OUR MIDDLE EAST MANAGEMENT
Our Executive Committee in the Middle East is composed of experienced professionals with a strong expertise in Wealth Management across the Globe and in the region
Antoine Chemali
Antoine is the CEO of BNP Paribas Wealth Management Middle East and Africa, based in Dubai. He previously was the GCC Market Head for BNP Paribas Wealth Management Middle East and Africa.
Before joining BNP Paribas, Antoine was advising private and institutional clients on asset management ranging from venture to mature investments, strategy, corporate finance, M&A, balance sheet optimization and restructuring, in the US, Europe and the GCC.
Antoine held senior positions as CEO and board member in a group of companies for part of the UAE Royal Family, with activities in banking, real estate, industries, oil and gas, and investments. As CEO of EIIC, Antoine managed a capital markets portfolio across asset classes invested globally and strategic investments in Europe and the GCC. Antoine was instrumental in setting the group strategy, restructuring the portfolio during the financial crisis in 2008.
He co-founded of Digital World Capital (DWC), a London based multi asset-class hedge fund, investing in Telecom, Media and Technology. Previously, Antoine worked in the Venture Capital industry in Silicon Valley and in the banking and telecom sectors in MENA.
Antoine holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from McGill University, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from INSEAD.
Vijay Narain
Vijay Narain is currently the Market Head for NRI, based in Dubai. In his capacity, Vijay oversees all the Non-Resident India clients based in the GCC and in Europe.
Vijay has a 30+ years international experience in Banking and Financial services in the Consumer Banking, Product Management, Capital Markets, Private Banking and Wealth Management industries.
Before joining BNP Paribas Wealth Management, Vijay was in charge of the NRI Market within CA Indosuez based in Dubai. Prior to that, he was the Head of their representative office in Dubai. Before CA Indosuez where he spent 17 years, Vijay worked for Standard Chartered and Citibank both in Bahrain and Dubai.
Vijay holds a MBA in Finance from the Institute of Management Development & Research in Poona, India.
Michael Pereira
Michael Pereira is the GCC Market Head of BNP Paribas Wealth Management Middle East. He is responsible for driving our strategy in the GCC market and is leading several Group's initiatives in the Middle East.
Michael brings with him an extensive experience within BNP Paribas Group. Previously, Michael was Executive Vice President, Group Head of Wealth Management for Bank of the West, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas.
Prior to leading Wealth Management in Bank of the West, Michael has help a number of positions within the BNP Paribas Group including Head of UAE territory for BNP Paribas, Chief General Manager Commercial BNPP India, Head of Corporate Development of Personal Finance France, Head of HNWI Mortgages of Personal Finance Geneva, Head of North-Africa region BNP Paribas Europe Mediterranean and CEO BNPI OBU Mauritius.
Michael's career with the Group has covered projects and assignments in India and China, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the US.
Michael is a Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary and holds a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Commerce.
Xavier Leroy
Xavier Leroy is the Head of Investment Services for the Middle East & Africa market, based in Dubai and responsible for Wealth Structuring, Product Specialists & Portfolio Advisory. Since 2019, Xavier was leading a team of investment advisors in charge of advising HNWI & UHNWI on Equities, Bonds, Private Equity, Real Estate and Hedge Funds through cash investments, funds and structured products.
Xavier brings with him 15+ years of experience in financial industry of which 12+ years within the BNP Paribas Wealth Management Advisory team in Europe and in the Middle East. He holds an MBA in Finance from ESSCA and a Master’s degree in Finance from ESCP-EAP Business School.
David Howard
David Howard is the Head of Business Management of BNP Paribas S.A. (DIFC Branch). In this capacity, David oversees the Business Risk Management, Entity operations and the team of Assistant Relationship Managers. Additionally, David is the BNP Paribas Cross Border Manager for the MEA Region.
David holds significant experience within the BNP Paribas Group spanning more than 30 years. David joined BNP Paribas Group as a Private Banker based in Paris, advising French resident clients, before integrating the Wealth Management Middle East teams covering the Levant Region. David has supported the BNP Paribas Wealth Management franchise, heading a Middle East commercial and support team based in Luxembourg before transferring to Geneva to head up the Account Administration Desk, servicing the commercial teams based in the UAE. David joined the DIFC in 2019, as Head of Business Support.
David holds a BA in European Business Administration obtained jointly from the Middlesex University, London and the ESC Reims, France.
Garance Gadenne
Garance Gadenne is the Head of Development and Performance for BNP Paribas WM MEA, based in Dubai. In addition to her role as Head of Strategy and Marketing, Communications & Sales Steering (MC2S), she is also heading the Transformation and Finance teams.
Before joining the Middle East market, she was supporting the co-CEOs of BNP Paribas Wealth Management as part of the CEO office. She also worked as senior Inspector in the Inspection Generale Centrale of the BNP Paribas Group, based in Paris.
Garance brings with her 12+ years banking experience across CIB, Internal Audit and Wealth Management divisions and across various locations (Brussels, Paris, Bahrain and the UAE). She holds a Master in Finance at the Solvay Brussels Schools of Economics & Management.
Khurram Jafree
Khurram Jafree is Global Head of Request For Proposals Services, Entrepreneurs & Families, BNP Paribas Wealth Management, based in Dubai. Khurram was Managing Director, Head of Products & Services for the MEA market, responsible for Wealth Structuring, Product Specialists & Portfolio Advisory since 2012.
Prior to joining BNP Paribas Wealth Management, he was Director and Head of Investment Advisory, Middle East for Barclays Wealth in Dubai and before that Chair of the Investment Committee, Investment Director at Gerrard Investment Management, Barclays Wealth in London responsible for all Discretionary Portfolio Management activity.
Before Barclays Wealth, he specialized in advising Middle Eastern sovereign and institutional clients on their US equity investments at Legg Mason, and at Oppenheimer & Co in London before that. He started his career in New York as a financial futures and commodities specialist.
He is a Senior Visiting Fellow in the Faculty of Finance at Bayes Business School, City, University of London where he lectures on the MBA program. He holds a BSc in Engineering from the University of Surrey in Guildford, and an MBA from Bayes Business School, City, University of London.