The GCC Board Directors Institute Launches Roadshow to Celebrate Five Years of Corporate Governance Excellence

MANAMA, Bahrain, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Tour Kicks off in Bahrain on May 30 and Travels across GCC

Governor of Central Bank of Bahrain to Deliver Keynote Address

The first Member Roadshow of the GCC "Board Directors Institute" (BDI) is set for May 30, 2012, in Manama, Bahrain. The theme is "Celebrating 5 Years of Corporate Governance Excellence in the GCC." The roadshow will feature keynote address from the Governor of Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), Mr. Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj.

Dr. Abdullah AlAbdulgader, BDI Founding Executive Director, commented: "BDI has greatly achieved what it had set to achieve. During the short 5 years, we have connected with over 300 members of GCC senior board directors, and we have made tremendous efforts to develop, share and introduce the latest knowledge and best practices on corporate governance to the region. We are now pleased to be on the road to celebrate the many successes of our members, to enhance their engagement in BDI, and share with them our growth plans that will make BDI more resourceful, effective and accessible for them."

The half a day event, will feature speakers from around the region, including Mr. Abdullatif Al-Othman, Saudi Aramco Sr. Vice President, Engineering & Project Management, Mr. Mutlaq Almorished Saudi Basic Industries Corporation  (SABIC) Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance and Mr. Mohammed Al-Shroogi, Investcorp's President, Gulf Business. BDI members will have the opportunity to hear dialogues on the development of corporate governance culture in the region, and take part in roundtable discussions on board effectiveness and the future of corporate governance in the region. Throughout the GCC, the roadshow will be making 5 stops over the next few months.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, Governor of CBB, said: "Boards in the GCC have a tremendous will to raise their effectiveness, and BDI has thrived in an effort to bring the classroom into the boardroom. While this roadshow is a celebration of the continued corporate governance developments in the region, it is equally a great opportunity to pause to consider where corporate governance will and should be in the next five years."

"With the breadth, depth, and diversity of our members, I believe BDI potential is virtually endless. With the support of our Corporate Partners, Governors, and Faculty, I have every confidence that BDI will continue to advance to great grounds," Dr. AlAbdulgader concluded.

Earlier this year, BDI set up an office in Bahrain and was registered as a Professional Body, in the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the umbrella of the CBB.

To learn more about the roadshow or to register to attend, you may contact [email protected] or alternatively call the institute on +973-17503059 (Bahrain) and +971-4-389-9135 (Dubai)

About the GCC Board Directors Institute

The Board Directors Institute (BDI), a not-for-profit association, headquartered in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain with Offices in Dubai, UAE and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  It was launched to support better Corporate Governance and build board member capabilities through information exchange, and professional development programs.

BDI was founded in 2007 by four leading GCC corporations: Saudi Aramco, SABIC, Investcorp, and EmiratesNBD. Since inception, BDI has been enjoying the support of internationally renowned  advisory firms: McKinsey & Company, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Allen & Overy, and Heidrick & Struggles.

BDI is a community of several hundred senior board members from across GCC. Its creation reflects that Corporate Governance is a fundamental part of the societies of the region, as such, critical to the region economies.

In early 2009, BDI published the report "Building Better Boards." The report was the first study of its kind in the GCC on board effectiveness in the GCC and assesses the impact of the financial crisis on the implementation of best board governance practices in the region. In March 2011, the BDI published its second, now biennial, report "Embarking on a Journey."

BDI works closely with the region regulatory authorities including the Capital Market Authorities of both Saudi Arabia and Oman, the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCMA) and the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) of the UAE.

For more information:

Mariana Missakian
Associate Director - Marketing and Communications
GCC Board Directors Institute
+973-17503059 (Bahrain)
+971(04)3899-134 (Dubai)

http://www.gccbdi.org

SOURCE The GCC Board Directors Institute (BDI)