AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST FINANCE BANKING EXPERT

Profile of Mr Nabil Frik

Mr Nabil Frik is an accomplished C-Suite banker and Managing Director with proven track record across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, holding dual British–German nationality, fluent in German, English, French and Arabic, with deep MENA-Europe, Sub-Saharan, GCC and South-East Asian networks.

Headline credentials:

• 25+ years in international banking
• USD 1 billion+ portfolio managed
• 4 languages spoken at full professional level
• EMEA and Asia geographic footprint
• 3 continents led at senior executive level

Twenty-Five Years of International Banking Leadership

Twenty-five-plus years of progressive C-Suite leadership cover Transaction Banking, Trade Finance, Export and Project Finance, and Financial Institutions coverage across complex multi-jurisdictional environments, with portfolios exceeding USD one billion under direct management at senior executive level across multiple major institutions.

Leadership scope:

• Transaction Banking and GTB
• Trade Finance origination and structuring
• Export and Project Finance
• Financial Institutions coverage
• Corporate and Institutional Banking
• Cross-border team leadership

Managing Africa#s FInancial institutions at BACB London

As Managing Director and Head of Financial Institutions for Africa, Middle East and Asia at British Arab Commercial Bank from May 2013 to October 2025, full P&L and strategic accountability was held for FI, Corporate Banking and Trade Finance lines across EMEA and Asia.

Key BACB achievements:

• Designed and executed a new commercial banking strategy for EMEA, materially increasing revenue diversification and geographic reach
• Expanded the bank’s footprint into Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia — two previously underserved markets
• Led successful KYC remediation programmes in high-risk regions, protecting correspondent banking network and regulatory standing
• Secured marquee commodity-sector corporate mandates
• Embedded ESG and KYC/AML frameworks aligned with Board risk appetite

Building Greenfield Banking Operations Across Four Continents

Greenfield representative offices were spearheaded in Dubai, Munich, Abidjan and Algiers, leading site selection, regulatory licensing with CBUAE, BaFin, BCEAO and Banque d’Algérie, local recruitment, governance set-up and onboarding of correspondent banking and trade finance flows from inception.

Greenfield buildouts delivered:

• Dubai – CBUAE licensing
• Munich – BaFin licensing
• Abidjan – BCEAO licensing
• Algiers – Banque d’Algérie licensing

Earlier Senior Executive Roles in London and Frankfurt

Earlier executive roles include Regional Head of Transaction Banking Europe at Qatar National Bank London (2012–2013), Branch General Manager at Bank of Beirut Frankfurt (2011–2012), and Relationship Director at Europe Arab Bank Frankfurt and London over eleven consecutive years (2000–2011).

Career trajectory:

• Qatar National Bank, London – Regional Head of Transaction Banking Europe (GTB), February 2012 – April 2013
• Bank of Beirut, Frankfurt – Branch General Manager, July 2011 – January 2012
• Europe Arab Bank, Frankfurt and London – Relationship Director, FI and Corporate Banking, January 2000 – June 2011

Export Finance, ECA Coverage and Industrial Project Finance Foundations

Foundations were laid as Senior Account Manager Export and Project Finance at ING Barings Frankfurt and Amsterdam (1997–1999), as Manager Export and Project Finance ECA Business at Siemens AG Financial Services Erlangen and Munich (1995–1997), and as Economist Infrastructure Projects at Lahmeyer International Frankfurt (1989–1995).

Early-career institutions:

• ING Barings, Frankfurt and Amsterdam – Senior Account Manager, Export and Project Finance, March 1997 – December 1999
• Siemens AG Financial Services, Erlangen and Munich – Manager, Export and Project Finance, ECA Business, February 1995 – February 1997
• Lahmeyer International, Frankfurt – Economist, Infrastructure Projects (World Bank, EU, EBRD, AfDB), July 1989 – January 1995

Core Executive Competencies and Banking Strategy Capabilities

Core competencies span banking strategy, deal structuring and governance, including Trade Finance and GTB, Transaction Banking, Corporate and Institutional Banking, Financial Institutions coverage, Emerging Markets strategy, MENA-Europe business development, Sub-Saharan and Francophone Africa expansion, ESG integration and KYC/AML/Compliance frameworks.

Banking strategy:

• Trade Finance and GTB
• Transaction Banking
• Corporate and Institutional Banking
• Financial Institutions (FI Coverage)
• Emerging Markets strategy
• MENA–Europe business development
• Sub-Saharan and Francophone Africa

Deal structuring:

• Export Finance (ECA-backed)
• Project Finance and Structured Finance
• Commodity Finance
• Syndicated Lending
• ECA and Multilateral coordination
• Correspondent Banking
• Capital Markets liaison

Leadership and governance:

• C-Suite and Board representation
• P&L ownership and budget planning
• Cross-border team leadership
• KYC / AML / Compliance frameworks
• ESG integration and reporting
• Risk management and credit policy
• Merger, board and advisory mandates

Board, Advisory and Governance Mandates

Board-level experience includes Member of the Board at Incolease Egypt (February 2013 – April 2014), delivering governance, fiduciary oversight and strategic direction at board level for the Egyptian leasing company alongside entrepreneurial leadership of a London-based fintech and executive education company.

Mandates held:

• Member of the Board – Incolease Egypt (2013–2014): governance, fiduciary oversight, strategic advisory
• Founder and Director – London-based Fintech and Executive Education company: digital strategy, SEO, web publishing

Academic Background and Multilingual Profile

Academic credentials feature an MBA in Engineer Economist (specialisation Finance and Economics) from Bielefeld University Germany, a BA Engineer from the same institution, and a French Baccalaureate from Institut Châteaubriand in Cannes, complemented by full professional fluency in German, English, French and Arabic.

Education:

• MBA – Engineer Economist (Finance and Economics specialisation), Bielefeld University, Germany
• BA – Engineer, Bielefeld University, Germany
• Baccalaureate (French system), Institut Châteaubriand, Cannes, France

Languages:

• Arabic – native
• French – native
• English – fully professional
• German – fully professional

Nationalities:

• British citizen
• German citizen

Industry Recognition, Publications and Speaking Engagements

Industry presence includes regular contribution to International Banker as expert commentator on Trade Finance and MENA banking, published work via Arab Bankers Association, TXF News expert voice on export finance and ECA transactions, plus international conference speaking across Europe, Middle East and Africa since 2005.

Media and publications:

• International Banker – featured industry contributor and expert commentator
• Arab Bankers Association – published professional and active community participant
• TXF News – expert voice on export finance, ECA transactions and emerging market deal structuring
• International finance conferences across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (2005–2025) – keynotes, panels, roundtables
• Video media: youtu.be/yVTB-tzybJc and youtu.be/lKe_xtQf9eQ

Geographic Coverage Across EMEA, GCC and Asia

Direct operational coverage spans London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Munich, Abidjan and Algiers, with active deal flow across EMEA, GCC, Sub-Saharan Africa, Francophone Africa and South-East Asia, supported by long-standing relationships with regulators, correspondent banks, sovereign clients and multilateral lenders across each corridor.

Active corridors:

• MENA–Europe
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Francophone Africa
• GCC
• South-East Asia
• DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)

Institutional counterparties:

• Central banks and regulators (CBUAE, BaFin, BCEAO, Banque d’Algérie)
• Correspondent banks
• Sovereign clients and ministries of finance
• Multilateral lenders (World Bank, EU, EBRD, AfDB)
• Export Credit Agencies
• Commodity trading houses

Target Roles and Availability

Currently open to Managing Director, CEO, Head of Financial Institutions, Head of Trade Finance, Head of Export and Project Finance, and Board / NED mandates, with availability in London, Frankfurt, EMEA and internationally for the right institutional or sovereign opportunity.

Target roles:

• Managing Director
• CEO / Country CEO
• Head of Financial Institutions
• Head of Trade Finance
• Head of Export and Project Finance
• Global Head of Coverage
• Non-Executive Director / Board Member

Availability:

• London
• Frankfurt
• EMEA
• International / open to relocation

Contacts:

• Email: info@tradefinance.africa

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