: love your work; pay attention to detail; always accept advice and suggestions; show interest in your colleagues; and work in team spirit,” he said. With constant support and encouragement, Chef Samer found himself in the position of assistant to the head chef just nine months later! He often acted in place of the head chef while the latter was away, and when the head chef finally left to join Safir Support Services as a consultant Chef Samer was promoted to Central Executive Chef! From the butchery to heading the whole of the Central Kitchen in just eight years! At the salad preparation station 35 KIPCO REPORT Abdali Mall… Jordan’s largest project Abdali Mall’s eastern façade Location Eng. Kabariti began by addressing the key features of the development, saying, “Abdali Mall is currently the largest project in Jordan. It is located in the heart of the Abdali central business district, often referred to as the ‘New Downtown of Amman’. The project is a natural continuation of the ‘Abdali Boulevard’ and is designed with the highest international standards in mind.” Size and access Abdali Mall is a large-scale, mixed-use development built on a plot of land measuring 29,604 sqm. The mall will have an overall built up area of 227,327 sqm, of which 69,606 sqm is leasable, including an overall storage area of 8,988 sqm. At the time that KIPCOLife toured the site, the substructure (basement levels) of the project had been completed, comprising five underground parking levels with space for 2,400 cars! 36 “ “ United Real Estate Co. (URC) is involved in the development and management of many landmark properties, one of which is Abdali Mall located at the heart of the new downtown district of Abdali in Amman, Jordan. KIPCOLife had the opportunity to visit the project site and speak to URC Jordan’s CEO, Eng. Abdelmajid Kabariti, about this large-scale project. Mall expected to be completed in mid-2014 During the tour, Eng. Kabariti pointed out the multiple entrances to the mall, designed to allow easy access from all directions within the new downtown, in addition to direct access from Abdali Boulevard. Mall design “The mall will comprise a supermarket, department stores, retail shops, cinemas, food court, cafes, and restaurants,” he said, adding that the building architecture is iconic and modern with a unique design that incorporates open-air features. “Through its open-air features, the internal and external architecture of the mall is intended to contribute to a pleasurable, unconventional mall environment that takes you away from the hassles of daily life,” explained Eng. Kabariti. KIPCO REPORT Beautiful water and open-air features make your shopping experience pleasurable “ “ Located in the heart of Amman’s business district An artist impression of Abdali Mall Since the commencement of the project in January 2008, Abdali Mall Company’s management worked with its contractors to complete the mural fencing phase, followed by the excavation and shoring phase. The sub-structure work for the mall was completed in January 2012. Eng. Kabariti concluded, “The project’s management recently signed a contract with Habash-Deir Contracting Co. for the completion of the mall’s superstructure, and we expect this phase to be completed in April 2013. This will then be followed by the finishing work, whereby we anticipate welcoming our visitors in mid-2014.” KIPCOLife editor (center, right) touring site with CEO of URC Jordan (center, left) “ “ Progress Iconic architecture and unique design 37 KIPCO PEOPLE المتزوجون الجدد New Marriages تهانينا إلى أسماء سرحال سكرتيرة بإدارة بحوث االستثمار في الشركة الكويتية المتحدة إلدارة ً المشاريع بمناسبة زواجها مؤخرا Congratulations to Asmaa Serhal, Secretary in the Investment Research Department within KUCC, who was married recently المواليد الجدد New Babies 38 ،تهانينا إلى كونال سينج مساعد نائب رئيس بإدارة تمويل ،الشركات في شركة كامكو بمناسبة قدوم مولوده الجديد شوريا تهانينا إلى جينيفر برافو موظفة في قسم الموارد ،البشرية في كيك ن بيك بمناسبة قدوم مولودتها الجديدة صوفيا تهانينا إلى أحمد الغنم ،من شركة العقارات المتحدة بمناسبة قدوم مولوده الجديد عبد العزيز تهانينا إلى سمير محمد مساعد مدير بإدارة المالية والمحاسبة في شركة مشاريع بمناسبة قدوم مولودته،الكويت الجديدة صفا Congratulations to Kunal Singh, Assistant Vice President in the Corporate Finance Department at KAMCO, who has been blessed with Shaurya – a new baby boy Congratulations to Jennifer Bravo, HR Liaison in the HR Department at Cake & Bake, who has been blessed with Sofia a new baby girl Congratulations to Ahmad Al Ghanam, of URC, who has been blessed with Abdulaziz a new baby boy Congratulations to P. Sameer Mohammed, Assistant Manager in the Accounts & Finance Department at KIPCO, who has been blessed with Safa a new baby girl أسرة كيبكــــو الترقيات و المؤهالت المهنية الجديدة Promotions & New Qualifications تهانينـا إلى هاريش شوبرا نائب رئيس في إدارة االستثمارات ،المباشرة من شركة كامكو الذي أكمل بنجاح برنامج المحلل )CFA( المالي المجاز تهانينـا إلى سالم صالح ضابط أول في إدارة التدقيق التي،الداخلي من شركة كامكو أكملت بنجاح شهادة المدقق الداخلي المعتمد تهانينـا إلى صادق تقي من شركة الصفاة للتجهيزات الذي تمت ترقيته إلى،الغذائية محلل جودة الخدمة في إدارة الرقابة على الجودة تهانينـا إلى محمد عباس من شركة القرين لصناعة الذي تمت،الكيماويات البترولية ترقيته إلى مدير فني Congratulations to Harish Chopra, Vice President in the Direct Investment Department of KAMCO who has successfully passed his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation program Congratulations to Salam Saleh, Senior Officer in the Internal Audit Department of KAMCO who has successfully passed the Certified Internal Audit (CIA) examination and earned the CIA designation Congratulations to Sadiq Taqi of Safat Catering Services who has been promoted to Service Quality Analyst in the Quality Control Department Congratulations to Mohamed Abbas, of Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company who has been promoted to Technical Manager الموظفون الجدد Newly Hired يحيى اسكندراني محمد غالي براديب راجاجوباالن سالي صفا دالل مقدم Yahya Iskandarani Mohammed Ghali Pradeep Rajagopalan Sally Safa Dalal Maqdem التحق بالعمل لدى شركة كابيتال المتحدة للنقل بوظيفة الرئيس التنفيذي للعمليات في إدارة العمليات التحق بالعمل لدى شركة كابيتال المتحدة للنقل بوظيفة محاسب في اإلدارة المالية التحق بالعمل لدى شركة كامكو بوظيفة نائب رئيس أول في إدارة اإللتزام والمخاطر التحقت بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة مدقق نظم المعلومات في إدارة التدقيق الداخلي التحقت بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة ممثل خدمة عمالء الهاتفية في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية has joined United Capital Transport Company as a Chief Operating Officer in the Operation Department has joined United Capital Transport Company as an accountant in the Finance Department has joined KAMCO as a Senior Vice President in the Compliance & Risk Management Department has joined Burgan Bank as an IT Auditor in the Internal Audit Department has joined Burgan Bank as a Call Center Agent in Retail Banking 39 KIPCO PEOPLE الموظفون الجدد Newly Hired فهد المنيس جابر أشكناني نيدهينمون باول محسن هيكل أحمد علي Fahad Al Menayes Jaber Ashkanani Nidhinmon Paul Mohsen Heikal Ahmad Ali التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة رئيس تشغيل عمليات نظم المعلومات – مساعد مدير في إدارة نظم المعلومات التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة ممثل خدمة عمالء الهاتفية متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة محلل نظم في إدارة نظم المعلومات التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة مستشار قانوني في اإلدارة القانونية التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة ممثل خدمة عمالء الهاتفية في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية has joined Burgan Bank as a Head of IT Operations - AGM in the IT Department has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Call Center Agent in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Systems Analyst in the IT Department has joined Burgan Bank as a Legal Counselor in the Legal Department has joined Burgan Bank as a Call Center Agent in Retail Banking مونس بازي فواز دشتي نافين راجاناال عبداهلل الموسوي اسجاد رضا Mones Bazzy Fawaz Dashti Naveen Rajanala Abdullah Al Moosawi Asjad Reza التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة رئيس المصرفية الخاصة في مجموعة المصرفية الخاصة التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة باحث قانوني في اإلدارة القانونية التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة رئيس منتجات في مكتب عمليات المجموعة التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة ممثل إدارة مخاطر المشاريع في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة مدير مشروع – نظم معلومات المــوارد البشريـــة فــي إدارة الموارد البشرية والتطوير has joined Burgan Bank as a Head of Private Banking in Private Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Legal Researcher in the Legal Department has joined Burgan Bank as a Head of Products in the Group Operations Office has joined Burgan Bank as a PRM Agent in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Project Manager & - HRMIS in the HR Development Department سليمان دشتي زينب القطان خالد العمران نوري عبدالكريم سندس العنزي Suliman Dashti Zainab Al Qattan Khaled Al Omran Nouri Abdulkareem Sundous Al Enezi التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة صراف متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحقت بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة صراف متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة صراف متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة صراف متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحقت بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة صراف متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Teller in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Teller in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Teller in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Teller in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Teller in Retail Banking 40 أسرة كيبكــــو الموظفون الجدد Newly Hired محمد سالم Mohammad Salim Naser Al Ammari Mohammad Al Sulaiman Sarah Al Hasawi التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة صراف متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة صراف متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة صراف متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحقت بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة صراف متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة صراف متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Teller in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Teller in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Teller in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Teller in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Teller in Retail Banking مالك رسول مريم العسعوسي عبداهلل العلي محمد جحيل سلمان علي Malik Rasool Maryam Al Assoussi Abdullah Al Ali Mohammad Juhail Salman Ali التحق بالعمل لدى شبكة أوربت شوتايم بوظيفة فني ميداني في إدارة عمليات العمالء التحقت بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة مسؤول عالقات عمالء متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة مسؤول عالقات عمالء في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة مسؤول عالقات عمالء متدرب في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية التحق بالعمل لدى بنك برقان بوظيفة مسؤول عالقات عمالء في مجموعة المصرفية للخدمات الشخصية has joined OSN as a Field Technician in the Customer Operations Department has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Customer Relationship Officer in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Customer Relationship Officer in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Trainee Customer Relationship Officer in Retail Banking has joined Burgan Bank as a Customer Relationship Officer in Retail Banking نعمان الدين الشيخ 40 ناصر العماري محمد السليمان ساره الحساوي عبدالمحسن أحمد Abdualmohsen Ahmad أنس محمد مروه عطية محمد سروار سالم العنزي Nauman Uddin Shaikh Anas Mohamed Marwa Attia Muhammad Sarwar Salem Al Enezi التحق بالعمل لدى شبكة الخليج لالتصاالت بوظيفة مستشار أول أعمال في إدارة الحلول االلكترونية التحق بالعمل لدى شبكة أوربت شوتايم بوظيفة فني ميداني في إدارة عمليات العمالء التحقت بالعمل لدى شبكة أوربت شوتايم بوظيفة موظف مبيعات التحق بالعمل لدى شبكة أوربت شوتايم بوظيفة فني ميداني في إدارة عمليات العمالء التحق بالعمل لدى شبكة أوربت شوتايم بوظيفة رئيس فريق عمل في إدارة عمليات العمالء has joined Gulfnet as a Senior Business Consultant in the eSolutions Department has joined OSN as a Field Technician in the Customer Operations Department has joined OSN as a Telesales Agent has joined OSN as a Field Technician in the Customer Operations Department has joined OSN as a Team Manager in the Customer Operations Department KIPCO PEOPLE الموظفون الجدد Newly Hired أحمد أبو المجد حسين الشاوارب صبري العاني ياسمين عباسي خالد فرحات Ahmed Abouelmagd Hussein Al Chawarb Sabry Al Ani Yasmeen Abbasi Khaled Farhat التحق بالعمل لدى شبكة الخليج لالتصاالت بوظيفة مطور أول ويب في إدارة الحلول االلكترونية التحق بالعمل لدى شبكة الخليج لالتصاالت بوظيفة محصل في إدارة الشؤون المالية التحق بالعمل لدى شبكة الخليج لالتصاالت بوظيفة مطور ويب في إدارة الحلول االلكترونية التحقت بالعمل لدى شبكة الخليج لالتصاالت بوظيفة ضابط االستبقاء على العميل في إدارة عمليات البيع بالتجزئة التحق بالعمل لدى شبكة الخليج لالتصاالت بوظيفة رئيس فريق االستبقاء على العميل في إدارة عمليات البيع بالتجزئة has joined Gulfnet as a Senior Web Developer in the eSolutions Department has joined Gulfnet as a Collector in the Finance Department has joined Gulfnet as a Web Application Developer in the eSolutions Department has joined Gulfnet as a Retention Officer in the Retail Operations Department has joined Gulfnet as a Retention Team Leader in the Retail Operations Department الميس يوسف أميرة القبندي طارق قريشي وائل خليل أحالم خليل Lamis Yousef Amirah Alqabandi Tariq Qureshi Wael Khalil Ahlam Khalil التحقت بالعمل لدى شركة الفنادق الكويتية بوظيفة موظفة استقبال التحقت بالعمل لدى كيك ن بيك بوظيفة مدير فرع السالمية التحق بالعمل لدى شبكة الخليج لالتصاالت بوظيفة مهندس ميداني في إدارة العمليات الفنية التحق بالعمل لدى شبكة الخليج لالتصاالت بوظيفة مهندس أول ما قبل البيع في قسم الشركات التحقت بالعمل لدى شبكة الخليج لالتصاالت بوظيفة ضابط دعم المبيعات في قسم الشركات has joined Kuwait Hotels Company as a Receptionist & has joined Cake Bake as the Salmiya Branch Manager has joined Gulfnet as a Field Engineer Corporate in the Technical Operations Department has joined Gulfnet as a Senior Pre Sales Engineer Corporate has joined Gulfnet as a Sales Support Officer Corporate فيفيك تشرما أكرم السرساوي مارك أومايام محسن علي حسين إسماعيل Vivek Sharma Akram El Sirsawy Mark Umayam Mohsen Ali Hussein Ismail التحق بالعمل لدى مركز المعرفة بلسر بوظيفة محلل تجاري في مجموعة االستشارية التجارية التحق بالعمل لدى شركة سفير الدولية إلدارة الفنادق بوظيفة مدير حسابات التحق بالعمل لدى شركة سفير الدولية إلدارة الفنادق بوظيفة محاسب إيرادات التحق بالعمل لدى شركة سفير الدولية إلدارة الفنادق بوظيفة رئيس قطاع اإلدارة المالية التحق بالعمل لدى شركة الفنادق الكويتية بوظيفة الرئيس التنفيذي للشؤون المالية has joined Pulsar Knowledge Center as a Business Analyst in the Business Advisory Group has joined Safir International Hotel Management as a Finance Manager has joined Safir International Hotel Management as an Accounts Receivable has joined Safir International Hotel Management as a Corporate Director of Finance has joined Kuwait Hotels Company as a Chief Financial Officer 39 أسرة كيبكــــو Newly Hired الموظفون الجدد تشيناف غوبتا مانوج فارجيس ناصر العصيمي وائل أبو ترابي صبحي الجمله Shainav Gupta Manoj Varghese Nasser Al Osaimi Wael Abou Trabi Sobhi El Gamala التحق بالعمل لدى مركز المعرفة بلسر بوظيفة مستشار كبير في مجموعة االستشارية التجارية التحق بالعمل لدى شركة الصناعات المتحدة بوظيفة محاسب في اإلدارة المالية التحق بالعمل لدى شركة القرين لصناعة الكيماويات البترولية بوظيفة محاسب متدرب في اإلدارة المالية التحق بالعمل لدى شركة الخليج للتأمين بوظيفة فني إصدار في إدارة الفروع الداخلية التحق بالعمل لدى شركة الخليج للتأمين بوظيفة فني إصدار في إدارة الفروع الداخلية has joined Pulsar Knowledge Center as a Senior Consultant in the Business Advisory Group has joined UIC as an Accountant in the Finance Department has joined Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company as an Accountant Trainee in the Finance Department has joined Gulf Insurance Company as a Technical Production in the Internal Branches Department has joined Gulf Insurance Company as a Technical Production in the Internal Branches Department أحمد شطا أحمد الجندي فرح القصار فهد أسعد رميض أنور Ahmed Shatta Ahmed El Gendy Farah AlQassar Fahed Assad Rameez Anwar التحق بالعمل لدى شركة الخليج للتأمين بوظيفة محاسب في إدارة المالية التحق بالعمل لدى شركة الخليج للتأمين بوظيفة رئيس قسم في إدارة الممتلكات والحوادث التحقت بالعمل لدى شركة الخليج للتأمين بوظيفة محاسب في إدارة الحياة- المالية التحق بالعمل لدى شركة الخليج للتأمين بوظيفة مساعد إداري في إدارة الخدمات العامة التحق بالعمل لدى شركة الخليج للتأمين بوظيفة منسق خدمة عمالء في إدارة الموافقات KPC الطبية has joined Gulf Insurance Company as an Accountant in the Finance Department has joined Gulf Insurance Company as a Section Head in the Property & Casualty Department has joined Gulf Insurance Company as an Accountant in the Finance Life Department has joined Gulf Insurance Company as an Admin Assistant in the General Services Department has joined Gulf Insurance Company as a Customer Service Coordinator in the Medical Approvals KPC Department Abdulaziz Al Nasser عبد العزيز الناصر Bashar Abdul Majied بشار عبدالمجيد Nesrin Al Abed نسرين العبد طارق يانس التحق بالعمل لدى شركة العقارات المتحدة بوظيفة مساعد مسؤول مبيعات في إدارة المبيعات مشاريع المحلية- والتأجير التحق بالعمل لدى شركة العقارات المتحدة بوظيفة نائب رئيس إدارة المبيعات في إدارة المبيعات MENA - والتأجير التحقت بالعمل لدى شركة العقارات المتحدة بوظيفة مصمم ملتيميديا في إدارة التسويق واإلعالم التحق بالعمل لدى شركة العقارات المتحدة بوظيفة نائب رئيس الموارد البشرية في إدارة الموارد البشرية والشؤون اإلدارية has joined URC as a Junior Sales Executive in the Sales & Leasing Department has joined URC as a Vice President – Sales & Leasing MENA Projects has joined URC as a Multimedia Designer in the Marketing & Corporate Communications Department has joined URC as a Vice President - HR in the HR & Admin Department Tariq Yanis 38
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