Head of Cards- Credit / Lending

JOB TITLE:Head of Credit / LendingTERM:12 monthsCLIENT LOCATION:Dubai UAEDIVISION:ConsumerREPORTS TO:Group CEORELEVANT EXPERIENCE:Minimum 15 years in retail banking with 8 years of credit card business leadership. Proven success in launching and scaling card portfolios in the Middle East.MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS**:Deep expertise in credit card product lifecycle managementExperience launching standalone or co‑branded card programmesFamiliarity with GCC regulatory frameworks (e.g. UAE Central Bank)Strong leadership and stakeholder management skillsFluent in English; Arabic is a plusPURPOSE OF THE PROJECTTo lead the strategic setup and operational launch of a new independent credit card business. The role will define the product vision build and lead the team ensure regulatory compliance and drive market penetration and profitability.Key ActivitiesCore Responsibilities and AccountabilitiesStrategic Leadership: Shape the credit card business model aligning with the banks broader retail strategy and segment‑specific goals (mass affluent SME).Product Development: Design and launch a suite of credit card products with differentiated value propositions including digital‑first and premium offerings.Risk & Compliance: Establish robust credit risk frameworks underwriting policies and ensure adherence to local and international regulations.P&L Ownership: Manage the full P&L of the credit card business including revenue cost and profitability levers.Team Building: Recruit structure and mentor a high‑performing team across product analytics operations and sales.Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders including regulators fintechs payment networks and loyalty partners.Innovation & Digitalisation: Leverage AI/ML tools for credit scoring fraud detection and personalised offers. Drive digital onboarding and omnichannel customer experiences.Regional Coordination: Align with regional hubs and support regional product innovation and compliance.Vendor & Partner Management: Oversee selection and integration of processing platforms loyalty engines and collections partners etcKPIsTime‑to‑market for product launchCustomer acquisition and activation ratesPortfolio profitability (NIM fee income cost of risk)Credit loss ratios and delinquency metricsDigital origination and usage ratesCustomer satisfaction and NPSKnowledge and Experience15years in Cards Management with 8years in a Head Of/EVP levelEducation: Bachelors degree in finance Economics Business or related field. A Masters degree (e.g. MBA or MSc in Finance) is highly preferredEnd‑to‑End Cards Expertise: Proven experience managing the full lifecycle of card products credit and virtual including issuing and acquiring businesses.Strategic Market Insight: Deep understanding of regional and global cards market trends including competitor analysis pricing strategies and product positioningDigital Channel Integration: Demonstrated ability to leverage digital platforms (e.g. mobile banking internet banking e‑wallets) to drive card acquisition activation and usageE‑commerce & Omni‑Channel Fluency: Strong grasp of e‑commerce ecosystems and omni‑channel strategies to enhance customer experience and card penetrationProduct Innovation & Development: Track record of launching differentiated card products and value propositions tailored to mass affluent and SME segments.Risk & Compliance Acumen: Familiarity with credit risk frameworks fraud prevention and regulatory compliance across GCC jurisdictions.P&L Ownership: Experience managing the cards business P&L including budgeting forecasting and profitability optimisation.Customer Lifecycle Management: Expertise in designing and executing activation usage rewards and retention programmes to boost engagement and reduce churn.Cross‑Functional Leadership: Ability to collaborate with IT operations marketing and third‑party vendors to deliver seamless card experiences.Mandatory Skills**Strategic planning and executionProduct innovation and lifecycle managementCredit risk and portfolio analyticsRegulatory compliance and governanceCross‑functional leadership and communicationAgile project delivery and digital transformation#J-18808-Ljbffr