Karim Awad
Group CEO and chairman | Executive Committee, EFG Holding
06 July, 2026
Karim Awad has been one of the key architects behind the transformation of EFG Holding into one of the Middle East and North Africa’s most diversified financial services groups.
As group CEO, chairman of the Executive Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors, Awad oversees a business that today spans investment banking, commercial banking, asset management, non-bank financial services, and fintech, serving clients across multiple markets.
With more than 25 years of experience in financial services, Awad began his career at EFG Hermes in 1998 as part of the Investment Banking Department. He steadily rose through the ranks, becoming head of Investment Banking in 2007, where he led a number of landmark transactions across Egypt and the wider region. His leadership capabilities saw him appointed CEO of EFG Hermes in 2012 before assuming the role of group CEO of EFG Holding in 2013.
Since taking the helm, Awad has led a comprehensive restructuring programme that reshaped the organisation’s strategic direction. The transformation included streamlining operations, improving efficiency, and divesting non-core assets, including the sale of a majority stake in Lebanon’s Credit Libanais. Under his leadership, EFG Holding sharpened its focus on the MENA region and evolved into a fully integrated financial solutions platform.
A central pillar of Awad’s strategy has been diversification. Over the past decade, EFG Hermes strengthened its position in investment banking, brokerage, and research across key markets including Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
The firm also revamped its asset management operations through the consolidation of its regional public asset management business with UAE-based Frontier Investment Management, while expanding its private equity activities into high-growth sectors such as renewable energy and education.
Beyond investment banking, Awad championed the creation of EFG Finance, a non-bank financial institution platform covering leasing, factoring, microfinance, fintech, mortgage finance, SME lending, and insurance solutions. In 2021, EFG Holding completed the acquisition of Bank NXT, marking a significant milestone in its evolution into a universal banking platform.
Today, EFG Holding continues to deliver strong financial performance while maintaining a focus on sustainability, corporate responsibility, and ESG principles. Awad holds a bachelor of business administration degree from the The American University in Cairo.
