Senior Executive Officer (DIFC) & HNW Distribution Lead, Dubai

The Senior Executive Officer (DIFC) & HNW Distribution Lead is a dual-mandate leadership role, with approximately 70% focus on HNW distribution and 30% focus on regulatory leadership. This role will be responsible for building and driving all HNW distribution activity across the Middle East served from the Dubai office. Reporting to the Head of Distribution, International Markets, the role operates as an integral part of one Global HNW distribution team, coordinating closely with the North Asia and wider International Markets distribution leadership and partnering with Underwriting, Case Management, Compliance, Legal, Finance and Operations to establish FWD as a preferred first-tier HNW carrier partner in the Middle East.Key responsibilities:HNW distribution & commercial performanceFormulate and execute the HNW distribution strategy and business plan for the Middle East, with clear priorities by market, channel and partner.Own delivery of the region’s APE and VNB targets, pipeline conversion and margin outcomes, reporting production and forecast to the Head of Distribution, International Markets.Act as a quota-carrying, producing leader — personally originating and holding senior relationships while building the local team to scale coverage.Build and deepen senior relationships with private banks, international brokers, EAMs, trustees and single- and multi-family offices across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.Lead partner segmentation, engagement planning and joint business development, and drive insurer onboarding, credit and product-approval processes with priority partners.Recruit, lead and develop the Dubai distribution and support team as the entity scales, setting clear account ownership, activity standards and performance expectations.Partner with Underwriting and Case Management to hold the Dubai window, improve case conversion and turnaround, and deliver a seamless broker and adviser experience.Provide market input into product development, underwriting appetite and service propositions to keep the Middle East offering competitive and relevant.Senior Executive Officer — regulatory leadership Act as the DFSA-mandated resident Senior Executive Officer for the DIFC Category 4 entity, holding overall responsibility for its sound, compliant and effective day-to-day management.Serve as FWD’s primary liaison with the DFSA and DIFC Authority, maintaining an open, transparent and constructive regulatory relationship and completing fit-and-proper obligations on an ongoing basis.Ensure the entity operates within its Category 4 permissions (arranging and advising), delegated authorities, DIFC/DFSA rules and FWD Group policies, escalating issues promptly.Own the local governance framework alongside the Finance Officer, Compliance Officer and MLRO, ensuring effective controls over conduct, financial crime, source of wealth and client-money boundaries.Support the entity through licensing, mobilisation and post-authorisation, working with Group Legal & Compliance, external counsel and the DIFC programme team to bring the platform live and keep it in good standing.Governance, risk & conduct (across both mandates)Embed a strong risk and conduct culture across the Dubai entity, ensuring good customer outcomes and disciplined sales governance.Maintain robust partner due diligence, source-of-wealth and financial-crime controls, documentation and escalation in line with DFSA expectations and Group standards.Ensure all distribution activity complies with local laws, regulations, delegated authorities and FWD Group policies.Experience & knowledge:Senior HNW/UHNW life insurance, wealth management or private-banking leader with a strong distribution and origination track record in the Middle East.DFSA fit-and-proper credentials — ideally prior approval as a Senior Executive Officer (or clear capability to be approved) for a DIFC-regulated firm, with hands-on knowledge of the DIFC/DFSA framework and Category 4 permissions.Minimum 10–15 years’ relevant experience, including at least five years in distribution leadership, with an established regional network across private banks, brokers, family offices and EAMs.Good understanding of complex case structuring, trusts and policy ownership, premium financing, underwriting and end-to-end case management.UAE residency (or willingness to relocate and reside in the UAE) is required; university degree in business or a related discipline, with relevant professional qualifications an advantage.Skills:Credible dual-hat leader — able to carry regulatory accountability as SEO while spending the majority of time driving commercial production.Excellent relationship-building, communication, presentation and negotiation skills, with standing at senior executive and regulator level.Strong people leader able to build and motivate a team from a standing start in a new market.Structured, pragmatic and control-minded, balancing commercial ambition with sound governance and conduct.Fluent written and spoken English; Arabic or other regional-market language capability is an advantage.