The Challenger Investment Bank for the Emerging Markets

We are pleased to welcome Lee Adams to the senior management of Wethaq Group as Head of Product (Custody & Securities Services). Lee has 25+ years of technology, product and business domain experience having worked across the front, middle and back offices for leading global custodians (J.P. Morgan and Citibank) and various Fintechs. He has extensive experience in product management, product development and client account management gained within the securities industry. Lee is joining a growing team developing custody and securities services for private banks, asset managers, family offices, and broker-dealers in the Emerging Markets.

A well-regarded professional, he has 30+ years of work experience in market infrastructure and post-trade, including with Nasdaq Technology and Exchanges where he was responsible for accounts, prospects and high-level relationships across emerging markets (GCC, Central and Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America). His board experience includes Nasdaq OMX Armenia, Lithuanian CSD and Stock Exchange, and Latvian CSD. Henri also served as Advisor to the CEO and Head of Business Development at Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). Henri will contribute with his valuable experience to our development of world-class market infrastructure solutions for the emerging markets.

Thankful to the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority for the opportunity to participate in a lively discussion during the 4th Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) Conference themed 'Innovations for Sustainability and Regulation of Financial Services' in Qatar this week. Our CEO Mohammed Alsehli shared lessons learned from our engagements with regulators and other stakeholders across the GCC, our efforts to connect the private markets in the region, and the plan for Qatar as the next jurisdiction for our ecosystem.

Having held senior positions at Deutsche Bank, Northern Trust Corporation, and J.P. Morgan in the Middle East and Asia over 30+ years, he is well known in the industry for his client-centric approach and deep understanding of securities services (agency, custody, securities lending, connectivity to ICSDs). Under his management, Wethaq DIFC will provide, out of DIFC, fairly priced and efficient services to private banks, asset managers, brokers, funds, family offices and other investment professionals across the emerging markets.

We are expanding. Announcing today the launch of Wethaq Securities out of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) under the supervision of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). Wethaq Securities is offering brokerage services, starting with fixed income products, to emerging markets desks across GCC, Europe and Asia. Our counterparties will include major market makers, investment banks, hedge funds, asset managers, proprietary trading desks, pension funds, insurance companies, and sovereign wealth funds. Wethaq Securities is part of the Wethaq Group catering to the needs of the GCC markets across primary issuance, custody, securities services, brokerage and fintech. GCC Private Markets, Made Global.

Bernard is a prominent figure in the global capital markets with 30+ years of experience in senior roles at systemic market and payment infrastructures; and particular experience in local currency bond markets, custody, collateral management and lending programs. Bernard will be providing his expert advice to the Board on our comprehensive fintech offering across primary issuance and securities services (issuer/custody) locally and internationally out of the Dubai International Financial Centre.