Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi
Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi (born 17 August 1977) is a Kuwaiti businessman. He is the Vice chairman and Group chief executive officer of Kuwait’s Zain Group.[1][2][3] In 2018, he was ranked number one in the 100 most influential Arabs list by Arabian Business.[4][5] After the death of his father, Nasser Al-Kharafi, he took over the directorship of the Al Kharafi groups' executive committee in 2012.[6]
Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi | |
---|---|
Born | Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi 17 August 1977 |
Nationality | Kuwaiti |
Alma mater | Kuwait University, London Business School |
Occupation | Vice Chairman & CEO Zain Group |
Children | 2 |
Parent(s) | Nasser Al-Kharafi |
Website | https://www.zain.com/ar/ |
Early life and education
Al-Kharafi was born on 17 August 1977. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Kuwait University in 2002. In 2016, he completed his MBA from London Business School.[5]
Career
After graduation, Al-Kharafi joined Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), but soon he moved to M.A & Al-Kharafi group in 2002 and started working as a Coordination Engineer.[7] He is currently holding senior management positions at various companies such as Gulf Bank of Kuwait, Foulath Holding, Diamond International Motors, and Gulf Cables & Electrical Industries.[8]
In 2010, Al-Kharafi headed the US$10.7 billion acquisition of African operations by Bharti Airtel from Kuwait's Zain in a deal that made the Indian firm the world's fifth biggest telecom operator by subscribers.[9][10]
In early 2014, he joined the Middle East Advisory Board of Coutts, the wealth division of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group.[11][12] In the same year, Zain KSA, a subsidiary of Zain Group appointed Al-Kharafi as the Vice Chairman in 2014. By 2019, the subsidiary posted its fifth successive quarterly profit.[13]
In 2017, Al-Kharafi became the CEO of Zain Group by replacing the Scott Gegenheimer.[14]
In February 2019, he became the Chairman of the Board of the Executive Committee and a member of the Board of Nomination and Remuneration Committee of Boursa Kuwait, the country's only stock exchange.[15]
In September 2019, BNK Automotive owned by Al-Kharafi signed the new Volvo agency agreement in Kuwait making BNK Automotive the new official exclusive importer for Volvo Cars.[16]
In November 2019, Al-Kharafi acquired controlling stake in Gulf Cables by purchasing 29 percent of Company’s shares worth around US$ 500 million.[17][18]
Awards and recognition
- In 2014, Al-Kharafi has been featured in the World’s 100 Most Powerful Arabs 2014.[3]
- In 2015, Al-Kharafi ranked as the 2nd Most Powerful Young Arab Personality under 40 while ranking first in Kuwait.[19]
- In 2017 and 2018, Al-Kharafi was listed as 100 World’s Most Influential Arabs in a survey conducted by Arabian Business.[20][4]
Philanthropy
Al-Kharafi has been considered as one of the leading advocate for sustainable development in the middle east region.[21] For the sustainable cause, he is associated with Kuwait Food Bank which actively involved in providing nutritious meals to the poor and creating public awareness on lessening food waste.[22] More than 5,700 Kuwaiti families have benefited from this initiative. The food bank also provides skills and training to the members of poor families so that they can find decent employment in Kuwait.[23]
He offers support and guidance to Kuwaiti youth through INJAZ Kuwait.[24]
Additionally, the recent launch of WE ABLE in the year 2019, Al-Kharafi is leading Zain’s Disability Inclusion Program which aims to position Zain Group as Disability Inclusive by 2022.[25][26][27]
References
- "ZAIN.KW Company Profile & Executives - Mobile Telecommunications Co. (MTC) K.S.C." Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
- "A man on a mission: Bader Nasser Al Kharafi". ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
- "Changemakers Bader Nasser Al Kharafi". London Business School. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
- "100.Most.Powerful.Arabs.2018-01-Bader Al-Kharafi". ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
- Salihovic, Elnur (2015-10-05). Major Players in the Muslim Business World. Universal-Publishers. ISBN 978-1-62734-052-6.
- East, Forbes Middle. "The Man Using His Influence To Empower Kuwait's Youth". Forbes ME. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- "Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi - Vice Chairman & Group CEO, Zain Group". itp.net. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
- "Journey to the Future". The Business Year. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
- Singh, Rohini (2010-02-16). "Bharti offer fair to both sides: Al-Kharafi". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- Nosova, Anastasia (September 2016). "The merchant elite and parliamentary politics in Kuwait The dynamics of business political participation in a rentier state" (PDF). Doctoral Thesis: 262 – via London School of Economics.
- "Coutts expands Middle East advisory board". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- "Coutts Further Expands Middle East Advisory Board with three appointments". www.zawya.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- "Zain in 'a much stronger' position as third quarter net profit doubles in Saudi unit". The National. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- Sharma, Ray. "Bader Al-Kharafi Takes Over as CEO of Zain Group". www.thefastmode.com. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- "History made as Al-Kharafi and Al-Bahar consortium takes equity stake in Boursa Kuwait". Kuwait Times. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- "Volvo Cars changes hands from Al-Mutawa to Al-Kharafi". Kuwait Times. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- "Bader Al-Kharafi acquires 29% of Gulf Cable Co worth $500m". Kuwait Times. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
- "Al Kharafi buys KWD 33m stake in Gulf Cable". english.mubasher.info. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
- "PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- "40 and Under 2017: Bader Nasser Al Kharafi". ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- "PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
- Kharafi, Bader Nasser Al (2019). "There's just no point without purpose". London Business School Review. 30 (1): 8–9. doi:10.1111/2057-1615.12269. ISSN 2057-1615.
- "Kuwait Food Bank, KASCO join hands to help needy families | Kuwait Times". news.kuwaittimes.net. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- East, Forbes Middle. "A New Vision". Forbes ME. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- "Zain Group launches disability inclusion initiative 'We Able'" (PDF). Arab Times. July 8, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- "Zain Group launches disability initiative". www.telecompaper.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- "Inclusion of persons with special needs in Zain Group". WEEPortal. 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2020-02-20.