• Chilwan aims for DIB to become an integral part of customers’ lives
• Clarifies the misconception that technology will replace people
• DIB sees itself as a ‘Digitally Intelligent Bank’

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) group CEO Adnan Chilwan received the CEO Leadership Achievement award with DIB being named as the Best Managed Bank in UAE during the The Asian Banker Innovation Leadership Achievement Awards 2019.

Chilwan joined DIB 10 years ago and under his leadership, DIB underwent a financial transformation and a change in mindset. With his decade-long vision, he converted the oldest Islamic bank in the world into the most successful one in the region.

His targets for himself and the bank have been ambitious, but his detail-oriented and scientific approach to execution has made delivery appear easy. He broke his ultimate vision down into manageable steps and kept providing input and guidance to steer and direct.

He then led the bank to expand to several other markets including Kenya with plans to further expand the bank’s footprint in East Africa.

Chilwan further elaborates about his thoughts on leadership, success and lessons he learned along the way in his short conversation with The Asian Banker.

Foo Boon Ping (BP): What are your vision, leadership and management beliefs or style, in relations to the business, and dealing with stakeholders, most importantly the customers?

Adnan Chilwan (AC): Success and leadership, as we all probably know, are two sides of the same coin. I’ve always believed that as a leader of one of the largest organisations in the country, it is my key responsibility and role to guide and set paths for my team to follow and execute. Success to me is defined by consistency, perseverance, collective adherence to the paths laid out in our strategies, and then most importantly, robust execution of them. And at DIB, I am fortunate to lead a strong team o...

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