Askari Bank has notified the appointment of Zia Ijaz as company President and Chief Executive Officer, according to a stock filing at the main bourse.
Zia’s appointment was confirmed during a meeting of Askari Bank’s Board of Directors on Friday. He’ll hold the position for three years, subject to clearance of Fit and Proper Test (FPT) from State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
The board also praised Acting President and CEO Saleem Anwar for his contributions. According to the filing, Saleem will continue to hold this position till the joining of Zia Ijaz.
Here’s a brief look into Zia Ijaz’s professional career:
Zia Ijaz brings over 30 years of banking experience, having held key roles at top institutions. He served as Deputy CEO and Head of Branch Banking and International Business Groups at UBL Limited. At Allied Bank (ABL), he was CFO, Group Chief of Commercial & Retail Banking, and Group Chief of Operations.
Zia’s international experience includes being Financial Controller at Riyadh Bank in Saudi Arabia and CFO at Askari Bank. Earlier in his career, he worked with Ford Rhodes Sidat Hyder & Co. (an Ernst & Young member firm). Zia is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) and holds a CPA from the AICPA, USA.