SWIFT, the financial messaging provider for more than 10,800 banks, securities institutions and corporate customers in 200 countries and territories, today announced two senior executive appointments for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META) region. Sido Bestani becomes Head of Middle East, Turkey and Africa and Khaled Moharem will take on his new role as the Head of Middle East and North Africa, reporting to Sido Bestani.
The two new appointments mark a reorganisation in SWIFT’s META team and are effective immediately.
Sido Bestani joined SWIFT with more than 10 years of experience in the financial services technology industry. In 2008 he was appointed as Head of Middle East & North Africa and led the creation of SWIFT’s consultancy hub in Dubai. In his new role, he will continue to lead major SWIFT initiatives in the region, working on synergies and collaboration between SWIFT’s offices in Africa and the Middle East. With offices in Dubai, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Accra, SWIFT is well placed to assist local financial communities and corporations as they continue to develop their businesses across both continents, and to support major projects within the region as these pursue deeper economic integration and harmonisation.
SWIFT will also continue to be the catalyst that brings the financial community across both continents together to work collaboratively to shape market practice, define standards and consider solutions to issues of mutual interest.
Khaled Moharem has spent more than seven years at SWIFT as the Country Manager for Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kuwait. He has also managed relationships and projects across a diverse number of SWIFT communities, ranging from central banks, commercial banks, market infrastructures and corporates.
Sido Bestani said: “Khaled has a proven track record and will remain in his new role a tremendous asset to our team, bringing a deep understanding of our customers and our community. I look forward to working closely with him as we define and execute our overall strategy for the MENA region.”
He added: “This is an exciting time for the firm in the region, as the industry is increasingly looking to SWIFT to solve common industry challenges such as those related to compliance with global regulations and systems integration amongst others. As a non-profit cooperative organisation, we are committed to developing solutions to shared challenges that benefit the entire community. I look forward to working with the META team and to contributing to the many important initiatives SWIFT is undertaking to address the needs of its community.”