Chairman and Managing Director of Commercial International Bank (CIB) Hisham Ezz Al-Arab has been awarded the EMEA Finance African Banking best CEO award for 2014 in Africa, the bank announced on 29 January.

Ezz Al-Arab, the first Egyptian CEO to receive the EMEA Finance award, has received the title in light of the success of the bank under the leadership, CIB said.

CIB said in a statement that the plans adopted by Ezz Al-Arab have helped the bank to accelerate growth rates and achieve “greatest benefits to shareholders”.

The EMEA Finance is a London-based organisation, focusing on financial and banking sector, granting awards annually to banking figures and organisations to recognise their efforts in the sector.