National Bank of Kuwait has promoted Emad Al Ablani to the role of Group CHRO with immediate effect.  

Emad shared the news on LinkedIn, stating, “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Group Chief Human Resources Officer at National Bank of Kuwait!”  

Emad has been serving Kuwait’s leading consumer banking group since March 2003, when he joined as the Head of Recruitment and HR Operations. Over the last two decades, he has progressed into key roles, including Assistant General Manager of HR, General Manager of Group HR, and Head of Group HR.  

In his new role, Emad will continue to oversee HR functions across 15 countries and a diverse workforce of over 7,000 employees. He will focus on aligning HR, people, culture, and organizational agendas for business growth and expansion.

In Emad's own words, “As the Group CHRO, I have been leading the HR transformation and innovation initiatives since 2014, with the aim of enhancing the employee experience, performance, and engagement across the organisation.”  

Emad is a passionate human capital leader and has played a pivotal role in designing and executing HR strategies, policies, and programs that align with the bank's vision, mission, and values, as well as regulatory and market requirements. Well-recognised for his leadership qualities and emotional intelligence within the HR community, he believes in fostering a positive work culture that offers personal and professional growth opportunities for all employees.

Emad is a strong advocate of an organisation’s work culture and values play an important role in creating a positive and productive environment that nurtures creativity, innovation, and teamwork. He also promotes development methods, mentorship opportunities, and career advancement paths, including employee well-being and support, to create work-life balance, which is essential for career growth and long-term success.  

You may also like:

• Al Alamiya Liva CEO steps down
• Total Rewards: Trends you should know in 2025
• IWD Special: Celebrating and empowering women at work everyday
• Empathy in Leadership: How women are redefining corporate culture

On the academic front, Emad holds an Executive MBA in Finance from the American University of Beirut, a bachelor's degree in Educational Psychology from Kuwait University, and has completed the General/Executive Management Program in Leadership Strategy, Innovation, Accounting, Finance, and Economics at Harvard Business School. He also obtained an EQ Leadership Certification from Six Seconds, the global network of emotional intelligence experts.