Women named to head Saudi bourse, big bank

WOMEN have been named to head Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange and a major bank, the institutions announced, despite the kingdom’s social restrictions on females. Samba Financial Group on Sunday said Rania Mahmoud Nashar had begun work as chief executive officer. The announcement came three days after the Saudi stock exchange, known as Tadawul, named Sarah al-Suhaimi as chairman of its board. While other Saudi women have already assumed corporate leadership positions, their rise comes against some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women. The kingdom is the only country in the world where women cannot drive.