NAS
CEO middle east magazine has selected Sulaiman Al-Hamdan, CEO of National Air Services (NAS), as the "Best CEO of the aviation sector in Saudi Arabia" for his distinctive direction and leadership of the company. The award was presented at a recent ceremony organized by the magazine in Riyadh, during which 16 Saudi CEOs in various economic sectors were honored. According to Walid Akawi, CEO of ITP, publisher of CEO magazine middle east, the choice of Al-Hamdan was made after accurate calibration of the achievements made by nasair, whether by pioneering and introducing its services in the Kingdom or of the ability shown by Al-Hamdan in the leadership of the company which has become, in less than three years, one of the unique and reliable airlines in the region. Al-Hamdan expressed his happiness and appreciation over receiving the award, saying that the honor did not come to him personally but also is a tribute to all those working within NAS who contributed to achieving the company vision of the "Smart Airline" concept. By providing a beneficial value for their clients, the company has carried more than three million passengers across 24 domestic and international destinations by operating 350 flights a week on board nasair modern fleet, consisting of 13 airplane of the youngest aircraft in the Middle East. NAS has, in addition to nasair, OSPM Operation Support Projects Management which manages and operates 66 aircraft, as well as NETJETS Middle East program which provides the Business Traveler an access to their own executive jet which is the largest private jet fleet in the region.
 
CANON MIDDLE EAST
Canon Middle East, a world-leading innovator and provider of imaging solutions for businesses and consumers, supported WWF's Earth Hour on Saturday. This is a global event uniting people, places and countries across the world to fight climate change. In line with its continuing thrust to be a socially responsible and environmentally conscious company, Canon Middle East supported the initiative locally by turning out non-essential lights at Canon office including the Canon sign on the office building. It also encouraged all employees to show support by switching off their lights and electrical appliances at home for this hour. The employees joined a walk for a cause organized by Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) on Jumeirah Road. Mai Youssef, corporate communications manager at Canon Middle East, said: "Canon fully supports WWF's Earth Hour initiative in this very important endeavor. We believe that it is crucial to create greater awareness and involve all members of the society in efforts to address emerging environmental problems. As a distinguished global leader in imaging solutions, Canon is not only focused on empowering creativity and innovation at home or at work; we are likewise firmly committed to promote a more sustainable and practical approach towards development."
 
SIRAJ CAPITAL
Siraj Capital Co. is participating in the Private Property Forum being organized in Riyadh. This forum will be organized with Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority within strategic partnership. In fact, this event will be the most prominent one in Saudi Arabia, which shall deal with investment, private property, and venture capital, taking into account that it is expected to be attended by many investors and businessmen. Siraj Capital will be the silver sponsor of this event. Most important is the participation of 400 of senior persons in the sector as well as many investors in comparison with any other event. Of the main speakers in this event will be Ibrahim Mardam Baik, executive president of Siraj Capital. In his speech, Mardam will highlight Siraj Capital's experience in private property domain in Saudi Arabia. Siraj Capital Co. Ltd. established in 2005 as a holding investing & funding commercial firm, concentrates in its activity on unique investment opportunities in the Kingdom, GCC countries, and the Middle East. The company has offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dubai (Dubai International Financial Center). In fact, Siraj Capital aims to be a pioneer investing and funding commercial company in the region, concentrating its activities on providing and managing successful projects in association with pioneer international groups, capital investments in their early growth stages, and Islamic funding deals of partners, clients, and shareholders. Siraj Capital is managed by team of specialists who have wide regional and international experience in banking investment, private property, commercial investment services, venture capital, and administrative consultations, and organizing projects in new markets.
 
LG
LG Electronics, a major innovator in the air-conditioning sector, in partnership with one of its leading distributors Al-Hassan Ghazi Ibrahim Shaker Co. has launched a free air-conditioning service campaign, which ends on March 30. It focuses on providing free AC maintenance facility to its customers. "The Kingdom's weather conditions, and the fact that air-conditioning equipment is installed outdoors, places severe demands on cooling capacity and efficiency," said Basem Hamad, national service manager of Al-Hassan Ghazi Ibrahim Shaker. "While LG air-conditioning equipment is a very tough piece of machinery, engineered to withstand all sorts of abuse and keep on running, without regular maintenance, an air-conditioner loses about five percent of its original efficiency for each year of operation. We at LG offer this opportunity to our customers each year, as part of our ongoing commitment to the market." Studies show that with regular tune-ups a unit will maintain up to 95 percent of its original efficiency. LG conducts this campaign every year to meet customers' growing expectations and requirements, especially during the summer months. For this, LGE doubles the air-conditioning service vans during the hot weather months, ensuring customers enjoy uninterrupted cooling when they need it most. The mechanics of LG service campaign are simple - customers who require and are interested in getting their LG air-conditioners serviced call the LG Service call center number and fix an appointment. These calls are attended by a team of technicians (mobile workshop), who inspect, repair, and maintain the AC by in-home service without bringing the AC to the service centre. LG has been providing free service checkups for air conditioning equipment for more than seven years now.
 
BMW
The Middle East debut of the new BMW 5 Series sedan marks the epitome of aesthetic design and supreme driving pleasure in the upper midrange segment. With its sporting and elegant design, excellent comfort and the highest standard in efficiency in its class, the sixth generation of this immensely successful executive sedan is expected to continue the success story. The new BMW 5 Series design is imaginative, creative and effective, with BMW's designers and engineers working hand-in-hand to ensure the perfect combination of design and technology. The core product in BMW's portfolio and one of the top selling models in the Middle East, the new 5 Series is set to strengthen BMW's position in the premium midrange segment. In terms of design, the new 5 Series has the longest wheelbase in the segment, a long and sleek engine compartment lid, short overhangs front and rear and a coupe-like, graceful roofline. The interior has a stylish and modern design with exciting lines that create a generous and harmonious ambience. High quality materials and superior craftsmanship underline the premium interior ambience. The new BMW 5 Series will enter the Middle East market with one eight-cylinder and three six-cylinder petrol engines. The top model is the BMW 550i powered by a V8 with BMW TwinPower Turbo featuring High Precision Injection (407 hp). Commenting on the launch of the new BMW 5 Series sedan, Anees Abdeljaleel Jamjoom, managing director of Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors, the exclusive BMW importer in Saudi Arabia, said: "The launch of the new BMW 5 Series opens up the latest chapter in a truly impressive BMW success story. This sixth generation model is a totally different car from its predecessor in terms of design, comfort, technology and engineering for an experience of 'sheer driving pleasure." The new BMW 5 Series sedan is available at Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors from March 2010.
 
INVESTCORP
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Isa Alkhalifa has been elected to the Investcorp board as a director. Investcorp's executive chairman and CEO Nemir A. Kirdar said: "We are honored that Sheikh Mohamed Bin Isa Al-Khalifa has joined our board in his personal capacity. He is a very highly respected figure in the international investments arena. He will definitely contribute to supporting Investcorp due to his wealth of experience and expertise." Investcorp Chairman Abdul-Rahman Salim Al-Ateeqi, welcomed Sheikh Mohammed to the Investcorp board: "We are delighted to be joined by such an eminent figure as Sheikh Mohammed. We wish him all success." Isa Al-Khalifa is the CEO of Bahrain's Social Insurance Organization (SIO). Sheikh Mohammed is also the chairman of the Securities and Investment Company and of Oasis Capital Bank, and is on the board of directors of a number of other major organizations, including Batelco (Bahrain Telecommunications), the Bank of Bahrain & Kuwait and the Bahrain Stock Exchange.
 
 
SICO
Securities & Investment Company (SICO) released on Sunday performance results for its four regional equity funds in 2009. Despite significant regional market turmoil caused by the global financial crisis, the funds continued to perform strongly. Significantly, the high ratings ("AA" and "A") assigned to the firm's funds in 2008 by Standard & Poor's, were re-affirmed by this leading international rating agency during the year. SICO's flagship Khaleej Equity Fund, rated "AA" by S&P, and which invests in equities listed on the six GCC stock markets, achieved a return of 16.9 percent for the year. The fund achieved one of the best risk-adjusted returns among its peer group over the medium-to-long term. For a five-year period the fund's annualized return is 8.5 percent against a negative 3.5 percent return of the MSCI GCC Index benchmark. This has been achieved despite having a significantly lower volatility than that of the benchmark. Khaleej Equity Fund was ranked "First" in the GCC Equity Fund category by Zawya Funds Ranking during their latest quarterly review. Also rated "AA" by S&P, the SICO Gulf Equity Fund invests in equities listed on the GCC stock markets excluding Saudi Arabia. In 2009, the fund delivered a return of 12.9 percent, while its MSCI GCC Ex-Saudi Index benchmark remained flat. The fund has one of the best risk-adjusted returns over a three-year period, with an annualized return of 2.4 percent against a negative 10.5 percent return for the benchmark. SICO Gulf Equity Fund ranked 'Second' in the GCC Equity Fund category by Zawya Funds Ranking during their latest quarterly review, and was also recognized as the Best GCC Fund at the MENA Fund Managers Awards 2009.