Board Members
Our directors have been handpicked, selected for their business acumen and industry experience as we look forward to continued growth across the region. They set Alshamel Travel’s strategic objectives while also controlling its risk appetite and corporate governance framework. Board members make an active contribution to our organization, taking on responsibility related to the company’s financial soundness while safeguarding the interest of shareholders, depositors and other stakeholders. The members’ focus is always on risk management and governance, seeking to enhance internal control systems while overseeing internal & external audits to ensure compliance. The board comprises of five members with varied backgrounds and experience. The board is responsible for:
- Building and growing the value of the company in a sustainable manner by managing the business with an eye on its strategic objectives and creating policies to achieve these objectives
- Setting the company’s policies for risk
- Approving Alshamel Travel’s overall strategic direction within its framework of rewards, incentives and controls
- Ensuring the appropriate balance between meeting short-term objectives and promoting long-term growth is maintained by Alshamel Travel’s senior executive team
- Establishing and maintaining rigorous corporate governance standards with respect to board practices, risk management, internal controls, executive management functioning, remuneration, organizational structure, and disclosures & transparency
- Ascertaining that Alshamel Travel’s management keeps in place a system of internal controls to ensure effective and efficient operations, fiscal responsibility, and compliance with all laws and regulations
- Demonstrating ethical leadership while promoting the collective vision of Alshamel Travel’s purpose, corporate values, culture and behavior. Directors are expected to always act in a manner that, in good faith, would promote the success of the company for the benefit of all the shareholders
- Protecting stakeholders’ rights, and overseeing the implementation of key policies and procedures to ensure such protection is adhered to by Alshamel Travel
Mr. Yousef S. Al-Essa – Chairman
Mr. Al-Essa’s track record spans over two decades across a diverse range of industries and geographical regions. He has held senior and executive roles with leading organizations in the fields of investment banking, corporate development, business startups, project management and strategic consultancy. Prior to joining the board of Alshamel Travel, Mr. Al-Essa served as CEO of Addax Bank, one of the most active Bahrain-based investment banks, guiding the business through 20-fold growth of both assets and profitability over the seven years he was there. Mr. Al-Essa began his career with the National Bank of Kuwait, where he eventually co-headed the Oil and Airlines Unit. He has a B.S. in International Finance from Georgetown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Mr. Al-Essa was a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and is a member of the Young Arab Leaders Organization (YAL).
Mr. Bader F. Al-Rezaihan – Vice Chairman & MD
Mr. Al Rezaihan is an international financier who founded CIC, an international investment firm and asset management company, in the mid-1990s, serving as its Chairman and CEO. Prior to CIC, he was with the Kuwait International Investment Corporation, serving as the U.S. Division President. Mr. Al Rezaihan’s board experience also includes numerous privately held retail, real estate, technology and foreign trade companies. He is a graduate of Woodbury University, having received his B.A. – Finance and MBA – Finance from that prestigious institution.
Dr. Nasser A. Al-Tayyar – Board Member
Dr. Al-Tayyar received both his doctorate and master’s degree in business administration from Al-Neelain University in Khartoum, Sudan. He brings an immense wealth of travel industry knowledge to the Ashamel Travel board, with a career that includes time working at Cathay Pacific Airways, Philippine Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines.
He is the author of “The Impact of Tourism on the Economies of Saudi Arabia” and “Tourist Marketing in Saudi Arabia.” He also is an active member of a number of local international organizations such as the International Tourism Organization, the World Organization for Meetings and Conventions and the Travel & Tourism Committee of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Saud M. Al-Arifi – Board Member
Mr. Al Arifi studied English and Business Administration in the United States, before starting a career with Saudi Arabian Airlines in 1981. Entering the organization as a lead agent, he worked his way through several departments up to the position of assistant manager, gaining experience on everything from accident investigations to ensuring passenger satisfaction. Continuing his career in the travel sector, Mr. Al Arifi joined Altayyar Travel Group in 2007 as Vice-President – Eastern Province & Kingdom of Bahrain, moving up to be the company’s COO in 2012.
Mr. Mansour S. Al-Nassar – Board Member
With a BA degree in Geography from Kuwait University and a Diploma in Survey Maps and Aerial Photography from the Netherlands, Mr. Al Nassar started a career with Kuwait Municipality as Director / Undersecretary Assistant of the Survey Department and later as Director of Management Expropriation for Public Benefit. In 1998 he joined the board of Touristic Enterprises Co., Kuwait’s leading public company in the fields of entertainment and tourism and in 2001 he assumed the role of its Chairman. From 2003 until 2009 he acted as Chairmanship of National Takaful Insurance Co. and from 2010 until present as Chairman of Wataniya Environmental Services Co. Mr. Al Nassar joined the board of Alshamel Travel in 2012.
The Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is formed of 3 members of elected by the Board of Directors for a period of one year and is responsible for reviewing the financial statements, accounting process and procedures of the parent company and its subsidiaries. It is also responsible for reviewing the effectiveness of internal audit and risk management systems and is responsible for appointing the external auditors.
The Executive Committee
The Executive committee consists of at least 3 members of the board of directors. The Executive committee is responsible for the implementation of the company’s financial, administrative and audit policies and follow up on the company’s long, medium and short term strategic plans and updating and revising it from time to time.