IslamicFinance.de

Henry Thompson will take over the role of London-based Gatehouse Bank's new boss with immediate effect. He substitutes current chairman and chief executive Fahed Faisal Boodai, who will remain in his role as executive chairman. Thompson had been working in Shariah-compliant finance at Arcapita as head of legal before. Gatehouse, which offers investment banking services, has been aiming to get a foothold in London’s wealth management sector and recently opened a new office in Mayfair. Boodai said Thompson brings with him sector knowledge, which complements the activities of Gatehouse Bank.

Britain could become the first truly global Islamic finance centre if the government sets its mind to attracting infrastructure investment, according to Gatehouse Bank’s chairman Fahed Faisal Boodai. He estimates the industry is worth $1.5 trillion, and the sector is growing at around 20 per cent per year. Chancellor George Osborne is raising £200m with a sharia-compliant bond, the bank alone expects to buy £30m to £40m of the sukuk, and predicts bids for the debt to run into the billions of pounds. However, one problem is finding investment opportunities which meet stringent sharia standards. More certainty is needed if the government wants to unlock Islamic investment into infrastructure on the grand scale needed.