Bahrain-based financial group GFH has appointed Hammad Younas, an industry veteran, as its new head of investment management.

In his new role, Younas will manage the overall investment business of the bank including asset management, private equity and corporate investments.

Younas brings with him more than 18 years of experience in Islamic and conventional investment banking, commercial banking, asset management, private equity, real estate and hospitality.

He has extensive experience in advising numerous public and private sector entities, including a number of financial institutions on a wide variety of regional and cross border transactions in the Mena region, US, Europe and South Asia..

Most recently Younas spent 13 years at EY, where he served as chief executive of corporate finance, Bahrain as well as a partner and transaction advisory services leader, Bahrain.

Younas holds a CFA from the CFA Institute in the US, an ACA from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan and an ACCA from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of the UK.                

Welcoming Younas into the fold, CEO Hisham Al Rayes, said: "He has deep Islamic banking roots, coupled with extensive structuring and transaction experience, which positions him well to play a key role in further shaping and implementing the group’s strategy and effectively managing and developing unique, new investments."

A major financial group in the Gulf region, GFH also has operations in North Africa and India.

"Importantly, he also brings to GFH the benefit of his strong relationships with family businesses, governments and blue-chip corporates including sovereign wealth funds, regional and international financial institutions, which will be critical in allowing to continue growing our client and investor base but also in the expansion of the universe of organisations with which we can transact and partner," he added.

Younas expressed delight in joining GFH at "an exciting time of continued growth, progress and diversification at the group."

"GFH is among the longest standing Islamic investment groups in the region and an industry pioneer. "Working together with the group’s strong leadership team, I look forward to supporting in the further expansion of GFH’s investment portfolio and its presence in regional and global markets," he added.-TradeArabia News Service