Head of Digital Assets.CIBG - NeoX.Corporate & Investment Banking Group

About This Role

The Sr. VP – Head of Digital Assets, Wholesale Banking, is responsible for defining and executing Mashreq’s institutional Digital Assets strategy, establishing the bank as a trusted and regulated leader in the UAE and regional markets. The role converts strategic ambition into scalable, compliant, and client-ready solutions across priority wholesale use cases.

The role acts as the single accountable owner for wholesale digital asset initiatives, balancing commercial outcomes with strong governance, regulatory compliance, and risk discipline. The incumbent works closely with Wholesale Banking businesses especially GTB and Coverage teams, Group Functions like Compliance, Legal and Operations, and Regulators like CBUAE, VARA and others to deliver measurable business impact.

The successful candidate should have the ability to craft the strategic vision, develop the product strategy, design the roadmap, seek budgetary approvals from management and assume complete autonomy with accountability for delivering results along with their tribe.

Wholesale Digital Assets Strategy & Execution Ownership and Key Result Areas

• Wholesale Digital Assets Strategy & Execution Ownership: Own and execute Mashreq’s Wholesale Digital Assets strategy and multi-year roadmap. Act as the single accountable owner for wholesale digital asset initiatives.
• Business Case Development: Identify, evaluate, and prioritize new use cases for digital assets that align with the bank’s strategic objectives. Lead the creation of robust business cases to support investment and resource allocation. Translate strategy into prioritized execution plans, milestones, and outcomes.
• Squad Leadership: Establish and lead squads dedicated to the delivery of prioritized digital asset initiatives. Define squad objectives, ensure collaborative execution, and monitor progress against KPIs.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Proactively manage relationships with key internal stakeholders, including GTB, coverage teams, compliance, risk, technology, and operations, to ensure alignment and successful implementation of initiatives.
• Regulatory and Compliance Alignment: Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to ensure all digital asset products and processes adhere to regulatory standards and risk frameworks.
• Technology Enablement: Partner with technology teams to design and implement scalable blockchain and stablecoin solutions that prioritize operational efficiency and security.
• VASP Banking & Client Money Account (CMA) Enablement: Position Mashreq as a preferred banking partner for regulated Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). Design and scale a secure, compliant Client Money Account (CMA) proposition.
• Stablecoin-Based Payments as a New Payment Rail: Advance stablecoin-based payments as a regulated payment rail for selected use cases. Identify corridors and client segments where stablecoins improve speed and cost efficiency.
• Tokenized Deposits for Intrabank Transfer & Liquidity Management: Design and execute tokenized deposit capabilities enabling real-time intrabank transfers. Support continuous liquidity optimization and operational efficiency.
• Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization: Develop and scale RWA tokenization across priority asset classes. Lead tokenization initiatives across real estate, bonds, and money market funds.
• Internal: Close collaboration with compliance, risk, technology, and operations teams to drive project delivery and support ongoing product enhancements.
• External: Engage with strategic partners, fintechs, regulators, and industry consortia to ensure best practices and foster innovation in digital asset management
• Lead digital asset initiatives from ideation through launch and lifecycle management
• Approve business cases and resource allocation for prioritized use cases
• Direct squad activities and make tactical decisions to overcome project obstacles
• Represent the bank in external forums and regulatory discussions related to digital assets

Knowledge, Skills, And Experience

• 15+ years’ experience in Wholesale Banking
• Proven experience in a leadership role within the digital assets space, specifically in the corporate banking sector.
• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, computer science, or a related field. A master's degree would be an advantage.
• Strong understanding of corporate banking products, services, and operations, with knowledge of digital banking and digital assets trends and emerging technologies.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully driving wholesale digital assets initiatives, delivering innovative digital solutions, and achieving business objectives.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a team to achieve high performance.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to identify opportunities, solve complex problems, and make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to prioritize, manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, and deliver on time and within budget.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Up-to-date knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance.
• Passion for digital innovation, and a customer-centric mindset
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and mentor startup teams and internal staff.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen, with the ability to identify and assess market opportunities, develop business models, and drive commercialization.
• Strong financial and analytical skills, with the ability to evaluate business plans, financial projections, and investment opportunities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively articulate complex ideas and build relationships with stakeholders.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, with a passion for innovation, risk-taking, and creating transformative businesses