B a d e r A l O t a i b i

Nurturing Outstanding Talent to Create Better Organizational Efficiency

With 279 locations spread out across the Kingdom, the Bank has a vast distribution network to serve a customer base that is more than 2 million strong and diverse. Of these, 32 are Ladies' Sections.

Bader Al Otaibi Head of Human Resources Group Arab Naonal Bank

Empowering people, establishments, and the sovereign of Saudi Arabia, Bader Al Otaibi, Head of the Human Resources Group at Arab National Bank , is cultivating and nurturing talent that is making a wide impact in the company and the banking industry.

Bader is an expert in the human resources sector with a demonstrated history of working in the banking industry. He is highly skilled in Analytical Skills, Administration, Management, and Management Information Systems.

Arab National Bank (ANB) is a Saudi Listed Joint Stock Company and is one of the ten to fifteen major banks in the Middle East. The Bank has its main office in Riyadh and regional offices in Jeddah and Khobar, in addition to a branch in London.

ANB is a universal commercial bank that serves both its corporate and retail customers' different demands. With 279 locations spread out across the Kingdom, the Bank has a vast distribution network to serve a customer base that is more than 2 million strong and diverse. Of these, 32 are Ladies' Sections. There are also 11 sales centers, 87 TeleMoney remittance facilities, 10 SME centers, and four corporate branches.

ANB also offers more than 1,220 ATMs, 24,200 pointof-sale terminals, and user-friendly online and mobile banking tools because it understands the need to service customers in a simple and timely manner. It provides a variety of self-service financial solutions through four complete digital branches in order to stay up with the digital transition and deliver an experience that consumers actually want.

In an exclusive interview with Head of Human Resources Group, Bader Al Otaibi shares his journey of triumphs and challenges as a human resource professional and the impact he is leaving in the industry.

Below are the highlights of the interview:

Brief our audience about your journey as a business leader until your current position at Arab National Bank.

What challenges have you had to overcome to reach where you are today?

My journey at Arab National Bank began two decades ago; there, I had the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the overall aspects of HR. As I advanced, I learned practical management techniques and various nuances of leadership by interacting with leaders inside and outside the organization. I was lucky to have been mentored by great leaders who have been instrumental in what I am today.

One of the challenges I faced was changing the mindset of people to adapt to better ways of doing things. It was a bottleneck that had to be handled tactfully and tailored to individual personalities. I also had to enhance my know-how in all functions of banking and be aware of the global best practices so as to stay ahead of the curve.

Tell us something more about the bank and its mission and vision.

We are amongst the largest banks in the Saudi Arabia and have our headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We have regional offices in Jeddah, Khobar, and a network of branches throughout the Kingdom, including an international branch in London, United Kingdom.

Our Vision: To become the chosen financial partner in the Kingdom.

Our Mission: To empower the Kingdom's ambitious people, organizations, and society by providing innovative, tailored financial solutions and a fast, simple experience.

Our Promise: Beyond Banking.

Enlighten us on how you have impacted the human resources niche through your expertise in the market.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is blessed with people having immense potential. The need of the hour is to identify and nurture those people to perform critical roles. Along with my team, we have been successful in selecting top-notch caliber from the market who are taking ANB to greater heights. We were also successful in empowering the millennials, who are now managing critical functions and making a bottom-line impact in the bank.

Describe in detail the values and the work culture that drives your organization.

Ÿ Innovative: Thinking out of the box to provide the best solutions

Ÿ Customer Focus: Devoted to customer needs

Ÿ Committed: Absolute dedication to our responsibilities

Ÿ Agile: Adapt to best trends quickly

We proudly boast of an inclusive and open culture that breeds creativity and innovation. One of the key positive attributes that stand out in ANB during our interactions with employees is the environment. We strive to provide opportunities, especially for the millennials, an open environment has been created where employees at all levels are empowered to make a difference in the organization is our key driver.

Undeniably, technology is playing a significant role in almost every sector. How are you leveraging technological advancements to make your solutions resourceful?

Aligning with Vision 2030, ANB has been moving forward in digital interventions. We have created a Digital Office which caters to all of ANB in their digitalization initiatives. We have received many awards that prove ANB's position and sustainability.

Being ahead of the curve, ANB HR is the first bank in the Kingdom to move to a comprehensive HR cloud solution.

What, according to you, could be the next significant change in the human resources sector? How is your company preparing to be a part of that change?

Currently, we do see a significant scarcity of local talent, especially at the middle management level, and the turnover in some functions is high. In the short term, career advancement is a driving factor. We do see that millennials are more focused on career development.

Bearing this in mind, we have rolled out several initiatives to groom the young local talent and provide them with opportunities that will enable them to take leadership roles in the long term.

Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run, and what are your future goals for Arab National Bank?

I see myself as a game changer where I can make an impact and play a major role in ANB's transformation.

For ANB, we would like to be one of the top bank in the Kingdom, serving the people with the best customer experience for all segments.

What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into the human resources sector?

Investment in human capital is the best investment that can create long-term ROI and satisfaction. We have several examples where passionate people have proved themselves in extremely challenging situations. Hence, if the right focus is there on people, success is inevitable.