Director of Compliance - IPO Readiness

About the role

A major Kuwait-headquartered regional group with substantial operations across the GCC is preparing for a planned IPO targeting Boursa Kuwait's Premier Market. It is an established, large-scale operating group entering its next stage of institutional development, not an early-stage business. The group is looking for an experienced Director of Compliance to lead and strengthen its Governance and Compliance function through IPO readiness and into life as a listed company. This is a senior, hands-on role with direct exposure to senior management and the Board.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the Governance and Compliance workstream for IPO readiness, assess existing arrangements, identify priority gaps and drive them through closure.
• Lead implementation of applicable CMA Kuwait and Boursa Kuwait requirements.
• Manage regulatory correspondence, submissions, inspections and remediation.
• Strengthen policies, procedures, monitoring and reporting across Governance and Compliance.
• Establish effective controls around disclosures, conflicts of interest, related-party transactions, insider matters, Code of Conduct and whistleblowing.
• Provide Governance and Compliance reporting to senior management, the Board and Board Committees.
• Work closely with Legal, Risk, Internal Control, Internal Audit, Finance and external IPO advisers.
• Lead and develop the existing Compliance capability and build the team further as required.
• Maintain a practical and proportionate approach to AML/KYC appropriate to the Group's business.

Required profile

• Significant Governance and/or Compliance experience in Kuwait, with strong practical knowledge of CMA Kuwait, Boursa Kuwait and listed-company governance requirements.
• Experience owning responsibilities involving regulatory interaction, disclosures, Governance or Compliance frameworks, Board reporting, inspections or remediation.
• Direct experience within a Boursa Kuwait-listed company is strongly preferred; candidates with substantial CMA/Boursa, IPO, governance-transformation or listed-company advisory experience will also be considered.
• Experience supporting an IPO, listing or post-listing transition is a strong advantage.
• Candidates from financial services are welcome where their experience extends beyond AML/CFT into broader corporate governance, disclosure and regulatory compliance.
• Arabic and English fluency are required; current residence in Kuwait is preferred.