CII - Middle East News June 2024

PROPELLING CAREERS

Gaenor Jones reflects on the CII’s work in the Middle East so far this year

It’s a pleasure to be bringing our valued members, associates and partners an update of the latest developments at the CII in the Middle East region.

I’m pleased to report on a wealth of exciting partnerships and initiatives where the CII is driving up professional standards. Recognising companies in their mission to support their employees with CII qualifications and their adherence to our professional code of ethics is our mission and over the past few months we’ve been delighted to welcome a range of prominent organisations as International Professional Partner Firms (IPPFS). Some of their advisors’ testimonials are featured here and we appreciate their contribution, confident that it will inspire more individuals to propel their careers by attaining internationally recognised CII qualifications.

Attaining qualifications goes hand in hand with advancing career paths, and initiatives such as the Professional Map, explained herein, are highly effective in providing members with a clear framework to realise their potential.

MEMBERSHIP IS RENEWED ANNUALLY AND WE ADVISE ALL OF OUR MEMBERS TO ENSURE THEIR MEMBERSHIP IS CURRENT AND UP TO DATE

We also touch on the use of designations, and a polite reminder that only CII members are entitled to use our membership designations after their name. Membership is renewed annually, and we advise all of our members to ensure their membership is current and up to date, also checking their personal details such as address and telephone number to ensure that this reflects their current details.

I hope you enjoy our summary of news and views.

Kind regards

Gaenor Jones

Regional Director – Middle East

Gaenor Jones, Regional Director of the CII, Middle East

IAN MELLOWS JOINS DUBAI OFFICE AS CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Ian Mellows joins our Dubai office as Corporate Development Manager. Working from the organisation’s Dubai office in DIFC, he will be responsible for growing the CII footprint across the Middle East region.

Ian boasts an 18-year career in the insurance industry where he has held multi-faceted roles including administration, operations, trading, relationship management and sales. He relocated from the UK to the UAE in 2016 with Old Mutual International, before moving to Investors Trust in 2018.

He will work with Regional Director, Gaenor Jones in a dedicated drive to advance the growth of the Middle East regional business. His responsibilities include fostering new relationships with stakeholders, corporates, training providers, banks, and individuals, as well as maintaining existing key partnerships.

Ian holds units R01-R05 from the CII and is working on the final R06 unit to complete his Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.

CII PARTNERSHIP WITH EMIRATES

INSTITUTE OF FINANCE

The CII’s relationship with the Emirates Institute of Finance continues to flourish with a new cohort of Emirati students working towards attaining the CII’s Claims or Underwriting study unit as part of their upskilling through the education and training specialist. The CII has a long-standing partnership with the EIF to assist with the UAE’s Emiratisation program by providing our internationally recognised qualifications to finance and insurance sector professionals.

The EIBFS has operated for over 38 years in the UAE, offering specialised education and training to individuals looking to develop personal and professional skills for embarking on a career in the banking and financial sectors and is widely regarded as a leader in Emiratisation.

Gaenor Jones comments: “We are very pleased to be working in tandem with the EIF to enable the indigenous population of the UAE to secure career advancement and long-term opportunities in the sector through the provision of the CII’s internationally recognised qualifications.”

NEW GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR EGYPT

We are delighted to welcome Gamal Sakr ACII, as the CII’s Goodwill Ambassador in Egypt.

Gamal is Regional Director for Cairo-based North East African Reinsurance Corporation and he boasts a 32-year career of diversified experience in Underwriting, Claims & Reinsurance. His position as a Goodwill Ambassador - a voluntary role - will see him assisting the CII’s Middle East international team in promoting the CII’s qualifications and professional standards to build public trust in the region’s insurance sector.

Regional Director, Gaenor Jones comments: “Gamal is exemplary of a professional whose highly successful career has accelerated due to the continuing professional development that he has undertaken, and he will represent the CII, and all that the Institute stands for, very well in Egypt.”

MIDDLE EAST

MEET OUR TEAM OF GOODWILL AMBASSADORS

Our goodwill ambassadors are qualified members, experienced in the profession, who volunteer their time to assist our international team. They assist in promoting our qualifications and professional standards to achieve our core goal of building public trust in insurance.

Suresh Nair (FCII) UAE Executive Director at Gargash Insurance Services LLC

Andrew Woodward (FCII) UAE Regional Manager Middle East & Turkey at Lloyd’s

Mohammed Al Marhoon (FCII) Saudia Arabia Broker ACE Gallagher Arabia Insurance Brokers

Issam Mouslimani (ACII) UAE Chief Executive Officer at Insurance House

Abdullah Saleh (FCII) Kuwait Senior Insurance Officer at KUFPEC

Gamal Sakr (ACII)

Suresh Nair (FCII)

Mohammed Al Marhoon (FCII) Issam Mouslimani (ACII)

Abdullah Saleh (FCII)

Andrew Woodward (FCII)

ADNIC EMPLOYEES

WORKING TOWARDS CII CERTIFICATE

Employees of Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC), one of the UAE’s largest insurance firms, have commenced their training program to attain their CII Certificate in Insurance.

Twenty-five students have enrolled for the WO1 unit.

Regional Director of the CII, Middle East, Gaenor Jones adds, “It’s very encouraging to see the commitment made by ADNIC in ensuring their employees attain internationally recognised qualifications. We are looking forward to developing our relationship with this highly prominent regional leader, who appreciate the value that the CII brings in accrediting and upskilling their staff.

ADNIC was established in the United Arab Emirates in 1972. It is a leading multi-line regional insurance provider with long-standing expertise in providing insurance and reinsurance services to individuals and corporates across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. ADNIC is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE and listed on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).

MEMBERSHIP OBLIGATORY FOR DESIGNATION USE

A CII, Personal Finance Society (PFS) or International Professional Partner Firm (IPPF) designation or title is a significant achievement for an individual and a sign of professionalism. However, all designations and titles have strict rules governing their use.

It is important for insurance and personal finance professionals to be aware of the requirements to use a CII membership designation and also what to do if you suspect that someone is misusing a CII designation.

To use a CII designation, an individual must be an active member of the CII and have met the qualification requirements for that particular designation.

The potential consequences of misusing a CII designation or International Professional Partner Firm (IPPF) title could involve legal action being taken against the infringer, therefore it is vital that members and students of the CII ensure they meet the requirements before using any CII designation, or if you are a firm, meet the eligibility criteria for IPPF status.

If you suspect that someone is misusing a CII designation or IPPF title, and thus infringing on the CII’s intellectual property rights, please contact the CII by emailing: customer.serv@cii.co.uk

CHARTING CAREER GOALS WITH THE PROFESSIONAL MAP

The Professional Map is a career development initiative launched by the CII in 2022 that all members can access. It’s a competency framework tool that outlines the knowledge and behaviours required to succeed as an insurance professional, including:

• Technical expertise – the role-specific knowledge and skills crucial for excelling in your job.

• Behaviours – the actions and attitudes that shape decision-making and work relationships.

• Enablers – skills that focus on cultivating awareness and understanding of aspects within the work environment that facilitate professional practice, such as regulations and compliance, and use of technology.

Users can access a self-assessment tool to assess capability against the Professional Map, empowering both individuals and their managers to set clear goals, prepare appraisals and interviews, manage teams effectively and ultimately enhance performance. You can find out more at ciigroup.org/en/professional-map

INTRODUCING OUR NEW CEO, MATTHEW HILL

We are delighted to announce the appointment of a new CEO who will lead the CII from our UK office. Matthew Hill joins the organisation from the Legal Services Board where he was chief executive, a position he held since August 2019. His background also includes spells with the General Dental Council and Gambling Commission, following more than 20 years in UK central government in a range of areas.

The CII is continuing to work towards the goals laid out in the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan.

Matthew Hill comments: “It is a great privilege to have been appointed as CEO of the CII Group. I have been very impressed by the CII’s very clear intent to provide first-rate sector leadership on behalf of its committed and passionate membership, and to deliver the highest professional standards for the benefit of public trust in the insurance, financial planning and mortgage advice professions. I will do everything I can to help it achieve those goals.”

The CII is reorganising its executive leadership team following Matthew’s appointment to ensure the achievement of the Strategic Plan goals. There will be eight members in all new roles. Some of the positions are being filled by existing staff, with others to be advertised shortly.

GAENOR JONES RECOGNISED AS REGIONAL WOMAN LEADER OF THE YEAR

Regional Director for the Middle East, Gaenor Jones, was recognised at the Middle East Insurance Awards where she won the coveted “Woman Leader of the Year” award.

Gaenor was applauded by the judges, all of whom are esteemed senior professionals in the sector, for working tirelessly to raise awareness of the importance of Continuous Professional Development and the attainment of internationally recognised qualifications in order to boost professional standards across the Middle East region.

MIDDLE EAST

Matthew Hill, CEO of the CII Group

Gaenor Jones, Regional Director of the CII, Middle East

QUALIFIED FOR CAREER SUCCESS

Meet some of the professionals who have attained CII qualifications and are enjoying the benefits.

Name: Karen Gholam

Designation: Company Client Manager – Lockton CII qualification: Certificate (Cert CII)

Gaining a sound technical education about insurance and reinsurance products is a major benefit for Karen Gholam, Client Manager at Lockton, who has recently attained the CII Certificate. She speaks highly about the impact that learning for the qualification has had on her day-to-day work.

She comments: “The course has provided very detailed information about the products and that has really helped me in my role as Client Manager. Studying for the qualification has provided a very solid grounding for future learning, too, where I will be able to focus more on the broker/client relationships aspect.”

Karen is quick to praise the studying experience, explaining, “the materials and study guides provided by the CII are extremely helpful, as are the mock tests. These provide an accurate representation about what to expect in the real exam and are so useful in preparing you well.

“The ease and straightforwardness of the study and exam process has definitely encouraged me to set my sights on achieving more CII qualifications. It’s fantastic for career progression and when customers can see that you hold an internationally recognized qualification, they are reassured that they are receiving the very best advice.”

Name: Muhammed Arshad M V

Designation: Customer Service Officer, GARGASH Insurance Services

CII Qualification: Certificate (Cert CII)

For Muhammed Arshad, reasons for pursuing the Certificate in Insurance qualification were two-fold; he wanted to deepen his expertise in the insurance field and stay updated with the latest industry standards and practices, while seeking to enhance his credibility and professional standing within the industry. He comments: “This achievement is poised to have a significant impact on my career trajectory. It not only validates my proficiency but also opens up new opportunities for career advancement and professional growth. With the CII certification under my belt, I am better equipped to tackle complex challenges and assume greater responsibilities within my organization.

Though rigorous, Muhammed found the study process to be immensely beneficial, explaining: “The study materials provided by CII were comprehensive and facilitated a structured learning experience. While challenging, the exam process was a valuable opportunity to demonstrate my proficiency and apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. Moreover, the insights gained from studying have already begun to positively influence my day-to-day responsibilities, enabling me to provide more informed and efficient customer service.”

Muhammed is quick to advise others to advance their careers by attaining CII qualifications. He adds: “I encourage fellow professionals in the insurance industry to consider pursuing CII qualifications. The journey is demanding but ultimately rewarding, paving the way for personal and professional growth.”

He is also very committed to continuing his professional development and is keen to attain further CII qualifications, explaining: “Obtaining additional qualifications aligns with my career aspirations of reaching higher designations within the organization and ensures that I will remain at the forefront of industry standards and practices.”