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Tariq Al-Rifai
Founder and Chairman
As early as 1996, Tariq Al-Rifai recognized a lack of detailed information on Islamic investment funds, Shariah-compliant investment institutions, and other financial investment opportunities in GCC countries and throughout the Middle East. As a result, and keen to improve the amount and quality of information available in this sector and improve overall transparency, Mr. Al-Rifai formed Failaka Advisors in that same year.
Failaka published its first report in 1997. Shortly thereafter, the firm debuted its annual Failaka Islamic Fund Awards. Continuing to build Failaka, Al-Rifai took a position at Harris Trust and Savings Bank, and then at MB Financial in Chicago, Illinois. Shortly thereafter, he became a partner in the London office of The International Investor, a Kuwait-based investment bank, where he was responsible for building distribution relationships with financial institutions in Europe and the Middle East. Al-Rifai next took a position as Vice President of Islamic banking at HSBC Bank in New York, where he was responsible for managing sales channels, product development, and creating marketing programs. Al-Rifai is presently Vice President at UIB Capital in Chicago.
Mr. Al-Rifai earned his B.S. in International Finance at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, and earned his M.B.A. in International Management at DePaul University.
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Mark J. Smyth
Managing Director
Mark Smyth is a founding partner of the group and has contributed to Failaka's development since the firm's inception in 1996.
Mr. Smyth began his financial career in 1992 with the Bank of Montreal's Harris Trust and Savings Bank in Chicago, gaining experience in lending, mortgage banking, and sales management. Afterwards, he became a partner with The International Investor of Kuwait, managing one of the firm's direct investments in New York before becoming involved with the firm's acquisition strategy from their Kuwait City office. In 2004, Mr. Smyth joined a leading commodities brokerage becoming a respected broker and currency analyst whose market commentary was widely syndicated online and in print.
Mr. Smyth holds a B.S. in Business Management and an M.B.A. in International Finance from DePaul University in Chicago, as well as a NASD Series 3 license.
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Hanif Shakir
Vice President of Sales
Hanif Shakir has served as an advisor to Failaka since 2002, and joined the firm as Vice President of Sales in 2007. He currently leads our North American sales efforts.
Mr. Shakir began his career in mortgage financing, brokerage, and sales, working for various leading mortgage firms and banks in his hometown of Philadelphia. In 2000, he joined HSBC Bank USA to lead the sales effort of the newly-formed Islamic banking division in New York. In 2005, Mr. Shakir joined Guidance Residential, LLC, the home finance arm of Guidance Financial Group, as a District Manager responsible for recruiting and training a sales team of eleven loan officers.
Mr. Shakir holds a B.S. in International Business from Strayer University in Washington, D.C.
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Zaineb Sefiani
Financial Analyst
Zaineb Sefiani joined us in July 2007 as a financial analyst. She focuses on researching and analyzing data for the Failaka Islamic Fund Reports and on related research.
Ms Sefiani previously worked at the Center of Environmental Issues and Regional Development at Al Akawayn University in Ifrane, where she researched, developed and implemented a new recycling program. She has also been an intern at the Moroccan Office for Industrial and Commercial Property, where she assisted in implementing the Office's new marketing program.
Ms Sefiani received a B.S. in Finance and Marketing from Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, also participating in an exchange program at Boston College. She also holds an M.Sc. in Investments from University of Birmingham, where she wrote her dissertation on the performance of Islamic Banks. Ms Sefiani also volunteered at The West End House Boys & Girls Clubs of Allston-Brighton, in Boston, MA.
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