Governance &
Committees
Mr. Saud Ghassan Alsulaiman
Chairman
The Chairman of Taajeer Finance and the CEO of Alsulaiman Group, with over 20 years of leadership experience across the retail, services, and logistics sectors. He has successfully led the strategic transformation and expansion of major brands including IKEA Saudi Arabia & Bahrain and FLOW Progressive Logistics, driving innovation and sustainability across the group’s ecosystem. He also serves on the boards of several leading companies, such as L’azurde, Zamil Industrial, channels by stc, Livspace, and Salasa, and holds the title of Honorary Consul of Sweden in Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Faisal Saleh Malaikah
Vice Chairman
The Vice Chairman of the Board at Taajeer Finance, bringing extensive experience in investment, finance, and corporate management. He is also the Managing Director and Board Member of Taajeer Group and its subsidiaries and serves as the CEO of AlAwwal Capital. He sits on the boards of several companies across the real estate, education, hospitality, and services sectors, including Benaa Al-Maamour Real Estate, Jabal Idsas, Modern Millennium Institute, Al-Hijrah Hospitality, and Fanni Al-Bayt Commercial Services.
Mr. Hisham El-Khazindar
Board Member
Board Member at Taajeer Finance, bringing over 25 years of experience in investment, asset management, and private equity. He is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Qalaa Holdings, one of the leading investment firms in the Middle East and Africa, where he has led major acquisitions and restructurings across sectors such as energy, industry, and fertilizers. He previously held senior roles at EFG-Hermes and Goldman Sachs International, executing landmark regional transactions that shaped the investment landscape in the MENA region.
Mr. Tao Tao
Board Member
Board Member at Taajeer Finance, and a senior fintech leader with 18+ years of experience scaling global teams and expanding tier-one brands across EMEA and APAC. He led Alipay’s rollout in 35+ countries, forging partnerships with leading banks and payment providers and delivering strong adoption and transaction growth; he also held executive roles at Huawei with end-to-end ownership of revenue, partnerships, and regional expansion. Currently the Founder & CEO of Up VC, Tao advises boards in Saudi Arabia and China and is FCA-approved in the UK for payments and regulatory compliance.
Mr. Ghassan Soufi
Board Member
Board Member of Taajeer Finance, bringing over 30 years of leadership experience in wealth management and financial services across Saudi Arabia. He served as CEO and Head of Wealth Management at UBS Saudi Arabia. He also held senior roles at Samba Financial Group and NCB, where he contributed to the development of credit policies, portfolio management, and risk governance structures. He currently serves as the Vice Chairman of Sidra Capital and Chair of its Executive Committee, in addition to serving on multiple boards and committees in investment, governance, and risk management.
Sharia Committee
Dr. Osama Mohammed Bahar
Dr. Osama Mohammed Bahar has extensive experience in Sharia governance and Islamic finance, having held several senior positions in Islamic financial institutions, including Head of Sharia Compliance and Advisory at First Energy Bank, Head of Sharia Compliance at Al Salam Bank, and Manager of the Sharia Department and Secretary of the Sharia Supervisory Board at Shamil Bank of Bahrain.
He has also served on several Sharia Supervisory Boards and provided Sharia advisory services to various financial and investment institutions, including Bahrain Bourse. His expertise covers the development of Sharia-compliant financial products, Islamic financing structures, contract review, and Sharia auditing and compliance.
Dr. Osama holds a PhD from Lahaye University in the Netherlands, a Master’s degree from Al Imam Al Awzae University in Beirut, and a Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Sharia from Prince Abdul Qader University of Islamic Studies in Algeria. He has also contributed to numerous studies and research papers on Islamic banking and Sharia-compliant financial products.
Dr. Sultan Fadel Al-Qarni
Dr. Sultan Mohammed Al-Qarni has extensive professional experience in financial management and accounting, complemented by a strong academic background in Islamic Sharia and the Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence. He serves as Chief Financial Officer of Taajeer Finance, chairs the Asset and Liability Committee, and is a member of the Business Continuity Committee.
Previously, he held the position of Finance Manager at Hafil Transportation Company, gaining substantial experience in financial management, planning, and financial operations oversight.
Dr. Sultan holds a PhD and a Master’s degree in the Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence from Umm Al-Qura University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Sharia from King Abdulaziz University. He also holds several professional qualifications in accounting and financial management, including Certified Financial Manager, a Diploma in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and an Accounting Technician Certificate from the Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA).
