According to Odaily, digital bank Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB) has announced the appointment of Ali AlShamma as Chief Financial Officer and Elaine Leong as Chief Operating Officer. These strategic appointments aim to strengthen SGB's mission of achieving seamless interaction between digital and traditional finance. The bank is set to launch in November 2024.

Ali AlShamma, who previously served as CFO at Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia and Citi Saudi Arabia, will lead SGB's financial strategy and work on building market bridges between Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. Elaine Leong, as COO, will bring her expertise from GIC and Sygnum to enhance SGB's global operations, providing hyper-connected solutions for a digital-first ecosystem.

SGB is backed by Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat and Singapore's private investment firm Whampoa Group. It is the first fully licensed digital bank in Bahrain, serving global investors, innovators, and institutions. SGB aims to facilitate seamless integration between digital and traditional finance, promoting financial connectivity between Asia and the MENA region.