The Banking Executive Magazine - December 2025 Issue

The Architect of Financial Integrity vive internationally.” He rejects shortcuts but balances principle with pragmatism, earning trust not just for his legal accuracy but also for his sound judgment. Colleagues often say his advice is valued because it is both precise and practical. His leadership style — combining a guardian’s rigor with a strategist’s nuance — has made him a sought-after voice among regional financial leaders. He is also quick to credit teamwork over personal achievement, attribut- ing success to collective effort and strong institutional culture. Ap- proachable and soft-spoken, he pos- sesses a diplomat’s skill for consensus building — crucial in aligning banks around shared poli- cies. Over time, his authenticity and ethics have earned him not only pro- fessional respect but deep personal regard. In the words of many peers: “What you see with Jebeyli is exactly what you get — a gentleman of in- tegrity.” LEGACY AND IMPACT Jebeyli’s legacy unfolds across sev- eral dimensions. Institutionally, every organization he has served bears his imprint. At SAMBA, under Regu- latory oversight he contributed in helping Saudi banking systems inte- grate into global finance and in sup- porting young Saudi professionals. At Citibank MENA, he professionalized compliance across jurisdictions, helped creating models later emu- lated by peers. And at Group Audi, the compliance policies he con- tributed in designing continues to safeguard the bank’s relations with correspondent banks — while many of his team now lead compliance units across the region. He was keen on hiring and training young local talents, and some of them are now in leadership positions in their coun- tries. Systemically, his work has elevated Arab banking’s entire compliance ecosystem. Through his leadership in the ABL, UAB, and WUAB, he helped institutionalize higher stan- dards. The compliance committee he chaired in Lebanon and at UAB, co- ordinated unified responses to regu- latory shifts, while the Certified Compliance Professionals group he led at WUAB became a platform for collective progress from Rabat to Muscat. The MENA FCCG, which he helped establish, continues to liaise with global watchdogs to anticipate new risks. Many of the region’s due dili- gence and sanctions-screening frameworks trace their origins to these initiatives. The training pro- grams and manuals he teamed in creating remain the backbone of compliance education in numerous Arab banks. However, perhaps his greatest legacy lies in people. Over the years, Jebeyli has mentored an entire generation of compliance officers and lawyers. Many of today’s senior professionals in Lebanon and the Arab World began their careers under his guid- ance. He convinced them that com- pliance is not a cost but an investment — “money well spent,” “understanding the respective indus- try and its legal rules is what makes a good lawyer” as he famously said. His calm, credible communication helped shift the regional mindset ISSUE 204 DECEMBER 2025 the BANKING EXECUTIVE 21