Advocacy & Engagement

It has always been EFG Hermes’ policy to engage with peers, policymakers, community members and regulators to promote good governance, responsible investing and environmental and social stewardship. In spite of continued COVID-19 restrictions, the Group’s annual signature conferences successfully took place, some virtually and others in person depending on country and travel restrictions. These include the Egypt Day Conference and the Virtual Investor Conference and bring together fund managers, institutional investors, government representatives and companies in settings that allow all partners to understand the other’s needs and capabilities and work together towards fulfilling development goals. These forums are particularly important in highlighting the opportunities and challenges of investing in FEMs and they have become a platform of advocacy for ESG issues.

We are immensely proud of the achievements of our executives who have consistently been recognised as outstanding in their fields. Their success is a reflection of the deep commitment that EFG Hermes has to excellence in all areas but particularly in governance, innovation, and the realization of sustainability targets.

We are immensely proud to have Group CEO Karim Awad featured as the Cover Star of Forbes Middle East in their July 2021 Issue. Over the course of his career at EFG Hermes, Mr Awad has spearheaded a major shift in the Firm’s strategy that has transformed EFG Hermes from a MENA-based investment bank to a frontier markets financial solutions house. To achieve this vision, he has steadfastly focused on six pillars: hiring the best people, improving the Firm’s positioning in markets it operates in, selectively expanding its geographical presence, enhancing its product offering, increasing profitability metrics and ensuring that public responsibility remains front and centre in all its operations.

In 2021, Mr Awad represented EFG Hermes at numerous events including the Future Investment Initiative and the CEO Thoughts Conference, where he spoke on EFG Hermes’ journey towards sustainability and the role of financial institutions in driving progress towards the fulfilment of the SDGs.

We are also very proud to announce that our Chairperson, Mona Zulficar, was selected as one of Forbes Magazine’s top 50 Power Businesswomen in the Middle East for 2022. One of the main criteria for selection are the initiatives and causes championed by the nominees. In addition to being one of Egypt’s most prominent corporate, banking and project finance attorneys, she is a staunch human rights activist and legislator and an unremitting champion of ESG issues and the drive to achieve the SDGs both at EFG Hermes and elsewhere. She is a staunch supporter of the work conducted by the EFG Hermes Foundation and is deeply committed to maximizing the social impact aspect of EFG Hermes activities.

Continuing her outstanding role as global sustainability champion, Hanaa Helmy, Chief Executive Officer of the EFG Hermes Foundation and Head of CSR, was recognised by International Data Corporation (IDC) as one of the Top 50 Female Achievers 2021 under the CEO Catalysts category. She was also recognised by the Minister of Social Solidarity, HE Nevine Kabbaj, as an Initiator for Empowering Persons With Disabilities and for her long career in community service including her pioneering leadership of the EFG Hermes Foundation.

In 2021, Ms Helmy represented EFG Hermes at numerous conferences including the 7th Women Transforming Technology Summit as a speaker and the Aswan Forum as a panellist on the ‘From Rapid Economic Recovery to Structural Transformation: Africa’s Pathway towards Sustainable Recovery and Development’.

Under her leadership, EFG Hermes was also voted runner-up for the Best Corporate Sustainability Strategy and short-listed as finalists for Best Bank for Sustainable Finance by ESG Investing in Q1 2022.