UK - Gatehouse CEO first to receive UK Royal award for civic excellence in Islamic finance

Richard Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Gatehouse Bank, is to be inducted to the Order of the British Empire, an honour bestowed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Thomas will be inducted into the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth the Second, at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace.  

The OBE has been handed by Her Majesty on behalf of the UK Government, in recognition for civic excellence and the contribution that Thomas has made to the UK Islamic financial services industry.

Jamie Bowden, the UK Ambassador to Bahrain, who has worked with Thomas on many global Islamic finance promotional initiatives, said, “I am delighted that Richard Thomas’s work in support of the UK Islamic Financial Services industry has been recognised. In the many years that I have worked with him he has tirelessly furthered the UK’s and the industry’s interests. His efforts have strengthened the links between the British and Bahraini Islamic financial sectors.(source)

UK - The UK retains position as key Western centre for Islamic finance

The launch of TheCityUK's new report on Islamic Finance provides a landmark for promotion of the industry internationally as the UK maintains its position as the leading Western provider of Islamic financial services.

Richard Thomas, Chief Executive of Gatehouse Bank, said "Gatehouse Bank is pleased to support TheCityUK Islamic Finance 2011 report. As an active market participant in the growing community of financial institutions in the UK dedicated to delivery of sharia compliant solutions, we welcome this latest research that continues to raise awareness of achievements made by the UK Islamic financial services industry". (full story)

UK - GATEHOUSE - Islamic Sukuks need real revision: Thomas ‘Gatehouse Bank has no speculative mandate’

Richard Thomas, CEO (source)