KIA MOTORS

National Arab Motors (KIA Jordan) hosted a reception with the support of Minister of Social Development Hala Lattouf that brought together representatives from KIA’s regional distributors who contributed to the “Charity and Care Fund.” The distributors of the Kia Motors Middle East & Africa Region gave a substantial donation of $215,000, which will fund the education of 85 orphan students cared for under Al-Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans. The initiative came in response to the call made by Queen Rania through a campaign, which aims to secure much-needed support for orphans and help them acquire either a university education or vocational training. The Al-Aman fund is an independent NGO founded by Queen Rania to support youth who were once beneficiaries of orphan care centers. The Kia Motors Middle East & Africa Region Charity and Care Fund was founded in 2008 with the objective of providing support to governmental and non-governmental organizations operating in the region and whose objectives coincide with its own. Funds for this year’s initiative came from many of KIA dealers including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, UAE, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, South Africa, Jordan, Qatar, Tunisia and Eritrea. The fund allocates its assets to a certain cause every year and chose to support the orphans of Jordan in 2010. KIA Motors Corporation is also working on launching similar charity programs in Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries, said KIA Motors MENA President Y.K. Park.

SAMBA

Samba Financial Group, a premier banking services provider in Saudi Arabia, has announced the formal launch of its mobile banking applications for the Apple iPhone and Blackberry handheld instruments. It is a fully transactional service that allows Samba customers to check their accounts, make payments and transfer funds through their mobile phones at anytime and from anywhere using the same user name and login password as on Samba online. Samba Financial Group Chairman Eisa Al Eisa said: “Internet and Mobile Banking services are fast becoming spectacular gateways for information, sales, service and perhaps the most versatile channels for customer interaction. Mobile banking is a direct, convenient and hugely innovative service that proudly reaffirms Samba’s place as an innovator in technology driven customer convenience.” The new Samba iphone and Blackberry applications are now available for free download. They support numerous smart phone devices including all the latest Blackberry handheld models (Bold, Curve) and all recent models of the Apple iphone (3G, 3GS & 4G). A full list of applicable models is available on Samba Online. Once the application has been installed onto the relevant device, Samba customers can ‘login’ to their banking accounts and effect transactions as easily as they do on a personal computer using the same user name and login password as they would to log into Samba online.
 
SHB

Saudi Hollandi Bank (SHB) has introduced its new strategy called “Al Heen.” Through execution of this strategy, the bank aims to raise the standards for customer service in the banking sector, by focusing on the bank’s personal banking customers and simultaneously establishing a comprehensive service and sales culture across the bank’s network. In support of the new strategy, SHB’s MD Bernd van Linder said the set-up of an independent strategy and planning unit, which is responsible for monitoring progress on the execution of the strategy as well as managing the principal programs of work underlying it. Ehab Al-Dabbagh will head the unit. During his long career at SHB, Al-Dabbagh has acquired substantial experience in many aspects of banking as well as in running sizeable programs of change. This experience makes him well suited for the position of GM for strategy and planning, a position, which is key to the successful implementation of the bank’s strategy. Murray Sims has been appointed GM for personal banking. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Sims has worked at several of the main banks in the Gulf. For eight years, Sims was in charge of personal banking at Rakbank. During this period, he turned Rakbank into one of the leaders in customer service in the UAE and one of the prime personal banks in the region. Lav Kataria is the bank’s new chief operating officer. He has over 20 years of experience in banking operations and technology.
 
COLORS

Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd, an equal joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) and Network18, one of India’s leading entertainment conglomerates, announced the launch of its flagship channel, COLORS, in the Middle East. The channel will be distributed on DTH exclusively on Pehla packages in all Middle East and North Africa countries through Arab Digital Distribution Company (ADD), the leading DTH player in the Middle East and the North African region. It will be available as part of all three Asian packages offered by ADD — Pehla Basic, Pehla Silver and Pehla Gold. Rajesh Kamat, Group COO — Viacom18 and CEO — COLORS, said: “It is a matter of pride for us that in a short duration of two years, COLORS has not only become India’s favorite entertainment destination but is on its way to replicate its success in other key markets as well. After our successful launch in the US and the UK this year, we are pleased to partner with Arab Digital Distribution to offer the best of family entertainment to our viewers in the Middle East. The launch is part of Viacom18’s aggressive growth plans to extend our flagship brand outside India.” Commenting on the partnership with Viacom18, Abdel Ghani Ali, CFO, Arab Media Corporation (AMC), the parent company of ADD said: “With the addition of COLORS to the Pehla bouquet, ADD is further strengthening its position as the regional market leader. Over the years, ADD has consistently added some of the best known Asian television channels to its Pehla bouquet, thus catering to the varied and ever evolving media needs of its customers. COLORS certainly adds a greater depth to the general entertainment quotient of the Pehla bouquet. Saudi Arabia continues to remain a strategically important market for ADD and will continue our efforts to offer better entertainment options to our customers.”
 
SAMSUNG

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, a leader in digital convergence technologies, has launched the region’s “first ever” IT cluster micro-site. The micro-site, highlighting the ‘See, Touch, Save, Read and Print’ capabilities of Samsung solutions, complements the wide range of products introduced by the company for all home and office IT needs. Elegantly designed with easy-to-navigate capabilities, the micro-site addresses the specific home and office requirements of visitors, and leads them to Samsung’s advanced products that fulfill them. JongHyunn Kim, head of IT at Samsung’s MENA headquarters, said: “Samsung is cutting a new trail in the IT industry with the launch of the first regional cluster micro-site. For the first time, customers have the option of assessing IT products and solutions that meet their home and office requirements with the click of a mouse.” He added: “In the fast-changing and dramatically evolving IT landscape, it is important that customers are kept up-to-date on the newest trends that they can adapt to maximize the efficiency of IT usage. Samsung’s micro-site serves as a one-stop information shop on Samsung’s product capabilities that will help them make informed decisions. Significantly, we have integrated our product range effectively, thus giving customers the option of having the full breadth of IT tools at their disposal easily.”

SWPF

A new study is set to reveal recommendations on how Saudi Arabia can become a leader in knowledge and innovation in power, water and renewable energy. Al Aghar Group is carrying out the study in partnership with the Saudi Water and Power Forum (SWPF). Details of the study and the recommendations outlined by the report will be unveiled at the event taking place on Oct. 3-6 at Jeddah Hilton. Al Aghar Group is an independent non-profit think-tank in the Kingdom created to address how Saudi Arabia can transform to knowledge based economy. The group is delighted to be working in partnership with the Saudi Water & Power Forum, an event dedicated to providing a gateway to Saudi Arabian Water & Power industries and serving as a catalyst for change and innovation. Adil Bushnak, founder of Bushnak Academy and SWPF described this event as playing a key role in uniting Saudi and International stakeholders to discuss the policies and strategies, which will determine the future of power and water in Saudi Arabia. SWPF consists of a three-day strategic forum, an international exhibition, a national water company day and technical sessions led by Bushnak Academy, as well as extensive opportunities of networking events including the exhibition opening tour, inauguration ceremony, the Marafiq and GE oil and gas corporate luncheons, the new networking roundtable discussions and the exclusive dinner featuring the SWPF Awards ceremony hosted by ACWA Power International.
 
DEUTSCHE BANK

Deutsche Bank has appointed Ashok Aram, as its CEO for the MENA region, a position held since 2007 by Henry Azzam, who will become the bank’s non-executive chairman for the region. In his new role, Aram will have responsibility for development of the bank’s MENA franchise across all businesses, management of client relationships, and the implementation of the region’s growth strategy while safeguarding risk and capital. He will chair the bank’s MENA executive committee and will be responsible for the maintenance of corporate governance structure. The appointment already taken effect and Aram will report into Jurgen Fitschen, member of the management board of Deutsche Bank. Fitschen said: “Ashok’s record of achievement in our corporate and investment banking franchise globally gives us confidence that he will bring about further growth for the bank in the MENA region. We continue to invest in our global franchise and our leading presence in the Middle East to serve the increasingly international and sophisticated demands of our clients.”
 
As the bank’s non-executive chairman in the region, Azzam is entrusted with maintaining close relationships with government bodies and regulators. In addition, he will assist with fostering business links, increasing the awareness of the Deutsche Bank’s activities in the region and globally, and representing the bank at conferences and international financial bodies. Fitschen added: “We are pleased that Henry will continue to work with us.”