Gehad El Bendary

Group Chief Risk Officer at Kuwait Finance House

Speaker

With over 24 years of experience in risk management and internal control systems, I am a seasoned risk management leader, currently serving as the Chief Risk Officer at Kuwait Finance House (KFH). I hold a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Egypt and a Finance and Risk Management Diploma from the University of Wales. My commitment to professional growth is reflected in executive programs, including Enterprise Leadership at INSEAD, the Network Leadership Program at IMD, Advanced Risk Management at Wharton, and the General Management Program at Harvard Business School. Additionally, I hold the International Certificate in Banking Risk and Regulation (ICBRR) from GARP.

I have deep expertise in managing complex risk environments and implementing effective internal controls to drive organizational stability and growth. At KFH, I have held roles such as Head of Risk, Deputy General Manager of Portfolio and Enterprise Risk Management, and General Manager of Risk Management. I played a key role in the acquisition of Ahli United Bank, aligning risk strategies with corporate objectives and integrating diverse governance structures post-acquisition.

I have led the development of enterprise-wide risk strategies, including governance structures and regulatory compliance with Basel I-III and IFRS9. Recently, I spearheaded KFH's digital transformation in risk management, leveraging AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics for proactive risk identification and predictive analysis. This transformation has strengthened KFH’s ability to manage emerging risks, enhance regulatory compliance, and maintain agility in an evolving financial environment.