QNB Group chairman al-Emadi.

By Peter Alagos/Business Reporter

QNB’s Qatarisation ratio in 2014 has exceeded 50% of domestic employees at all levels, including senior leadership positions, QNB Group chairman Ali Shareef al-Emadi has said.
“One of QNB’s goals for 2015 is to prioritise the bank’s strategic nationalisation initiative by continuing to lead the banking sector’s efforts to hire Qatari nationals,” al-Emadi announced during the bank’s Ordinary General Assembly on Sunday.
Having breached the 50% mark last year, al-Emadi maintained that QNB’s Qatarisation programme has “strong representation of nationals at all levels, which includes senior leadership positions.”
In its 2014 annual report, the QNB Group Human Capital Division (GHC) continued to execute “defined strategic initiatives” within the context of the Group’s five-year strategic plan.
This led to a growth in workforce with more than 14,500 employees by the end of December 2014, of which, over 2,150 are based in Qatar.
“In 2014, GHC focus has been on improving the service to QNB Group employees and strengthening the talent pool to ensure the right people are in the right job at the right time to support the global growth of QNB Group,” the report said.
Similar to last year, QNB’s “Global Leadership and Talent Management Programme continued to address ongoing leadership development needs across QNB Group’s expanding international network.
The programme was launched in Sudan, South Sudan, Mauritania, Kuwait, and Lebanon. The GHC also installed the Halogen Integrated Talent Management System software, providing inputs for implementing global best practices in employee talent management.
QNB’s “Ambassador Programme” also opened opportunities for employees in representing the bank in international operations as part of their career development.
“Growing on the previous successes, 2014 saw Qatari nationals deployed to countries such as Singapore, Kuwait, Oman, and Indonesia as part of the Ambassador Programme, the report said.
It added, “Individuals from previous placements returned to Qatar and secured roles with increased responsibilities, applying both their overseas experiences to the overall value of QNB Group.”
In 2014, the QNB Learning & Development Department increased its focus on supporting employees to gain internationally-recognised certifications as part of QNB Group’s employee value proposition.
Successful employees have been certified in a wide range of accreditations, including credit risk, financial analysis, securities and investments, and project management, among others.
To further boost its strategic nationalisation initiative, the GHC team attended 10 major career events in 2014, including a UK Career Fair, events at local universities, activities in partnership with the Labour Department, and by hosting QNB Recruitment Open Day.