Bahrain-based Elaf Bank has appointed Nasser Haram as general manager for support services.

Haram will oversee the bank's critical support functions including financial control, risk control, operations, administration, human resources, information technology and public relations.

He will report directly to Elaf Bank chief executive officer Dr Jamil Jaroudi.

A veteran investment banker, Haram comes to Elaf Bank with 27 years of regional and international banking experience in external audit, Sharia-compliant and conventional finance, portfolio management and operations and administration.

During his eight years as senior vice-president with Sedco in Jeddah, Haram was responsible for the implementation of the strategies and policies of an investment portfolio in excess of $1.5 billion in public and private equity.

Haram spearheaded and launched numerous Sharia-compliant investment products and formulated the investment guidelines for the company.

"With his widespread international and local experience in the implementing of systems and procedures for different type of organisations, Nasser is sure to add value to the team at Elaf Bank," Dr Jaroudi said.

"We have many projects currently in the pipeline and Nasser's in depth knowledge of Sharia- compliant products and services will prove to be an asset during this critical time," he added.-TradeArabia News Service