KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 30): Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) announced Thursday the appointment of Khalijah Ismail as its group chief financial officer (GCFO), which will take effect the next day (Oct 1).

Khalijah has been the group's acting GCFO since June 29, following the resignation of Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, who has been appointed Khazanah Nasional Bhd's managing director.

“She has had extensive experience in Maybank having served in various lead roles within the group, including treasury operations, corporate and investment banking and international operations, as well as managing group-wide transformation programmes for the bank,” said Maybank in a statement.

According to Maybank, Khalijah obtained her professional qualification with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), UK, in 1989, following which she served in Ernst & Young and then Datapower Sdn Bhd, before joining Maybank in 1991.

Prior to her appointment as the GCFO, Khalijah held the group financial controller position from January 2014, and reported directly to the then GCFO.

"Khalijah's appointment demonstrates Maybank's strong internal succession pipeline. It also bodes well with our commitment to diversity and equity," said Maybank group president and chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Farid Alias.

“With over 30 years of business and finance experience and proven ability in managing several group finance functions, Khalijah will complement and strengthen further our group EXCO and senior management team towards realising our M25 [Maybank five-year strategy plan] aspiration and reinforcing our regional financial services ambitions. We look forward to her continued contribution to the group in a greater and expanded capacity,” he added.

Maybank shares slipped 0.62% or five sen to settle at RM8.05 on Thursday, with some 12.92 million shares done. It has a market capitalisation of RM94.13 billion.