Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait, a leading retail and commercial bank in the region, has appointed Giel-Jan M. Van Der Tol as the new Group Chief Executive Officer, with immediate effect.

It stated, “Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) is pleased to announce the appointment of Giel-Jan M. Van Der Tol as the Group Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July 2025, following the approval of the Central Bank of Kuwait. This strategic leadership appointment marks a significant step in ABK’s ongoing commitment to growth, transformation, and excellence in banking across its operating markets.”

Van Der Tol takes over responsibilities from Acting CEO Ahmed Khalid Al Duwaisan, who was appointed for an interim period after Loai Fadel Muqames stepped down from the CEO role.

He brings over three decades of international banking leadership experience. In his previous roles, he served Emirates NBD as a member of the Group Executive Committee and CEO & Managing Director of Egypt; Dubai Bank as CEO; and Tier One Capital (Netherlands) as Managing Director. “He has served in prominent roles at ABN AMRO Group, Saudi Hollandi Bank, and Emirates NBD Bank, where he led strategic transformation, built high-performing teams, and drove sustainable growth,” ABK stated in the announcement.

“Van Der Tol is widely recognized for his ability to lead organisations through complex environments while maintaining a strong customer-centric and performance-driven culture. His extensive experience in corporate banking, risk management, governance, and innovation aligns with ABK’s strategic direction.”

Currently, he is also serving the GCC Board of Directors Institute as the Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board – UAE Chapter, Tamweel Aloula as a member of the board of directors, the Institute of Directors – UK as a key member, and the Thunderbird School of Global Management as a member of the EMEA Advisory Council.

Looking ahead, ABK will continue to pursue its strategy focused on digital transformation, regional growth, and operational excellence, with a strong emphasis on enhancing customer experience, expanding product offerings, and building a more agile and resilient organisation.

Under Van Der Tol’s leadership, the bank is also committed to advancing sustainability initiatives, empowering talent, and fostering innovation to future-proof its operations in an evolving global financial landscape,” it added.

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On the academic front, Van Der Tol holds an MBA in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Nyenrode Business University. He has also completed key certifications in leadership and board directorship from the GCC Board Directors Institute.