Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the COO will have enterprise-wide responsibility for strengthening the bank's operating model, improving productivity, enhancing service delivery and ensuring that the organisation operates with greater efficiency, clarity and accountability.

This is a significant leadership appointment for an experienced banking executive who combines strong operational credentials with the strategic perspective, commercial judgement and change leadership required to improve the performance of a complex financial institution.

The successful candidate will play a central role in allowing the CEO to focus on the bank's strategic and commercial priorities by taking ownership of day-to-day operational matters, resolving cross-functional issues and ensuring disciplined execution across the organisation.

1. Lead the bank's operational agenda, ensuring effective, efficient and consistent delivery across the organisation.
2. Review and simplify the operating model, organisational structures, processes and decision-making arrangements.
3. Identify structural inefficiencies, duplication, unnecessary complexity and opportunities to improve productivity.
4. Establish clear accountability, performance standards and service-level expectations across the COO's areas of responsibility.
5. Ensure operational issues are resolved promptly and that appropriate escalation and governance arrangements are in place.

1. Develop and execute a sustainable cost and productivity improvement programme.
2. Identify opportunities to reduce the bank's cost base through process redesign, organisational simplification, resource optimisation and improved use of shared services.
3. Challenge existing practices and established ways of working, ensuring that cost reductions are structural and sustainable rather than short-term measures.
4. Introduce appropriate performance metrics to measure productivity, efficiency, service quality and cost effectiveness.
5. Deliver measurable improvements in the bank's operating cost-to-income ratio without compromising control standards or customer outcomes.

The COO will have executive responsibility for the following functions:

1. Operations: Banking operations, service delivery, process management, operational excellence and relevant support activities.
2. Legal: Effective legal support, contract management, governance coordination and management of legal risk in partnership with the bank's control functions.
3. Human Resources: Workforce planning, organisational effectiveness, talent management, performance management and productivity.
4. Administration and Corporate Services: Facilities, premises, corporate administration and support services.
5. Credit: Relevant credit administration, credit operations, documentation, workflow and associated support processes, working in close partnership with the bank's independent credit-risk governance.
6. Procurement: Strategic sourcing, vendor management, contract oversight, supplier performance and procurement efficiency.

The Chief Information Officer and IT organisation will remain outside the COO's reporting line. The COO will nevertheless work closely with the technology leadership team to ensure that business processes, operational priorities and technology investments are appropriately aligned.

1. Maintain strong operational controls, governance and regulatory compliance across all areas of responsibility.
2. Ensure that efficiency initiatives do not weaken risk management, internal controls, operational resilience or customer service.
3. Work closely with Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit and other control functions, respecting their independence.
4. Strengthen operational risk management, issue resolution and remediation discipline.
5. Ensure that the bank maintains appropriate service standards and a consistently positive customer experience.

1. Act as a key partner and adviser to the CEO on operational and organisational matters.
2. Provide effective leadership and direction to senior functional executives.
3. Constructively challenge functional leaders, encourage collaboration and resolve competing priorities.
4. Translate strategic objectives into practical execution plans with clear ownership, milestones and measurable outcomes.
5. Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, continuous improvement and delivery.

The successful candidate will bring:

1. Extensive senior leadership experience within a commercial bank or other substantial regulated financial institution.
2. A proven track record in a Group COO, Deputy COO, Chief Operating Officer, Head of Group Operations, Head of Shared Services or equivalent enterprise-wide leadership position.
3. Demonstrable experience leading large, complex operational organisations and multiple support functions.
4. A strong track record of delivering sustainable cost reduction, productivity improvements and operating-model transformation.
5. Experience simplifying organisational structures, improving processes and establishing effective shared-service arrangements.
6. A sound understanding of banking operations, credit processes, operational risk, regulatory requirements and control frameworks.
7. The credibility and leadership maturity to operate effectively at executive committee level and influence experienced senior stakeholders.
8. The ability to balance commercial and operational priorities with the need to protect customers, employees and the bank's control environment.
9. Strong strategic thinking combined with a practical, hands-on and delivery-oriented management style.

We are particularly interested in executives currently working in:

1. Group COO or Deputy COO roles at established banks.
2. Group Operations or Shared Services leadership positions.
3. Enterprise-wide transformation and operational excellence roles with substantial business ownership.
4. Large-scale banking operations, business services or corporate services leadership positions.

Experience in the GCC banking market would be advantageous, although candidates from international banking markets with relevant experience in complex, regulated financial institutions will also be considered.

During the first 12–18 months, the successful candidate will be expected to:

1. Establish a clear view of the bank's operational cost base, organisational structure and productivity.
2. Identify and execute opportunities for structural simplification and sustainable cost reduction.
3. Improve operational efficiency, service delivery and management accountability.
4. Strengthen coordination and execution across the COO's functional areas.
5. Reduce unnecessary operational escalations to the CEO.
6. Demonstrate measurable improvements in productivity and operating performance while maintaining strong risk, compliance and customer-service standards.

This is an opportunity to take on a high-impact executive role within a leading UAE commercial bank, with the mandate to shape how the organisation operates, improve its economics and build a more efficient, accountable and scalable operating model.

The successful candidate will be a trusted partner to the CEO and a key contributor to the bank's next phase of development.