KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd has appointed Tan Sri Dr Ismail Bakar as its new chairman with effect from August 1.
Ismail succeeds Datuk Zamani Abdul Ghani who retired from the bank on March 1 after nine years of service.
Ismail was appointed the 14th chief secretary to the government on August 29 2018 before retiring in December last year.
He has over 30 years of extensive experience in the civil service having served several important portfolios including secretary-general of the Finance, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry and Transport Ministries as well as budget director at the National Budget Office of the Ministry of Finance.
He was also a senior advisor to the World Bank Group, Washington DC from 2008 until 2010.
Ismail holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) degree from Universiti Malaya, and a Master of Business Administration as well as a doctorate from the University of Hull, United Kingdom.
Bank Islam chief executive officer Mohd Muazzam Mohamed extends Bank Islam's appreciation to Zamani for his contribution to the banks' development.
Muazzam said with his vast knowledge and experience in a diverse portfolio, Ismail's appointment was timely as the bank was charting its future course in making it "the ultimate Islamic bank of choice".