CELEBRATE THE INDUSTRY'S SUCCESS AT THE EXCLUSIVE FXB AWARDS CEREMONY
venue details
V Hotel, Al Habtoor City, Dubai
awards timings
23 NOVEMBER
2023
05 PM - 08 PM
FXB AWARDS CATEGORIES
23 NOVEMBER 2023
EDC is a dynamic subsidiary and the digital arm of Emirates Post Group Company (EPG), dedicated to providing comprehensive digital solutions to help organizations achieve their digital transformation goals. As a leader in AI, Automation, Communications and Digital Trust, we have been a trusted partner for businesses across various sectors in the region since 2002.
At EDC, our expertise is anchored in offering cutting-edge digital transformation solutions, which include:
LexisNexis® Risk Solutions includes seven brands that span multiple industries and sectors. We harness the power of data, sophisticated analytics platforms and technology solutions to provide insights that help businesses and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX (LSE: REL/NYSE: RELX), a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, please visit LexisNexis Risk Solutions and RELX.
UPT’s main business is Money Transfer and Payments Services. UPT is a 100% subsidiary of Aktif Bank – the largest private investment bank in Turkey.
UPT is a significant player in money transfer business being the first licensed payment institution in Turkey with most extensive delivery channels exceeding in total 7,000 physical delivery points throughout Turkey. UPT’s technical infrastructure is being directly used in 14 countries through banks and money transfer companies. They are tied-up with the most respected companies around the globe such as banks, fintechs, payment and money transfer operators. This global network allows UPT to remove the borders between 176 countries and provide unique services to a large target of audience in 5 continents through 400.000 service locations.
UPT strengthens its presence in the digital world of payments with its pioneer mobile application “UPTION” and offers a wide range of services to its customers such as multicurrency accounts, money transfers, prepaid cards and many more value added services.
We are one of the leading technology consulting companies specialized in Cyber Security Solutions and Assurance Services. Our main areas of focus are Data Security and Privacy, Incident Detection and Response, Application and API Security ,Cyberwar gaming and much more. With a robust presence spanning 15 years, with our headquarters in Dubai and our branch offices in Abu Dhabi, we have been dedicated to representing niche Technologies and offering quality services to our customers.
Head of Data Management & Business Partners Invest Bank
Ahmad Musa is a confident, creative Senior Finance Business Partner, Financial Planner, Analyst, and Strategist, with a strong emphasis in the FP&A, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting & Reporting, Business Planning, Analytics, Data Management, Business Intelligence, and IT Management with +25 years of experience. His experience is within the Banking & FI domains, which spans across multiple banks in the UAE: from Retail to Corporate, and from Commercial (conventional) to Islamic.
He is a proactive architect with the ability to face challenges head-on and execute sound decisions to align business strategies and operations with the company’s missions. He hates to be in his comfort zone, and always looking for challenges and big movements. He changed his career path 180 degrees, from core IT to core Finance.
Advisor – Econwired
Over the last decade and half, Ajay has acquired experience across ‘Business Strategy’, ‘Sales management’, Business Development’, ‘Solution Consulting’ and ‘Research and Development’. In his most recent role, Ajay was head of Strategic Partnerships for the payments business at Finastra.
He has been leading interactions with financial institutions, FinTechs, software vendors and services organizations globally, acquiring crucial global exposure of varied facets of the financial technology market with a focus on payments but not limited to it.
Ajay has been active with financial institutions across multiple regions including Middle East (UAE, KSA, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar), Africa (South Africa, Nigeria, SADC), Asia Pacific (Vietnam, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan), Americas and LATAM (USA, Canada, Mexico), Europe and United Kingdom.
MANAGING DIRECTOR, ALMAABER ADVISORS VISITING PROFESSOR - FINTECH & DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION DIPLOMA, NILE UNIVERSIT
Chris is the Managing Director of Almaaber Advisors, a strategic digital advisory firm based on Dubai.
Chris is an internationally recognised speaker on Strategy, Innovation & Digital Transformation. Chris is a sought-after contributor to news agencies including BBC World News, Al Jazeera, The Evening Standard, and CIO Magazine. He is an experienced Executive, Non-Executive Director, Management Consultant, Venture Capitalist and Entrepreneur with demonstrable success across a wide range of roles and industries. Chris has advised some of the most recognised brands in Financial Services.
Chris is a Visiting Professor at Nile University, Cairo, where he is faculty for the Fintech Diploma and Certificate in Digital Transformation.
Chris has been a strategic advisor to NEOM – where humanity and AI are at the heart of building the world’s most sustainable cognitive city.
Chris is a Fellow at the UK Institute of Directors where he also served as the Lead Examiner for Strategy. Chris recently served on the University of Oxford, Saïd Business School’s Diploma & Accredited Programmes Committee for Strategy & Innovation.
Group Head of Correspondent & Banking
Kapil Dev Arora is the Group Head of Correspondent & Banking Department. Kapil has over 22 years of experience in leading international cross-functional business, sales and product teams across the Middle East and Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining Al Ansari Exchange, Kapil held several key positions at HSBC, Citibank, Western Union and Kotak Bank. Kapil has a Master’s Degree in Mathematics along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management from India. He also completed an ‘MBA Essentials’ program from the London School of Economics.
Harnessing Nordic Excellence to Accelerate Digital Transformation in MENA
With over twenty years under his belt, Michael has firmly established himself as a thought leader in the Product and Engineering field. His journey, deeply rooted in the innovation-driven ecosystem of the Nordic region, has seen him drive digital transformation, scale formidable platforms, and ignite vibrant ecosystems through strategic partnerships. His expertise seamlessly integrates Financial Services, Telcos, and the dynamic Startup arena.
A testament to his leadership, Michael has held key roles at Nordic trailblazers such as Danske Bank, Unwire, TDC Group, and Planday (Xero). Among his notable achievements are the conceptualization and delivery of ‘District’ – a revolutionary Financial Services Platform tailored for businesses, the inception of ‘TDC NET Platform’ – a ground-breaking Telco-as-a-Service platform birthed from a telco split, and the international expansion of ‘Planday’, a leading shift-based scheduling platform. His visionary work on ‘Paii’, a collaborative Telco Wallet platform, is another hard-earned feather in his cap.
Today, Michael channels his vast Nordic experience into the MENA landscape, aiming to bridge the gap and catalyse the region’s digital transformation - most recently, bringing Fintech Galaxy's Open Banking Platform to life. His insights, drawn from academics and real-world leadership, offer a unique blend of theory and practice, making him a sought-after speaker and advisor.
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Chief Digital Officer | Fintech and Digital Transformation Advisor
Multi-faceted information technology professional with more than 20 years of extensive experiences in different industries and business segments, financial services (conventional, Islamic), conglomerate, real estate, consulting/advisory services, and software services, attaining 15 years’ experience as a Chief Information Officer (CIO) and CXO advisor in leading organisations in GCC. Demonstrated success leading and fostering teams in completing major business and digital transformation programs conforming to unique and challenging goals and timelines while keeping Customer Experience CX and Innovations as a key pillar. Solid background and knowledge in Technology, different business industries, financial services as well as strategic management. Charted success constructing the IT organization and systems of four financial services start-ups (Banks) in MENA as well the first conversion ever for conventional to Islamic Bank. Nominated as one of the top 50 CIOs in Middle East at the IDC CIO Summit 2021, top 50 Digital leaders in Middle East CXO50 by CXO insights Middle east in 2020, top 50 CIOs in the Middle East by CNME magazine in 2012, and as Manchester Business School Distinguished Ambassador of the Middle East Centre where obtained MBA degree focusing on strategy management. Distinguished speaker at major regional and international conferences about Fintech, Proptech and disruptive technologies: Open Banking & Finance, Blockchain & Digital Assets, CBDC, AI/ML, IOT and Big Data, as well one of the main Fintech and Digital Banking contributors in the Middle East, and member of the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) Fintech Working Group (FWG). Proven technology leader equipped with advanced communication and interpersonal skills, fluent in both English and Arabic. Technically proficient in multiple back-office solutions, core banking, ERP, and digital solutions spanning across different industries
General Manager - Retail Banking
Muhammad Zeeshan Abbas is a highly experienced professional with a 23-year track record in Retail Sales, Sales Management, Compliance (AML/CFT & KYC), Business Planning & Reporting, Consumer Analytics, Payment, and Financial Control, with a background in leading commercial banks of Pakistan, an International Courier Company, and an Audit Firm. They hold an Associate Certified Chartered Accountant (ACCA) membership and have a Masters in Economics, along with experience in auditing Financial/Non-Financial Products for firm controls and quality management.
His extensive professional journey includes key roles such as General Manager Branch Banking, Global Head of Home Remittance & NRP Banking, Head of Retail Banking, Regional Business Head, Head of National Sales Management, Head of Planning & Control, Chief Anti Money Laundering Officer, and Financial Controller in major banks, both in Pakistan and internationally. Their responsibilities ranged from overseeing large-scale branch networks, enhancing customer relations, driving business growth, and implementing operational and compliance controls. They also possess international exposure through training and excursions in various countries.
Chief Executive Officer of Block Stack
AWARDS - TOP 50 CIO | DIGITAL LEADER |TOP 50 PAYMENT LEADER | TOP 20 BFSI LEADERSHIP | TOP 100 SECURITY INFLUENER | TOP BFSI INNOVATOR
CEO at Block Stack, Founder at India Blockchain Forum
Award Winning Banker, Digital Architect, Industry Innovator, Board Member , Fintech Influencer, Startup Mentor, Leadership Coach , Bank Advisor
23+ Yrs of experience at all levels, Engineering, Management, and Innovation as CXO. I have worked Globally for Banks, Fintech, Micro-Finance, Engineering, and Multi-National companies for Digital & Architecture Transformation. I am closely associated with cutting-edge technology adoption Strategy, Assimilation, Experimentation, Innovative Customer Servicing & Engagement, Robust Architecture Implementation, Fintech & Start-up Alignment, Open Innovation practices, Ecosystem Collaboration with Govt , BigTech , Fintech , banks , Academia.
GENERAL MANAGER JOYALUKKAS EXCHANGE
With over 15 years of experience in the Global Remittance Industry and Payment Solutions, Punnoose Mathew is a visionary Leader and a FinTech Expert who leads the strategic growth and operational excellence of Joyalukkas Exchange, a leading money transfer, foreign currency exchange, and payment solutions provider in the UAE and beyond.
Punnoose has a proven track record of identifying and adopting emerging trends, addressing industry challenges, and delivering innovative products and services that enhance customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention.
He has also successfully managed multiple projects, teams, and partnerships across diverse markets and cultures, while ensuring compliance with the Central Bank of UAE and other regulatory authorities.
His mission is to leverage his skills and expertise to create value for the organization, customers, and stakeholders, and to contribute to the advancement of the fintech sector.
SVP & Head of Security Monitoring Services & Data Protection First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)
of Data Protection & Cyber Security Monitoring for one of the biggest Bank in middle east with presence in more than 15 countries. He is responsible for ensuring that the group (UAE and international) has a robust and effective cyber defense, cyber resilience and data protection practice in line with regulatory requirements and industry best practices. He is a Cyber and Business Resilience Expert with two decades of experience in the Banking and Financial service (BFS) industry.
Sagar is a certified and hands on professional with in-depth knowledge of banking, cyber security, privacy and business continuity domain; he holds multiple industry best certification in domain of Cyber Security, Privacy and Business Continuity, like SANS-GSLC, CISSP, CISA, CBCI and CDPSE etc.
Chief Executive Officer
Born in 1981, Murat Kastan graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Business Administration and has 19 years of experience in the banking and finance sectors. He started his career in Finansbank. After working 12 years in Finansbank, continued his career in payment and fintech area. He joined UPT in March 2019 as Executive Vice President of International Channel Management. Kastan, who has been serving as Chief Commercial Officer since 2023, was appointed as UPT’s CEO as of October 2023.
Regional Account Director
Alaa AlRousan is a Regional Account Director for SWIFT in the Middle East. He is responsible for driving SWIFT’s initiatives in the region and working with banking communities and regulators to provide solutions to regional industry challenges such as payments innovation and cyber security.
Alaa specializes in payments solutions design, financial messaging, RTGS, ACH and instant payment networks. Alaa has been with SWIFT for more than eight years, during which he has held the positions of Technical Expert & Solution Designer for the Middle East, Turkey & Africa, and Country Manager of some of the largest markets in the region. Prior to joining SWIFT, he worked in consulting and project management roles across the financial services industry. Alaa holds an MBA degree from Bayes Business School and an Engineering degree in Computers & Control Systems.
Vice President, Remittances, Mashreq
Zameer has over 20 years of experience in Remittance Industry ranging from Money Exchange houses to Banks in UAE and Saudi Arabia.
He has been involved in setting up the remittance products, managing them and bringing various innovation to it.
With Mashreq since more than 6 years, he is Heading the Remittance Business for Mashreq, Retail Banking Group in his current position.
Chief Executive Officer – Fuze
Mo Ali Yusuf is a highly accomplished fintech and digital asset leader, who is deeply committed to leveraging the power of financial technology to drive positive change in individuals, communities, and businesses across the globe
As the CEO and co-founder of Fuze, a regulated digital assets infrastructure platform, Mo is spearheading efforts to enable businesses in the Middle East to seamlessly integrate digital asset products. Fuze recently announced their record breaking $14Mn seed funding round. Mo Ali is also the Co-Chair of Digital Assets, for the MENA Fintech Association, an industry body enabling the ecosystem.
Prior to launching Fuze, Mo held leadership positions at some of the most prominent fintech and finance companies in the world, including Checkout.com, Visa, Booz & Company, and Emirates NBD.
Mo holds a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from a Canadian university and an MBA from the prestigious London Business School.
Mo's impressive background and deep expertise in fintech and digital assets make him a highly sought-after thought leader and speaker at industry events worldwide.
Linkedin Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/moaliyusuf/
Head of Sales and Client Relations - Magna Financial Ltd
Musata is a seasoned client-facing executive with a keen focus on Fintech payments in the Middle East. Boasting an impressive 11-year career in Banking and Fintech, Musata has honed her expertise in building enterprise partnerships and providing consultative guidance on Global Markets and digital transformation. Notably, she orchestrated successful expansions in the Middle East for prominent British Fintech firms, Ebury Partners and Magna Financial, steering their Go-to-Market strategy in the region. Commencing her professional journey at Goldman Sachs in London, Musata played a pivotal role in ensuring the digital adoption of the bank’s electronic platform for Payments among numerous EMEA institutional clients. A polyglot executive, Musata excels in cultivating enduring collaborations with industry partners and is fervently dedicated to overcoming business challenges in our tech-driven era.
Head of Business Development – Emirates Investment Bank
Mr. Osama Al Rahma is the former CEO of Al Fardan Exchange L.L.C. and is currently Head of Business Development at Emirates Investment Bank, and Advisor to the Board for the Foreign Exchange & Remittance Group (FERG) in the UAE. A group registered under Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Mr. Osama Al Rahma is also the former Vice Chairman of Dubai Quality Group.
Group CMO (Marketing & Revenue) – YAP
With 20+ years in digital, payments, fintech, and e-commerce, I've shaped global B2C and B2B landscapes. Passionate about digital innovation, I've led transformative projects, creating strong payment strategies and brands, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
As a seasoned CMO, CEO, CTO, and advisor, I’ve driven growth for various organizations, utilizing technology and data to enhance customer experiences and brand narratives across sectors like banking, telecom, retail, and mobile services.
My hands-on approach, blending marketing, tech, data, and customer experience knowhow, enables me to bridge organizational gaps, fostering collaboration and progress. Besides work, I'm an avid traveler and adventurer, enjoying mountain biking, kitesurfing, and hiking, with a deep love for diverse culinary experiences, savoring life’s flavors and moments.
Chief Business Officer – Index Exchange LLC
A successful, passionate, and performance-driven growth marketing specialist with over 20 years of professional experience, exclusively working in the products and services marketing of power brands in retail, consumer electronics, telecom, luxury real estate, and payment solutions with some of the most renowned businesses in India and the Middle East.
A renowned professional in the payment solutions industry working closely with ecosystem partners, accelerators, banks, start-ups, regulators, and established incumbents. Detailed knowledge of the markets of South Asia, South East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa with expertise in retail business and in partnering with core business operations to significantly increase the company's footprint, expand market share, and generate sustainable revenue gains. The key areas of expertise lie within marketing, creating a digital footprint, marketing strategies, project management, digital strategies, growth marketing, brand management, e-commerce, strategic planning, product development, social media, event management, budget management, and product and service management. Leading P&L, achieving visions, and leading organizations, by increasing growth, executing plans to raise brand awareness, running data-driven initiatives, capitalizing on existing product revenues, and generating traffic, and conversions through marketing strategies.
Chief Business Officer – Index Exchange LLC
Salma Massoud, a Senior Business and Marketing Executive, brings over 20 years of fast-track experience in Fortune 100 companies, and she continues to enjoy getting hands-on. Salma has been recognized with numerous global and regional innovation and business awards, including the Microsoft/Nokia global "Dare 2 Disrupt" award, the prestigious P&G “Global Excellence in Marketing” award, and over 3 ‘Innovation Awards’ across the Middle East & Africa region, among others. Salma is a strategic thinker with a knack for creating alternative paths forward. She excels at quickly identifying relevant patterns and issues, finding connections between seemingly disparate phenomena, and turning thoughts into action as an activator. Known for her commitment and ownership, Salma is also a maximizer, focusing on strengths to stimulate personal and group excellence. Salma holds an MBA with High Distinction from Chifley Business School, graduated with honors and a double major in Business Administration & Philosophy from the American University in Cairo, and earned an Advanced Professional Digital Marketing Diploma from the Digital Marketing Institute in Ireland and Harvard Business School. Her educational background complements her progressive and dynamic career.
Owner - Digital Fluency
Holly started her career with Accenture and over a 25-year career has led large-scale transformations at companies such as Vodafone, British Telecom, Cable & Wireless, Standard Chartered Bank, Ooredoo, Farah Experiences (part of the Miral Group) and ADCB. She has founded several start-ups, including Al Khalij Commercial Bank, Data Select (owned by entrepreneur and Dragon Peter Jones) and a family food business, Serves Gourmet. She was also the Programme Director of Qatar’s winning World Cup Bid. Most recently, she was COO of Abu Dhabi Securities Services. Today, Holly is on a mission to unlock digital fluency and make strategy happen across the GCC through her company, Digital Fluency.
Payments Director - EMEA - LexisNexis Risk Solutions
Craig has over seven years of experience in helping banks, corporates, PSPs and Fintechs improve their payments process across the globe.
Automating the validation of cross-border payments has been at the forefront of the projects Craig has been involved in. This has allowed organizations to realize true straight-through-processing of their payments and remove unnecessary frictions (including. delays, repair fees, and customer dissatisfaction) that make the process inefficient and costly.
VP Business Development - M2P Fintech
A proficient banker with a strong inclination toward Fintech Ecosystem, Devang handles Fintech efforts at M2P Fintech. With his extensive banking experience from RBL Bank, DCB Bank, and Citi Bank, He has been deploying his innovative mindset to bring together modern banking and fintech for the past 5 years at M2P. As a result, he has earned a reputation as the trusted authority for anything within the realm of fintech and beyond, making him the go-to expert in the field.
Senior Advisor - Rewardz Global
Girish is a Payments and Loyalty Expert with 22+ years of experiences across India, UAE and KSA with top tier banks including ICICI, UNB, FAB and Riyad Bank, and large consulting firms such as McKinsey, VISA and Rewardz Global. He has led Business Intelligence, Research, Alternate Banking Channels for Retail, Islamic and SME segments along with launch and management of Cards Products, Portfolio, Acquisition and Loyalty for various banks.
Girish led Retail Banking transformation, enabled Mobile and Online banking, optimized processes across sales and operations, and looked after revenue, cost and risk management on lending and card portfolios for large banks. He is a certified Change Manager and an MBA with focus on Marketing and Business Law. Most recently, Girish has worked as Chief Product Officer for a Fintech in the UAE and Senior Advisor with Visa for Banks and Payment Companies. He's a actively involved in the tech led start-up ecosystem as an advisor and passive investor.
Payments Leader and Consultant
Riz is a qualified Banking and Payments Professional, and an experienced strategist, with focus on financial services, fintech, and remittances covering expertise across a whole range of strategic projects, including product development, planning and analysis, and go-to-market planning. With over 23 years of successful experience in positions of increasing responsibility and duties across retail banking, cards and payments (including remittances), startups, and restructuring.
Riz has a track record of exceeding set goals and expectations and has successfully managed various business lines within Consumer Bank, SME Banking, fintech, Cards and Payments.
Riz has held senior leadership positions in major banks such as Citi (USA, Czech Republic, Hungary), and ADIB (UAE), Argus (a US Big Data company), Diners Club International (Oman), MasterCard (Middle East), Retail sector in the UAE, remittances and cross-border payments with TerraPay, and effectively supervised small and large teams. He has also worked with regulators, UNCDF, and large banks and mobile operators to identify new opportunities and establish scalable businesses.
An expert in developing growth plans, partnerships, and driving growth strategy. His additional and broader experience covers wealth management, personal loans, SME banking, and insurance. Riz has lived and worked in North America, Central and Eastern Europe, and Middle East and Africa.
CEO - WorkerAppz Payments
Sagar is the CEO of WorkerAppz Payments which is a Global Settlements Platforms for Seamless Cross-Border Individual and Business Payments, FX, Prepaid Cards, Payments Technology and are now piloting the issuance of Multi-Currency IBANs.
Having grown up in Dubai and being from a family that has been involved in the transformation of the Digital Payments space the late 1990s, Sagar is not only a visionary entrepreneur but also a prominent voice in the realm of seamless global payments. His and WorkerAppz’ collective journey has been marked by a commitment to redefining the future of finance through cutting-edge technology and an unwavering belief in the power of connectivity through payments.
Professionally, Sagar is a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and beyond the boardroom, Sagar is a familiar face in events and especially on LinkedIn, lending his voice to discussions around the fintech landscape.
Being one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the x-border payments space, Sagar aims to someday become the face of change for seamless payments globally especially across the under-banked and under-served society.
Sales Head | Open Banking and Payment Processing - Arab Financial Services
Saqib is passionate about payments and digital solutions for the banking and financial services sector. He has a deep understanding of SaaS, banking solutions, innovation-led payment products, digital transformation programs, cards, and customer experience platforms. Saqib’s broad payments experience spans over fifteen years in consulting, business development, signing large complex deals and new market development across the Middle East and Africa. Throughout his career, he has successfully built and honored longstanding business relationships that have stood the test of time. In his current role at Arab Financial Services (AFS), Saqib manages AFS’s business development activities for issuer processing and opening banking solutions. He holds an MBA from Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, Pakistan.
Cinque Technologies is a Dubai based company and is a market leader in providing Money Exchange, Remittance and AML Compliance Solutions to Foreign Exchanges, Remittance Operators, Banks and Commercial Entities. We are a 25-year-old company operating in 25 countries with more than 175 implementations.
Our remittance and AML compliance solution has been deployed by the foreign exchanges, banks and fintech companies in the GCC.
Please find attached our company brochure for your reference. You may also visit our website for further information about our products and services: https://www.cinque.ae/
We provide comprehensive, customized and cost-effective remittance and AML compliance solution for Fintech for carrying out remittance business operations.