The Managing
Director of Republic Bank Ghana, Farid Antar, officially retired from active
service on Thursday, July 14, 2021, after 43 years of service to the bank.
A farewell event was organized
on Saturday, July 9, 2022 in his honour by Republic Bank Ghana at Kempinski
Hotel, Gold Coast City.
The event was attended by Mr.
Vincent Pereira, the Board Chairman of Republic Financial Holdings Limited, the
parent company of Republic Bank Ghana; the President/CEO of Republic Financial
Holdings Limited, Mr. Nigel Baptiste; Mr. Derwin Howell, an Executive Director,
Republic Bank Limited; Board Members, Executives and Staff of Republic Bank
Ghana; Regulators; key customers; other stakeholders, friends and family of
Farid Antar.
Many took turns, through video and behind the event
lectern, to pour out their experiences and appreciations to Mr. Antar.
The moment of the night was
when Mr. Antar mounted the podium to give his farewell speech.
He was full of appreciation to
the Board of Directors and staff, friends, family and his wife, for their
enormous support in his life.
He said the key life-nuggets that guided him in life and in
his career were that: “there is never the right time to do the wrong thing,
and, there is never the wrong time to do the right thing! – Lou Holtz.
“Just because others are doing
it doesn’t mean it is right way!
“Every job is a self-portrait
of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence! – Author
Unknown” and “You do not take anything with you other than your values and
integrity!”
“Farid, you have been
Phenomenal!” These were the words of Mr. David Addo-Ashong, a Board Member who
spoke on behalf of the Board of Directors of Republic Bank Ghana at the event.
Prior to his appointment as
Managing Director of Republic Bank Ghana, Mr. Antar was the General
Manager/Enterprise Risk Management at Republic Bank Limited and the Chief Risk
Officer at Republic Financial Holdings Limited.
He had previously served in several senior management roles
as the General Manager/Corporate Operations & Process Improvement, the
Senior Manager/Regional Operations (Overseas), the Senior Manager/Business
Transformation, Senior Manager/Retail Delivery & Marketing, Manager/Product
Parameterisation & Business Growth and Marketing Manager/Personal &
Commercial Lendings.
During his tenure as Managing
Director, Republic Bank Ghana witnessed significant milestones and growth.
The Bank significantly
increased its profitability and shareholder value, enhanced its brand and
visibility, improved its digital and core services and offerings, consistently
witnessed a high employee engagement.
Republic Bank Ghana won many
awards during his tenure, including in the last couple of months alone, two
prestigious awards at the International Banker Awards 2022, namely the “Best
Innovation in Retail Banking Ghana” and the “Best Private Bank in Ghana”.