Etihad Group’s official bags award

The Acting Group Treasurer of Etihad Aviation Group, Adam Boukadida, has been honoured with the highest individual accolade by the Association of Corporate Treasurers Middle East.

The leading industry body for bankers and treasurers named Boukadida the Treasury Professional of the Year, acknowledging his leadership for developing and implementing new policies and procedures to drive greater cost efficiency across the airline group.

Etihad Aviation Group is a diversified global aviation and travel group based in Abu Dhabi, and comprises five business divisions that include Airline Equity Partners. Boukadida, who received the accolade at the Association of Corporate Treasurers Middle East’s annual awards in Dubai, is responsible for group-wide corporate treasury, as well as insurance and risk management.

In addition, he has overall responsibility for corporate finance, governance, group taxation, as well as payment and anti-fraud solutions.

Etihad Aviation Group Interim Group Chief Financial Officer, Ricky Thirion, said: “Adam has been a tremendous leader, supporting the many different business units across Etihad Aviation Group to successfully drive greater cost efficiency, particularly over the past 12 months during extremely challenging times for our industry.

“His experience, leadership and innovative approach are commendable and the fact that his peers within the treasury and banking community across the Middle East have voted for him as the first recipient of this individual award demonstrates their confidence in his business acumen and high standards of professionalism.”

The award recognises an individual who is considered to have demonstrated excellence in treasury and made an outstanding contribution to their team, organisation or profession with consistency that has helped raise the profile of treasury practice in the region.

Over the past 12 months, Boukadida has spearheaded the completion of a cost-reduction global cash management project with Citibank and secured a unique USD1.5 billion sukuk transaction, a landmark debt capital market deal in the aviation sector and Islamic markets – and the largest of its kind in the Middle East.

He also launched Abu Dhabi’s first treasury graduate scheme for Emiratis at Etihad Aviation Group, and introduced new payment and fraud prevention solutions.Boukadida said: “I am honoured to be recognised for this award. Credit goes to my team that has worked tirelessly to implement the many policies and procedures over the past 12 months to provide a stronger framework for our business.”

He joined Etihad Airways in December 2013 as Deputy Treasurer bringing with him a wealth of international treasury and finance experience gained in the UK and the UAE across the banking and FMCG sectors. He was promoted to Acting Group Treasurer of Etihad Aviation Group earlier this year.

Adam holds an Executive MBA and is also a qualified Treasurer and Management Accountant. A member of the Middle East Treasurer Committee and the IATA Treasury Working Group, and sits on the Board of The British School Al Khubairat (BSAK). He is also one of a few qualified treasurers in the Middle East.