Thamer A. Jan

Chairman

Thamer is a seasoned banker with more than 20 years of experience in a wide range of banking activities at Saudi British Bank (SABB) and Saudi Hollandi Bank (SHB).

He served as General Manager – Commercial Banking at SABB, prior to which he spent four years at SHB as Regional General Manager – Western Province, overlooking the bank’s three main areas of activity: Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, and Private Banking. Prior to joining SHB, he spent 12 years with SABB in various positions, including Senior Manager Credit & Risk – Central Province.

Following his service in the banking sector, he served as an independent Board Member for several companies and institutions, including as Chairman of the Board of Gulf Finance KSA; Board Member of Gulf Finance UAE and Emirates NBD Capital KSA; and an independent Board Member for Amlak International Real Estate Development Co. He also sat on the Board of Delta Co. (EPC Contractor / Closed Joint Stock company KSA), and FAD Intel Co. (Garment Retailer / Closed Joint Stock Co. KSA).

He holds a Master’s in Applied Economics from the Southern Methodist University, Texas, USA, and a Bachelor’s in Economics from King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA.

Robert C. Wages

Deputy Chairman

Robert has more than 30 years of experience in originating, executing, and managing institutional direct private equity investments across multiple industries, spanning the US, Europe, MENA and Asia.

Prior to joining VCBank, he served as Managing Director of US-based Gazelle Capital Investors, a consulting firm advising family offices. Prior to this, Robert was Head of Private Equity with Emirates International Investment Company, the proprietary investment arm of National Holding, Abu Dhabi, UAE; and Executive Director, Private Equity at the government-owned Abu Dhabi Investment Company (Invest AD). He previously spent 17 years with Castle Harlan, a leading New York-based middle market buyout firm, where he rose from an Associate to Managing Director. 

Robert holds a Bachelor’s in Chemistry from Princeton University, USA, and a Master’s in Computational Finance and Risk Management from the University of Washington, USA; He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, and Financial Risk Manager.

Nasir Maqsood

Board member

Nasir has an impressive track record in global financial services, gained from working with leading multinational institutions in public practice and banking across North America and the Middle East. His experience spans audit and accounting; retail, commercial and investment banking (both Islamic and conventional); private equity and asset management; M&A and capital markets; and regulatory reporting. Nasir joined VCBank in November 2019 as Chief Financial Officer and was appointed Acting Deputy CEO in 2020. Prior to this, he was Chief Financial Officer at HSBC Bank Bahrain, and CFO of Commercial Banking at HSBC Bank Canada.

Nasir previously worked with Ernst & Young Canada, where he provided auditing and business advisory services; and with Ernst & Young Bahrain, where he managed the development of a new Regulatory Capital Framework for Islamic Banks, the first of its kind globally.

Nasir holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Hayworth College of Business, Western Michigan University, USA; and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Southern Arkansas University, USA. He is an Associate Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.

Mahmood Mohammed Zainal

Board Member

Mahmood has extensive experience in investment banking across the Middle East. His specialist expertise includes deal origination, valuations and modelling, and post-investment management and due diligence, with a particular focus on real estate and private equity. Prior to assuming his current position in 2019, Mahmood was a senior member of VC Bank’s Investments team. 

Previously, he spent five years with Kuwait Finance House Bahrain, where he worked in Investments, Retail Banking and Customer Service, having started his career with American Express Bahrain. 

Mahmood holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. He has also attended Executive Leadership Programmes conducted by the Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario, Canada.