Chief Business Officer

About the Role

We are looking for a Chief Business Officer to establish and lead Mal's commercial function from the ground up. This founding executive position reports directly to the CEO and is part of the Executive Committee. You will oversee Mal's commercial trajectory from initial launch through continuous growth by shaping the market approach, partnerships, customer acquisition and retention strategies, and revenue model execution. Building and structuring the commercial organization—including business development, partnerships, distribution, growth, and customer commercial teams—is a key part of the role, where you will personally design and recruit the senior commercial leadership. This position demands a pioneering mindset as there is no existing playbook; you will be authoring the strategy and operations as you go.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own Mal's commercial strategy and profit & loss accountability, including revenue models, unit economics, and key commercial metrics.
• Design and implement the go-to-market strategy, moving the company from pre-launch phase to acquiring live customers, covering positioning, channels, pricing, and customer acquisition tactics.
• Source, negotiate, and finalize transformational partnerships and distribution agreements across payments, embedded finance, ecosystem allies, corporate distribution, and premium brand alliances within the UAE and beyond.
• Create the commercial organizational structure, compose a hiring plan, and personally recruit top-tier senior commercial executives, setting standards for talent, performance, and culture.
• Contribute to executive and board-level strategic decisions as part of the Executive Committee, representing commercial interests to investors, regulators, the Board, and the Sharia Supervisory Committee.
• Act as Mal's credible representative publicly with investors, regulators, partners, and within fintech and Islamic finance sectors.

Essential Qualifications

• More than 10 years' experience in digital banking, fintech, or financial services with at least 3 years in a senior commercial leadership role such as Chief Business Officer, Chief Commercial Officer, Chief Growth Officer, or VP of Commercial/Business/Growth in a scaled fintech or digital bank.
• Background with a category-defining digital bank or fintech.
• Proven success in constructing a commercial function from scratch and overseeing its launch and expansion in the financial sector.
• Hands-on experience launching regulated banking or financial products, owning all aspects of go-to-market strategy, pricing, and channel management.
• Track record of senior-level partnership negotiations and commercial deal-making that significantly impacted business growth.
• Experience in recruiting and leading high-impact senior commercial teams within fast-paced and uncertain environments.
• Board- and investor-level communication skills and judgment, comfortable conveying the commercial narrative to sophisticated stakeholders.
• Knowledge of AI-driven product and operational models, understanding their commercial opportunities and structural requirements.
• Eligibility for CBUAE Fitness and Propriety approval as a Controlled Function holder; prior experience under CBUAE regulation is beneficial but not mandatory.

Desirable Attributes

• Experience working in or expanding businesses into MENA markets.
• Understanding of Islamic finance rules and Sharia-compliant product development or demonstrated ability to operate effectively in Sharia-regulated environments.
• Background in fundraising, investor relations, and equity story development.
• Proficiency in Arabic language.