| | NOVEMBER 20248IN FOCUSEIRE GULF NAMES NEW UAE MANAGING DIRECTOR AHEAD OF SAUDI EXPANSIONCITI APPOINTS JAEWON HWANG AS HEAD OF COMMERCIAL BANKING FOR KOREAEire Gulf, an Irish interiors fit-out firm, has named Douglas Drummond as its new Managing Director for the UAE. With more than 20 years of international experience in the design and fit-out industry, including ten years in the UAE, Drummond is well-equipped to steer the company's ongoing growth.This appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Eire Gulf, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary in the UAE. The company has expanded its operations to Saudi Arabia, with a new, larger facility in Riyadh's Tulip Square set to open in October 2024."I am excited to join Eire Gulf at such an exciting time," said Drummond. "The company has a strong reputation for delivering high-quality fit-outs, and I look forward to helping the team continue to grow and succeed".Patrick Dowling, Founder of Eire Gulf, added, "Douglas's extensive experience and regional success make him an ideal fit to lead our team. We are confident that he will help us capitalize on the many opportunities in both the UAE and KSA markets".Eire Gulf has a talented workforce of more than 100 professionals in the UAE, specializing in various sectors, including education, commercial workplaces, food and beverage, and luxury residential projects. Recent significant projects include Horizon International School in Jumeirah, Snapchat's new office in Internet City, Nobu by The Beach at The Royal Atlantis, and an elegant mansion renovation in Jumeirah Islands. Citi has appointed Jaewon Hwang as the Head of Citi Commercial Bank (CCB) for Korea. In this role, Hwang will lead the growth of CCB's business in Korea, overseeing business operations and financial performance, and strengthening key client and regulatory relationships.Hwang will report to MS Yoo, chief country officer of Citi Korea and Gunjan Kalra, head of Citi Commercial Bank for Japan, Asia North, Australia and Asia South clusters.Hwang brings over 23 years of corporate banking experience to this role. As a parent account manager for a major corporation in Korea and as head of the top-tier local corporates (TTLC) division, he has been instrumental in driving the overall growth of Citi's corporate banking business through effective credit exposure and capital management, as well as the diversification of products and services. He joined Citi Korea in 2001 as a management associate and has since held various roles, including business development officer at Middle Markets Group in Los Angeles and head of Korea Desk for North America and Latin America in New York. Hwang graduated from Korea University and holds an MBA from New York University`s Stern School of Business."We are seeing an increasing trend of Korean companies going global and expanding their business in other regions. Through Citi's global network and strong knowledge of local markets, we are well-placed to support fast-growing Korean mid-sized corporates with their global and regional aspirations. I am confident that under Jaewon's leadership, our business will continue to gain momentum", said Gunjan Kalra.CCB is an integral part of Citi's global strategy and a key engine for growth. It focuses on delivering Citi's competitive product suite, including cash and liquidity management, foreign exchange, trade finance, capital markets, and lending solutions among others, to mid-sized corporates that are looking to build an international footprint.CCB operates across 12 markets in Asia, serving clients in Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. | | NOVEMBER 20248
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