Independent Director – Franklin Templeton Financial Company
Partner and Co-Founder of Kalbian Hagerty
Haig V. Kalbian is a partner and co-founder of the Washington, DC law firm Kalbian Hagerty LLP, which provides legal services to Franklin Templeton Saudia Arabia. He has nearly 40 years of experience, representing the interests of domestic and global commercial organisations and individuals in complex litigation and arbitration in the US and the Middle East.
Haig started his legal career as a private lawyer in Saudi Arabia in 1984. Based in Dammam, his clients included multinational companies seeking legal services in the Kingdom.
Since then, Haig’s clients have included foreign governments, large financial institutions, multinational corporations, high net-worth individuals, family offices and members of several Gulf ruling families. In Washington, Haig and his firm have represented the Northern Virginia-based King Abdullah Academy on all legal matters, for the last seven years. Over the past 30 years, the Embassy of the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington has referred multiple Saudi nationals seeking US counsel to Haig.
Haig’s practice concentrates on a wide range of commercial disputes. These include unfair trade practices, contract issues, racketeering and corruption, as well as disputes relating to competition, securities, arbitrations, partnership, real estate, construction claims, derivative claims, workplace discrimination, employment, and technology-related litigation.
Haig litigates cases throughout the US in both federal and state courts. He inspires confidence and has a history of working successfully – efficiently and seamlessly – with national and local counsel in the US. He’s has developed a reputation for being a “take charge” lawyer who is appreciated by his Western and Middle Eastern clients for the thoughtfulness and tact he brings to solving problems by bridging cultural gaps. His Arabic language skills have proved to be critical in his practice.
For the last four decades, Haig has gained an unparalleled insight into how business is conducted in Saudi Arabia. He knows how to navigate through the official procedures of both public and private sectors in the Kingdom. The hallmarks of Haig’s practice are impressive litigation and negotiation skills, intimate knowledge of different cultures, and the ability to deliver prompt, cost-effective and favorable results.
Haig earned his B.A. in Political Science (with high honors) from the University of Richmond in Virginia and in 1983 obtained his Juris Doctorate (JD) from the University of Notre Dame Law School. He’s a member in good standing of the Bars of the District of Columbia and Virginia in the US.
Independent Director – Franklin Templeton Financial Company
Hasan AlJabri is a recognized figure in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s investment banking, corporate finance and business leadership spheres. In a career spanning almost 40 years, he has laid the foundations for ethical and sustainable investing, and competitive strategy corporate governance across top-tier enterprises and family businesses regionally.
Hasan is also recognized as an entrepreneur, skilled at setting up and advising on new business opportunities. He is the key founder of the mortgage finance provider Dar Al Tamleek along with other firms in the pharmaceutical and real estate space. As a staunch advocate for financial inclusion and entrepreneurship, he has established several organizations that assist young Saudi nationals in starting their own businesses. He’s also played a key role in establishing and amplifying Riyali, SEDCO’s well-known financial literacy program.
Hasan has served with the Saudi Economic and Development Company (SEDCO) Group, in leadership positions, for over a decade. His last position was as CEO of SEDCO Holding, and before that as CEO of SEDCO Capital. Before joining the SEDCO Group, he had leading roles at two of the region’s most influential financial institutions – NCB Group and Samba.
During his time at SEDCO Capital, which manages and advises on investments globally and locally, Hasan developed the innovative Prudent Ethical Investing (PEI) strategy. This positioned SEDCO Capital as the world’s first fully Shariah-compliant asset manager, and also the first Saudi asset manager to become a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (UNPRI).
At SEDCO Holding, Hasan was instrumental in helping the organization weather the COVID-19 pandemic to emerge stronger and more resilient. He also initiated his Focus 2025 strategy, which pivoted investment allocations to high-opportunity sectors critical to sustainable national development. During his tenure, both SEDCO Capital and SEDCO Holding were initiated into the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Over the course of his career, Hasan has received several awards recognizing achievement, performance and thought leadership. These include The European’s Islamic Finance Personality of the Year MENA 2016, Islamic Finance Personality of the Year 2013 and 2016, CEO of the Year by the Global Invest Group, and Best CEO in Asset Management Industry 2017 by European CEO. He was also ranked among the top 50 Global Leaders in 2016 by Islamica 500.
His credentials as a PEI innovator and an ethical investing pioneer, coupled with his experience of delivering strategic transformations at the helm of large organizations, have put Hasan in demand as an expert speaker at global forums such as COP26 and WEF.
Hasan is currently serving on the board of select listed and private companies in a variety of sectors including power, construction, building materials, oil services, food, finance, healthcare and asset management. He also consults with key organizations on business transformation and investment strategies. Hasan has served on a several committees and boards including the advisory committee of the Capital Market Authority in Saudi Arabia, as well as boards in the education, hospitality and catering industries.
Country Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Templeton Financial Company
Muneera AlDossary has 19 years of experience in the banking and investment industry, specializing in asset management, with a proven track record in sales, business development and strategy.
During her career, Muneera has managed over SAR30 billion of assets in mutual funds and discretionary portfolios for a wide range of clients including local and international sovereign wealth funds. She has experience across a variety of investment products including public equity, private equity and real estate funds.
Muneera joined Franklin Templeton in October 2023. Before this, she held several leadership positions in capital market institutions. She was the head of asset management at anb capital and head of asset management and chief investment officer at HSBC Saudi Arabia. She’s also worked as the chief executive officer of Mulkia Investment and as the head of equities at Saudi Fransi Capital.
Since June 2020, she has been an independent board member and investment committee member of Saudi Industrial Services Company (SISCO), which is listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange. She served as chairperson of the Capital Market Institutions Committee, set up by the Capital Market Authority (CMA), from November 2020 until December 2022.
Muneera has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Arab Open University and a diploma in banking from the Institute of Public Administration, Saudi Arabia.
Head of Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa (CEEMEA) and India
Sandeep Singh is responsible for overseeing the leadership and development of Franklin Templeton’s retail and institutional businesses across CEEMEA and India. This region is home to some of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds and diverse retail market opportunities, encompassing both emerging and established markets.
Based in Dubai, Sandeep is also responsible for leading the firm's Shariah business development initiatives globally.
Joining Franklin Templeton in 1998, as the regional sales manager of Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) in Kolkata, Sandeep was promoted to the role of senior vice president and national sales director based in Mumbai. He managed both retail and institutional businesses spread across 33 offices in India.
Taking on the role of country head of Malaysia, Sandeep was responsible for executing the firm's business strategy and leading all product sales and marketing. In early 2017, he relocated to Dubai, UAE, to spearhead the expansion of Franklin Templeton's retail and institutional businesses across the CEEMEA zone.
Prior to joining Franklin Templeton, Sandeep worked as a senior manager in marketing with Cholamandalam Cazenove AMC Ltd. in Chennai, India.
With over 25 years of experience in the asset management industry, Sandeep has a proven track record of successfully growing businesses to scale.
Sandeep graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from the Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh, India, and holds an M.B.A. from the University of Western Australia in Perth.
Director of Finance – Franklin Templeton Asset Management, India
Vitthal Dehadray is the Director of Finance for Franklin Templeton Asset Management in India, posted in Mumbai. He’s responsible for corporate accounting, reporting, finance and taxation. Vitthal also serves on the board of directors for Franklin Templeton Investments (ME) Limited, Dubai, UAE and Franklin Templeton International Services (India) Private Limited, Mumbai, India.
Vitthal has more than 23 years of industry experience and has written various articles on taxation in leading Indian and international journals.
Vitthal joined Franklin Templeton in May 2005, working in various capacities within the finance function and was promoted to his current position in December 2018.
Before joining Franklin Templeton, Vitthal worked as the manager of the International Accounting and Reporting Group at ICICI Bank and as an assistant manager in the finance department at Indian Oil Corporation.
Vitthal graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Pune in India. He has been an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India since August 1999. He has also passed the examination to become an associate member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Western Asset Management Company, LLC
Jim Hirschmann currently serves as the president and chief executive officer of Western Asset, a specialist investment manager of Franklin Resources, Inc., and one of the world's leading fixed-income managers.
Jim joined Western Asset in 1989 in a business development capacity. In 1995, he spearheaded Western Asset's international efforts through the acquisition of Lehman Brothers Global Asset Management in London. Two years later, he relocated to London to build Western Asset's international business and to integrate US and UK operations. Jim was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in 1999, soon after returning to Western Asset's headquarters in Pasadena. He has been a key driver in the impressive growth and major global position that Western Asset has achieved.
Prior to joining Western Asset, Jim served as Director for Financial Trust Company (currently Invesco National Trust Company) in Denver, Colorado. Before that, he was a Vice President at Atalanta/Sosnoff Capital Corporation in New York.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from Widener University.