Ms. Hala Ali Yateem, Board Member, National Bank of Bahrain

Biography

Appointed to the Board of National Bank of Bahrain in 2018. Member: Audit Committee, Donations and Contributions Committee.

Director: Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company (Edamah), B.S.C. (c) and member of the Audit Committee, Ali Hussain Yateem Holding Co. W.L.L. and A.M. Yateem Brothers W.L.L

Member of the Board of Trustees: American University of Bahrain, Al Rahma Society.

Over twenty years of experience in Private Business with a Bachelor’s Degree in Entrepreneurship and Investments from Babson College
 

Q1. Why is it important for a board to have the right combination of skills, backgrounds and perspectives? How can an organisation ensure that this is the case?

It is extremely important to have the right mix of directors on a board. Different backgrounds, skills and experiences lead to richer discussions at the board level and allow the board members to look at issues from different perspectives. While experiences and backgrounds may differ, what is imperative is that all board members have sufficient knowledge and skills to allow them to do their job. Financial literacy is important, other skills that are also important are the ability to work with others and good communication. In my opinion, the most successful boards are those who are able to work together and where open communication is valued, encouraged and practiced. The board of directors are elected or appointed by the shareholders, who should consider the skills, knowledge, attributes and experience needed to govern the organisation both now and in the future.
 

Q2. Are today’s boards lacking in diversity and if so, what measures do you think can be taken to improve that?

Diversity and inclusion are two values that guide NBB in its approach to the professional development of its workforce. While gender diversity is always the focus of diversity programs, diversity is a term that includes gender diversity, age diversity, and ethnic diversity. With regards to gender diversity on boards in Bahrain, while it is true that the majority of members on many boards are male, Bahrain has a number of capable women directors who are extremely professional and astute. Ensuring that women are able to compete with men to win seats at the board level means that the women have to have the right skills and experience. One of the things that can be done to improve diversity is for board members to mentor future board members and to share their experiences and knowledge.
 

Q3. How important is succession planning with respect to the board and senior management and what role should the board play in that?

The board of directors is a body that is elected or appointed by shareholders and has many responsibilities, including setting the direction of the organization, providing financial oversight and making sure that the shareholders get a good return on their investment. One of the most important tasks of every board is to ensure that succession planning is done in the organization and to provide sufficient resources and time for this important task. Succession planning is crucial for any organization, and those that place an emphasis on succession planning tend to be more successful, retain the best people, and have better business continuity. While most the board’s interactions with management are through the CEO, it is important for the board to work with the senior management and have a healthy working relationship with them. Interacting with senior managers allows the board to have an understanding of the talent pool available at the management level which helps when considering succession from within the organization.
 

Q4. What importance does NBB place on board composition and diversity and what measures does it take to achieve its goals in this respect?

The National Bank of Bahrain’s board of directors understands and implements the principle of diversity. I believe that NBB’s board places an importance on board composition and diversity to ensure that we have all the experience and skills necessary to be able to take the bank to the next level. Our board of directors is diverse. We have directors from different backgrounds, ethnicities, industries and ages. As the youngest director, and the only woman on the board, I have always felt valued and included. Our Chairman, Mr. Farouk Almoayyed, does an excellent job of facilitating discussion and allowing all the directors to express their opinions.