Karim Awad, a leader with a vision
Karim Awad is considered to be one of the most prominent leaders in the investment banking sector.
As Group Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of EFG Hermes Holding, Awad was the maestro of number of major merger & acquisition transactions and has a long track record advising major corporations on equity offerings.
He has always been a leader with a vision, his strategy in leading EFG Hermes is built on innovation and excellence in the services provided while maintaining leading role in the market.
Through his shrewdness and creativity, he was able to consolidate all the efforts to transform the company from the largest investment bank in the Middle East and North Africa to a leading financial services institution, with an effective presence across the emerging markets.
Since taking the helm of the firm in 2013, Awad led EFG Hermes’ return to profitability by cutting unwarranted expenses, selling non-core assets and distributing excess cash to shareholders.
Starting 2014, Awad cooperated with top tier professionals across the company’s different divisions in building a comprehensive regional advisory streamline
Awad worked on extending the company leadership as the Arab World’s largest securities brokerage while maintaining the lead over its peers in like-for-like ranking as an asset manager, successfully implementing a comprehensive plan to refocus the privateequit business and continuing to provide the region’s highest-quality research offering.
A visionary leader
Awad led the company to a new strategic shift based on its transformation into a universal bank offering a full suite of investment banking, non-bank financial services and commercial banking solutions, through the potential acquisition of the state-owned Arab Investment Bank (AIB).
Awad has joined the Investment Banking division in 1998 then he became the chief executive officer of the investment banking platform with an overall responsibility for managing the firm’s Investment Banking, Securities Brokerage, Research, Asset Management, and Private Equity divisions.
During his tenure in the Investment Banking division, he led and closed transactions with a gross value of more than $ 40 billion.
Awad focused on developing the company’s existing product portfolio, as well as developing new fields and activities, particularly in the field of non-financial banking under the umbrella of a holding company launched in 2015.
EFG Hermes now exists in 12 countries across four continents, in addition, under his leadership it has became a leading financial services corporation with access to emerging and frontier markets.
It provides wide range of financial services that include investment banking, asset management, securities brokerage, research and private equity to the entire MENA region.
