Hatem Sleiman | Regional Vice President – Middle East
Western Union

As the head of Western Union Network in the Middle and South Asia, Hatem Sleiman is responsible for the management of all agent relationships, with a continued expansion into new channels and a focus on increased productivity, optimized commissions and expansion of Western Union’s footprint in the region.   Prior to this Hatem led the Middle East, Pakistan and Afghanistan, with responsibilities ranging from driving top-line revenue growth and bottom-line profit to overseeing business development, service delivery, compliance, and regulatory outreach in the region. In addition, he also tracks key cultural and geopolitical trends connected to the movement of money and enabling money movement digitally - via mobile phone, to an account, or to a mobile wallet, across borders and currencies.   With over 30 years of executive experience in the engineering and financial services industries, coupled with a deep understanding of cross-border payments, settlement, compliance and financial regulations across top global markets, Hatem has established a reputation in the region as a respected and distinguished leader of industry.   Hatem’s journey with Western Union began in 2003 when he joined the Dubai office taking on the role of Regional Operations Manager. He made an immediate impact, and after a few short yet successful years, accepted the role of Regional Vice President in 2009. It has been under his guidance and leadership that Western Union has evolved in the region, becoming a recognized brand and an innovative leader in the payment industry. During his tenure, Hatem has pioneered the launch of several new markets, both mature and sensitive, while delivering positive business turnarounds across the board. Beyond growing the retail network in the Middle East, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Hatem has successfully expanded Western Union’s digital capabilities through payment gateways and electronic Know-Your-Customer processes, while growing successful partnerships across the region with major financial institutions.   Lean management and agile practices are at the core of Hatem’s leadership philosophy, while also recognizing the importance of fostering innovation, collaboration and value creation.   Throughout his career, Hatem’s commitment to corporate strategy has repeatedly been recognized, earning him several prestigious awards including; “Innovator of the Year”, “Excellence in Top Line Revenue Growth”, and the “President Award for Business Excellence.”   A citizen of both the United States and Lebanon, Hatem is fluent in both English and Arabic. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University, as well as an Executive MBA from Boston Business School. Hatem is also a member of the Arab Union for Digital Economy under the patronage of the Arab League Economic Council.