Download - NBK Insider - Oct 2010
NBK Insider October 2010 Issue 28
The Race to
Score in 2022
Qatar is racing and so we are… Does the Middle East deserve to host the world's
most beautiful game for the very first time?
Dear Colleagues,
Twelve months ago, the State of Qatar joined the bid to host history's biggest and most sought-out Sports event – the FIFA World
Cup.
Here it is, a little Peninsula in the Arab Gulf whose name has been closely linked to Oil & Gas for decades. So how come it is now
racing to stage Sports' most beautiful game, football, and competing against the traditionally football-famed countries of the
world?
"For the Game; For the World" – A FIFA slogan which has embedded each and every decision made every since the very first
World Cup has been held. The World Cup has toured the expected and exotic corners of the globe and is yet to grace the football-
passionate land of the Middle East, which buzzes with Sport frenzy.
This has lead Qatar's visionaries to take a bold step forward and invest all efforts to build world-class capabilities and infrastruc-
ture in order to make this dream come true for the millions of Arab fans across the 22 Arab nations. In its decision to bid, Qatar
has been backed with young, talented and professional Bid leadership and a core, multi-national team that brings together scores of
highly qualified experts that feel deeply-rooted to the country and the region and that are eager to see a World Cup in the Middle
East.
At NBK, we have always been devout supporters of Sports and therefore, providing our corporate support as an active corporate
citizen is our duty towards Qatar.
This month, we'll wrap ourselves with the Bid branding and themes in our pledge and commitment to walk hand-in-hand with the
courageous bidding team who is saving no effort to bring a mind-blowing spectacle to the ME for the very first time!
The Arab World deserves it – It is an historical choice – Voice out your support!
Hussein Siddiqi
COO (Non –Auto)
NBK IN THE NEWS
Meet the new Head for Training and Development
Mr. Lance Rooney
Lance Rooney has been recently appointed at NBK to lead our Training
and Development department to new horizons.
Rooney will be tasked with conducting Training Needs Assessments with
the objective of compiling a Training Plan to provide training and develop-
ment solutions for all staff at NBK and designing and delivering training
lectures and procuring training providers when needed. Rooney will also
be responsible for establishing, maintaining and updating the database of
such training providers and ensuring the training materials are kept up-to-
date. Additionally, Rooney will work on developing testing and evaluation
procedures and devising feedback and measurement mechanisms so that
NBK has the means to measure the success of training programs and other
developmental solutions
On his appointment Rooney says: " Our role will zoom in on assisting our
colleagues to be the best that they can be professionally and personally, I
recommend that we all take a quick look at a book that helps capture the
details of our role. The book is called There’s a train coming: Let us help
you on board."
October 2010 Issue 28
QATAR AUTOMOBILES COMPANY SPONSORS THE QTF AND INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA TENNIS OPEN 2010
For the second year running, QAC sponsors the Qatar Tennis Federation and Inter-
continental Doha Tennis Open 2010. The tournament will run from the 4th till the
18th of October and will see the participation of 400 tennis athletes in 20 different
categories. The matches will be held in two venues at the Tennis courts of the In-
tercontinental Doha and Khalifa International Tennis Stadium.
Yanna Lassade, General Manager of QAC said: "The business and brands that we run spread beyond the realm
of the automotive industry to become deeply entrenched in the interests and aspirations of its community.
Qatar's name is closely linked to some of the most recognized global Sports events and the country has proved
its capabilities to host prestigious international tournament and championships. It is only natural for QAC to
tie-in and support the activities that aim at supporting and boosting growing and existing talent, hence our con-
tinued sponsorship of this Tennis tournament."
Please email us with your thoughts and comments at [email protected]
In The Spotlight
October 2010 Issue 28
Willkommen an Board NBK! (Welcome on Board NBK!)
Volker Schmidt is our new NBK CFO. With over two decades of international experience in Finance, Schmidt brings to the table considerable experience and expertise in the field. This month, we sit with Volker to speak about all that is non-finance related to add a fresh start to his appointment at NBK!
Having landed in Qatar for the very first time, how does it feel? If have to correct you already at your first ques-tion. I have been to Doha and the region many times. But now I came to Doha to stay. And that feels different. It is like to start a new life.
In terms of corporate practices, what are the differences that you have noticed? I have been not long enough with NBK, but so far I realized that some processes are more complicated and time consuming.
Career Highlights
How are you adapting to your new life in Doha? How has this affected your lifestyle? Even this question would be easier to me to an-swer after a certain period of time. My family has not yet arrived and so I have time to fully concentrate on my new job. But in the evening I love to run at the Corniche a few kilometers and after this experience and the whole day behind I only want to go to bed. What are the angles that have attracted your attention the most in this country? We are talking about a small country, but all the projects they have in mind or already completed tells you something different. Here are people working focused on their goals. Big thinking and acting but on an realistic platform. What are the new challenges that this new job brings to your table? I think as always when you enter a new country there are more or less cultural distinctions. You
have to learn and adapt yourself but not com-pletely. I will bring my experience and my know-how into the company and hope that we all can benefit. Have you had the chance to tour Qatar and how do you spend your leisure time? Sure, first what I did at the weekend I drove around 400 km within Qatar. I discovered the desert, found several nice beaches, went to the Museum of Islamic Art, tried a Shisha at the Souk, but above all I learned a lot about Rama-dan. Any last message? I am proud to be part of this great company now, a company with long history and fantastic reputation far beyond Qatar.
Volker Schmidt is the Chief Financial Officer of Nasser Bin Khaled. Prior to joining NBK in 2010, Schmidt was the Executive Partner of PTK In-vestment Services in Berlin in 2008 where he worked on investment policies in Europe focus-ing on an integrated approach of consultation, realization and support services designed to give clients investment portfolio targeted devel-opment. Between 1992 and 2008, Schmidt held various positions at Daimler AG and Daimler Export and Trade Finance also in Berlin where he was a member of the management board and COO, responsible for all Daimler Group export finance activities worldwide; later, he was appointed as Managing Director and member of supervisory boards and CFO, responsible for accounting, controlling, treasury, risk management and hu-man resources. From 1992 till 2004, Schmidt was Head of Fi-nance and Accounting/ Logistics at Debis In-dustriehandel in Stuttgart, a 100% subsidiary of
Berlin-based DC ETF, where he handled the spin-off of the countertrade business area as an independent company before being promoted to Managing Director. Between 1988 and 1992, Schmidt held various corporate-level positions at CTM Com-putertechnik Müller in Konstanz where he worked as a Commercial Head of CTM Com-putervertrieb Hannover, a Controller for invest-ments in subsidiaries and associated compa-nies of CTM and as Product Manager and Head of Sales for UNIX-Computer systems. In 1984, he conducted a trainee programme in the area of office information system sales at Standard Elektrik Lorenz AG in Stuttgart before moving to the position of Executive Assistant to Hans-Joachim von Ludwig, board member of SEL AG. Schmidt was born in 1957 and holds a Busi-ness Management degree from the German Army Higher Education Institute in Munich.
HR NEWS
Training Needs Analysis Process
NBK’s new Head of Training and Development, Mr. Lance Rooney, has put in place a Training Needs Assessment (TNA) proc-
ess in order to assist all NBKS Divisions/sub-Divisions/Companies to meet the training and development needs of their staff from
this point forward. The TNA process comprises three phases: a preliminary training needs assessment (Phase 1), data capture by
Divisional Manager/sub-Divisional Manager/Company (Phase 2) and compilation of the training plan itself which will be an 8-
month cycle between November 2010 and June 2011 (Phase 3).
Phase 1 is already underway and Lance
has met with many GMs, COOs and their
key managers already to establish initial
training and development requirements
and very provisional numbers of staff
who will either require direct classroom
training in specific technical and non-
technical courses or who will need other
developmental approaches which will
include on-line courses, computer-based
training, one-on-one coaching, mentoring
etc.
In phase 2, managers will be provided
with a list of training programs divided
into the work areas of Administration,
Sales and Marketing, Finance, Human
Resources, Management and Leadership
and General Soft Skills. There will also
be a section for ‘Other Training Pro-
grams’ not identified in the list. Within
these areas, managers will stipulate the
numbers of employees who require
Higher Priority (HP) training (i.e. needed
because, without it, the employee’s work
performance will continue to be rated as
‘Unsatisfactory’ or ‘Needs Improvement’
in the NBKS Perform-
ance Review) or Lower
Priority (LP) training
(i.e. desired for the per-
sonal and professional
development of the em-
ployee, to maintain mo-
tivation and retain our
talented staff). All HP
training will take place
in the early part of the
training cycle, while all
LP training will follow.
Managers will also be
asked to select an English-medium train-
ing program delivery or, if English is not
of a sufficient standard to enable the em-
ployee to follow the training program,
managers may select an Arabic-medium
training program delivery. Managers will
also receive a ‘Training Program Out-
comes Request’ form so that they can list
any specific content which their identified
courses need to contain so that they fully
meet the needs of their staff.
Finally, managers will provide a name list
of all attending staff per program. Lance
will then meet with a Point Of
Contact (POC) person within each
Division/sub-Division/Company,
collect this data, and discuss and
recommend any non-training de-
velopmental solutions.
In phase 3, Lance will collate the
data and compile the Training
Plan (Nov ‘10–June ‘11). In these
difficult economic times, this will
involve utilising the skills and
knowledge of internal NBKS staff
to deliver the content in some of
the programs requested, for which
they will be compensated. If
needed, they will undergo a
Train-the-Trainer program so that
they have the facilitation skills to
effectively deliver the courses.
However, we will not compromise on
quality and so if highly skilled and capa-
ble internal staff cannot be found to run
the courses, external training providers
Lance has also prepared a timelines docu-
ment to enable the process to be com-
pleted as seamlessly as possible and on
schedule. This document will be e-mailed
to managers as part of their package in
phase 2 of the TNA process.
NBK STREET
“What is that one thing you can’t live without and why?”
October 2010 Issue 28
Celso Bernabe Icasiano II - Customs Clearance
There are actually two things I cannot live without, (and all people in
general too), and these are air and water. Oxygen is essential to breathing
otherwise, we die of suffocation. Not everyone is aware that deprivation
of oxygen intake leads to chronic diseases. We need oxygen to release
those endorphins to the brain for it to function properly. Air is a moment
to moment commodity we cannot do without. It is a fact that we can live
without food for seven days, but 24 hours without water can lead to de-
hydration paving the way to shock or even organ failure. It is always
best to be alive and well, for then we can work, earn, enjoy friends and
family and buy what we need. Sadly, the things we need most are the
things we often take for granted.
Edward Asfour—HR/Training Coordinator
My Mother is a special gift, A special gift that God gave to me. I'd be
lost and lonely without her, I love her so very much, That I couldn't bear
to live without her healing touch. Thank-you God for giving me such a
loving Mother, For I wouldn't want to be a part of no other.
Garry C. Aberion—Field Salesman (Zein Automotive)
I cannot live a life for a day without my iphone since my email and so-
cial networking are installed. Next is my eyeglass because I can't see
clearly.
Zake Estacio— Restaurant Supervisor (Silver Café)
“Subsistence – physically ,emotionally and intellectually our self needs
foods and drinks for survival.
Ronald Lenchico— Service Advisor (QAC)
My i-phone, because it gives me a lot of use aside from calling and tex-
ting. I can browse my e-mail, social networking like facebook and twit-
ter, games, music and any yahoo or google search.
Aimee Yu-Magnipes—Team Leader-Accountant
The one thing I can’t live without is my wedding ring - I wear it everywhere I
go ‘coz it serves as my security blanket and it reminds me of my loving hus-
band. Though we are miles apart, I can feel his presence everywhere I go with
the ring in my hand.
Jaison Devassy—Parts Sales Consultant Al Mana Branch
FRIENDSHIP. The meaning of friendship lies within the hearts, because
True friendship can only be felt and not expressed. something so pure and
Essential is not always visible to the eye, but it is felt by the heart.
Lance Rooney—Head of Training and Development
In his song, ‘Blood Brothers’, my favourite musician, the American Bruce
Springsteen, writes these words:
Well I don’t know how I feel. I don’t know how I feel tonight
If I’ve fallen ‘neath the wheel. If I’ve lost or I’ve gained sight
But the stars are burning bright. Like some mystery uncovered
I’ll keep moving through the dark. With you in my heart
My blood brother
Your blood bother can be your best friend, sibling, parent, partner, or spouse
but, ultimately, they are people with whom you have a deep spiritual connection
and who you can always turn to for emotional support when you need it the
most. There are always times when we find it difficult to cope with what life
brings us and so feel we have ‘fallen ‘neath the wheel’ and other times when
we’re unsure if we’ve ‘lost or gained sight’ from our experiences, but your
blood brother is the person who is always there to support you during those
times. They are the ones who help you ‘keep moving through the darkness’ and
they do it because they love you, and so, corny though it sounds, love is the one
thing I can’t live without.
Mohammad Irdris Chowdhury— Departmental Manager – Banking Rela-
tions
That one thing is “ company”,. by the word living, I understand decent living
with mental peace.
A lonely human being cannot get peace of mind and happiness. You see, when
God created the father
of mankind “Adam”, He (God) created mother of mankind, ”Eve” in order to
give company to father Adam.
Because God knows better than any human being that man cannot live alone.
The reason loneliness makes a man melancholy.
Roel Anzures—Cashier
The one thing that I can’t live without is that . Words that come from God Al-
mighty.
EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
Month of August
October 2010 Issue 28
Alaa Hassan
Abdul Kalam
Alejandro Narboneta
Amal Hussein Asmaa Al Salman
Bertilito Manuel
Christopher Vallance
Efren Dischoso
Hebatallah Mazhar
Joel De Guzman
Ponciano Alvarez
Rochdi Saadaleh
Ruwani Weerage
Samer Antepli
Samuel Ngingi
Tajul Islam Shamsal Hoque Wahid Bakhsh
EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
Deonald Beren
Nishantha Nuwan Perera
Hetti Arachchillage
Amina Abdelrahman
Ronnie Llonard Von Giese
Month of August
October 2010 Issue 28
Get Inspired
October 2010 Issue 28
Ten Quick Tips to Improve
Your Self-esteem
1. Do what you love. Everyone loves to do something, when you indulge
yourself in your love you improve the way you feel
about yourself. You improve your self esteem.
2. Help others out. Nothing makes you feel a warm glow than when you
unselfishly help others. of course you can argue that
this in itself is selfish, but if you take that line of
thought you must think that existence is selfish. For-
get that. Just do a good deed, help someone out, does-
n’t have to be big and it doesn’t have to cost any
money.
3. Acknowledge your strengths There is no one who has no strengths. Everyone is
good at something, know what your good at and give
yourself a pat on the back. Do things that bring this
quality out into the open. Excercise it, make it
stronger.
4. Don’t put up with crap. There is no reason you should tolerate other people
being mean to you. Even if they say they are doing it
with love. Make sure people know they should be
nice to you and if they refuse, walk away from them.
5. Drop your negative friends. Hang out with people who are positive and support
you. It may be fun to bitch and moan but if you hang
out with these types of people you will eventually
become one of them. You may have noticed that peo-
ple who bitch and moan are never happy.
6. Do your research A lot of self help books are a waste of time in the
sense that the only person who can change you is
you. Reading even this blog post will not change you
unless you get emotionally involved with the infor-
mation. Which is really hard as it’s really dry and
boring. Go read biographies of people you respect,
people who do positvive things and attain huge suc-
cess. Learn from the master not the self help guru
who is always in debt.
7. Learn to accept compliments. It’s hard to accept a compliment and not to dismiss it
as being ridiculous. Someone has an opinion and it
should be respected, even if you do not argree with it.
If people think good about you then maybe you
should too.
8. Include positivity in your life. I’m not talking an airy fairy chant in the mirror whilst
naked. I mean take a positive slant on everything
automatically. The meat pie you just bit in to may
contain maggots, but maggots contain a lot of protein.
OK that’s a bit extreme but you get the point.
9. Compare yourself against yourself. If you look at how you were yesterday and how you
are today and there is an improvement then that is
great. If there is no improvement then you know you
need to improve your efforts. Don’t start comparing
your self to other people. Saying you are poor com-
pared to D. Trump is just going to make you miser-
able.
10. There is no need for you to put yourself down. Seeing yourself in a negative light only reinforces
your low self esteem. If you want to improve your
self esteem. Ask yourself, how can I improve my self
esteem. The answer will always be, find one positive
thing about yourself and that will do it.
September 2010 Issue 27
Chef’s Corner
Mougrabieh
Meet the Chef! Housam Joumaa, the Executive Chef of Silver Café in Alsaad Branch shares
with the NBK Insider the recipe he is known for. With over thirteen years of
experience as Chef, this 30-year old from Lebanon has indeed mastered the
art of cuisine!
Prior to joining NBK in 2007, he became the Personal Chef of the Lebanese
Ambassador for three years and worked in Diplomatic Club as Executive
Chef.
His favorite dish? It’s barbeque Mixed Grill!
Ingredients
200 gram Mougrabieh
2 pcs onions
100 gram cheak peas
250 gram chicken
150 gram lamb meat
75 gram Butter
500 ml chicken stocks
500 ml lamb stocks
Salt
Cinnamon
Caraway
Seven Spices
Preparation
Boil the mougrabieh then sauté with
butter. Add the salt, cinna-
mon,caraway then add a little of
chicken and lamb stocks. Gently sim-
mer until mougrabieh is cook.
To make the sauce, fry the whole
peeled onion until it becomes brown
then add the remainder of chicken
and lamb stocks, salt, cinnamon,
caraway and seven spices and the
boiled cheak peas.
Serve the mougrabieh with chicken
and lamb on the top then the sauce on
the side.
Housam Joumaa
Health News
4 Things Apples Can Do for You
Radiance booster
Treat your skin to a refreshing at-home green-apple mask. The fruit helps replenish mois-
ture, and its acids smooth fine lines, explains Karen Behnke, founding partner of Juice
Beauty in San Rafael, California.
Her recipe: In a blender, puree 1 chopped green apple (skin included) with 1/2 cup sliced
green grapes; add 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/4 cup aloe vera, and continue blending
until you have a thick paste. Apply to face, neck, and décolletage; wait 15 minutes, then
rinse with warm water.
Note: Before you apply, test on a small area of your face or neck to ensure that none of the ingredients react adversely
with your skin.
Breathing aid
Think twice about peeling your next apple—the skin is jam-packed with an antioxi-
dant called quercetin, which may protect your lungs from pollutants.
A study from St. George’s Hospital Medical School in London found that people who
eat five or more apples a week have better lung function than those who don’t. So slip
one into your lunch bag today.
Scalp rejuvenator
Say good-bye to pesky flakes with apple cider vinegar, which is believed to nix the
bacteria that may contribute to dandruff, says Cal Orey, author of The Healing Powers
of Vinegar.
Try this remedy: Massage a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar directly into
washed scalp; leave on for 1 minute, then rinse.
Waistline shrinker
Substitute unsweetened applesauce for half the butter or oil in cake recipes, and you’ll
get a naturally sweeter, moister dessert with much less fat, says Samantha Heller, RD,
author of Get Smart: Samantha Heller’s Nutrition Prescription for Boosting Brain
Power and Optimizing Total Body Health. The sauce is fat- and cholesterol-free, and
1 cup has almost as much filling fiber as 1 cup of brown rice