Jammaz Al-SuhaimiMANAMA – Gulf International Bank (GIB) has been named by The Banker magazine (owned by the Financial Times Ltd) as the “Most Innovative Investment Bank from the Middle East" in the year 2012 during a special ceremony held in London recently. The magazine's key criteria for granting the awards were innovation and genuine value creation for clients and markets. Its distinguished panel of independent judges looked for innovative transactions that generated cost savings, risk reduction and real returns for clients. Jammaz Al-Suhaimi, GIB's chairman, said: “We are pleased to receive such a unique and prestigious award that recognizes the Bank's leadership and achievements in the field of investment banking in the region. We are also delighted to know that GIB was the only bank from the Middle East to receive an investment banking award from The Banker this year." Yahya Alyahya, the bank's chief executive officer, said: “GIB and its investment services subsidiary GIB Capital have one of the best and largest investment banking teams in the GCC and have completed a number of milestone transactions over the past two decades. This reflects our commitment to further strengthening GIB's status as a leading provider of innovative corporate advisory services in the region." Early this year, GIB was also named by New York-based Global Finance magazine as the “Best Equity Bank in the Middle East" and the “Best Investment Bank in Bahrain." Gulf International Bank's awards were won based on the recent successes of its investment banking business. – SG