Director, Islamic Finance

As one of the world’s top three credit ratings agencies, Fitch Ratings plays a critical role in global capital markets by providing credit analysis, ratings, research, and commentary to financial market participants. For over 100 years, Fitch Ratings has been creating value for global markets through its rigorous analysis and deep expertise, which have resulted in a variety of market leading tools, methodologies, indices, research, and analytical products. Fitch Ratings is part of Fitch Group, a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries, which also includes Fitch Solutions. With dual headquarters in London and New York, Fitch Group is owned by Hearst.

Explore a career at Fitch Ratings and you’ll join a collaborative network of curious minds. Here, our differences are our strengths - in life as well as our work. Together we work with integrity and objectivity to provide clarity to the world’s financial markets. We pride ourselves on our ability to harness the ideas, expertise, and professionalism of our global workforce, which is integral to our continued success. The accessibility and depth of experience of our industry leading analysts, combined with our broad sector credentials, allow us to help market participants make important credit decisions with confidence.

Fitch Ratings is currently seeking a Director, Business and Relationship Management- Islamic Finance based out of our Riyadh office.  

About the Team

Business and Relationship Management (BRM) is responsible for developing and maintaining Fitch Ratings’ commercial relationships, originating new rating mandates, retaining existing business and supporting sustainable revenue growth. The team works closely with Analytical, Investor Development, Marketing and other Fitch Group businesses while preserving the independence of Fitch’s analytical process.

Based in Riyadh, the Director will lead BRM activity for Islamic Finance across the Middle East and selected international markets. The role will focus on developing Fitch’s ratings franchise across sukuk and other Sharia-compliant financing, deepening relationships with issuers, arrangers, advisers and market institutions, and coordinating opportunities across relevant Fitch Ratings sectors.

The position combines direct revenue responsibility with a broader franchise-building mandate. It will connect activity across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Central Europe and other developing Islamic Finance markets, working with regional BRM teams and dedicated Analytical staff to build a coordinated global pipeline and market presence. The Director will work alongside the wider BRM team to originate and retain rating mandates across the Islamic Finance market, with an initial focus on Saudi Arabia, the wider GCC, and at a later stage select international markets. Coverage will include sovereign and government-related issuers, financial institutions, corporates, infrastructure issuers and structured or project finance transactions where sukuk or other Sharia-compliant funding is relevant.

The successful candidate will develop senior relationships across the Islamic Finance ecosystem, identify transactions early, coordinate Fitch’s commercial response and ensure that issuer and intermediary engagement is timely, consistent and well informed. The role will also provide global coordination for Islamic Finance business development, where the candidate represents BRM’s subject matter expert, without replacing the ownership of local BRM teams in their respective markets.

How You’ll Make an Impact: 

• Develop and execute a business development strategy for Islamic Finance ratings, aligned with the Middle East BRM plan and Fitch Ratings’ wider EMEA and global priorities.
• Support origination of new rating mandates and retain existing relationships across sukuk and other Sharia-compliant financing, with clear accountability for pipeline development, conversion and revenue outcomes.
• Build and maintain senior relationships with issuers, CFOs, treasurers, funding teams, sovereign and government-related entities, financial institutions, corporates and infrastructure sponsors.
• Develop strong connectivity with sukuk arrangers, investment banks, advisers, law firms, trustees, exchanges, regulators, standard-setting bodies and other influential market participants.
• Identify prospective sukuk transactions and refinancing needs at an early stage, qualify opportunities and coordinate timely engagement with the appropriate Fitch sector and analytical teams.
• Act as a central BRM coordinator for Islamic Finance opportunities spanning multiple regions, connecting Middle East activity with relevant colleagues in Asia, Africa, Central Europe and other developing markets.
• Create and maintain a coherent global Islamic Finance pipeline, while respecting local account ownership and ensuring clear allocation of responsibilities across regional BRM teams.
• Partner with dedicated Islamic Finance analysts and sector analytical groups to showcase Fitch’s criteria, ratings expertise, research and market insight, without compromising analytical independence.
• Coordinate pitches, proposals, fee discussions and commercial follow-up, ensuring compliance with Fitch policies, regulatory requirements and established approval processes.
• Develop account plans for priority issuers and intermediaries, increasing senior access and positioning Fitch for repeat issuance and long-term rating relationships.
• Work closely with Investor Development to gather relevant investor feedback and evidence of demand for Fitch ratings, particularly where this can support mandate development or retention.
• Lead and support targeted market engagement, including issuer roundtables, banker briefings, webinars, podcasts, conferences and thought-leadership initiatives focused on Islamic Finance and sukuk.
• Own and shape the Islamic Finance marketing and events budget in partnership with Marketing, ensuring investment is aligned with priority markets, sectors, revenue opportunities and franchise-building objectives.
• Develop and maintain an annual Islamic Finance events plan, prioritising the conferences, sponsorships, roundtables and proprietary Fitch events that provide the strongest commercial and brand impact, and actively manage spend against the agreed budget.
• Coordinate Fitch participation at priority Islamic Finance events, including securing relevant speaking and panel opportunities for Fitch senior management and analysts, managing sponsorship visibility, and ensuring disciplined pre-event client targeting and post-event commercial follow-up.
• Identify opportunities for relevant cross-sector collaboration within Fitch Ratings and, where appropriate, introductions to Sustainable Fitch, Fitch Solutions, Fitch Learning and other Fitch Group businesses.
• Monitor market developments, issuance trends, competitor activity and regulatory changes affecting Islamic Finance, translating these into clear commercial priorities and account actions.
• Maintain accurate and timely Salesforce records, forecasts and pipeline reporting, providing management with transparent visibility on activity, conversion, retention and revenue performance.
• Represent Fitch Ratings as a senior ambassador in Saudi Arabia, the GCC and the wider Islamic Finance market, demonstrating commercial judgement, cultural awareness and service excellence.

Key internal partnerships

• Middle East and Africa BRM leadership and sector coverage teams
• EMEA, APAC and other regional BRM colleagues covering Islamic Finance opportunities
• Fitch Ratings Islamic Finance specialists and relevant sovereign, financial institutions, corporate, infrastructure and structured finance analytical groups
• Investor Development, Marketing, Events, Communications, Legal, Compliance and Finance teams
• Sustainable Fitch, Fitch Solutions, Fitch Learning and other Fitch Group businesses, where appropriate and consistent with applicable policies

Measures of success

• Growth in qualified Islamic Finance pipeline, new mandates, retained mandates and associated revenue
• Developing alternative revenue streams linked to Sukuk / Sharia compliant ratings
• Early identification and effective coverage of priority sukuk transactions and refinancing opportunities
• Quality and seniority of relationships across issuers, arrangers, advisers and key market institutions
• Effective coordination of Islamic Finance opportunities across regions, sectors and internal teams
• Continued strong visibility and consideration of Fitch Ratings in the GCC and international sukuk markets
• Disciplined Salesforce management, forecasting accuracy and clear evidence of commercial outcomes
• Positive collaboration with Analytical and regional BRM teams while maintaining appropriate commercial and analytical boundaries

You May be a Good Fit if:

• At least six years of relevant experience in debt capital markets, investment banking, ratings, financial services or a closely related commercial role, with demonstrable exposure to fixed income origination or relationship management.
• Strong understanding of sukuk structures, Islamic Finance principles, debt capital markets and the roles of issuers, arrangers, investors, advisers and rating agencies.
• Demonstrated track record of originating or developing financial services business and converting senior relationships into measurable commercial outcomes.
• Established relationships within the wider GCC across issuers, banks, advisers or other Islamic Finance market participants would be highly advantageous.
• Ability to operate across sectors and coordinate complex opportunities involving multiple countries, teams and internal stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills, with the credibility to engage at C-suite and senior government or institutional level.
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Arabic language capability is a strong advantage.
• Strong commercial judgement, organisational discipline and ability to work independently within a strategic framework and regulated environment.
• Collaborative working style and a clear understanding of the need to preserve analytical independence and manage potential conflicts appropriately.
• Experience using CRM and reporting tools, including Salesforce and Microsoft Excel.

Why Choose Fitch: 

• Hybrid Work Environment: 3 days a week in office required
• A Culture of Learning & Mobility: Dedicated trainings, leadership development and mentorship programs designed to ensure that your time at Fitch will be a continuous learning opportunity
• Investing in Your Future: Retirement planning and tuition reimbursement programs that empower you to achieve your short and long-term goals
• Promoting Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive healthcare offerings that enable physical, mental, financial, social, and occupational wellbeing
• Supportive Parenting Policies: Family-friendly policies, including a generous global parental leave plan, designed to help you balance career and family life effectively
• Inclusive Work Environment: A collaborative workplace where all voices are valued, with Employee Resource Groups that unite and empower our colleagues around the globe
• Dedication to Giving Back: Paid volunteer days, matched funding for donations and ample opportunities to volunteer in your community

At Fitch, AI is embedded in how we work every day—supporting smarter decision-making, streamlining workflows, and enabling new ways to create value for our business and clients. Intelligent solutions are increasingly part of our day-to-day operations, helping teams work more efficiently and think differently as we continue to evolve. We’re looking for colleagues who are comfortable operating in an AI-enabled environment—or who are curious, adaptable, and eager to build their AI literacy over time. We value professionals who embrace technology as part of continuous learning and who are committed to using it thoughtfully to enhance how work gets done.

Fitch is committed to providing global securities markets with objective, timely, independent and forward-looking credit opinions. To protect Fitch’s credibility and reputation, our employees must take every precaution to avoid conflicts of interests or any appearance of a conflict of interest. Should you be successful in the recruitment process at Fitch Ratings you will be asked to declare any securities holdings and other potential conflicts prior to commencing employment. If you, or your immediate family, have any holdings that may conflict with your work responsibilities, you may be asked to divest yourself of them before beginning work.

Fitch is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, and other statuses protected by law. 

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