KUALA LUMPUR: SME Bank group president and chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Dr Aria Putera Ismail is leaving the bank to pursue new opportunities.
The group chief corporate strategy officer Datuk Dr Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim will succeed him as the acting group president and CEO, effective September 3, 2024.
In a statement today, SME Bank said Aria's leadership for the past six years paved inroads for the bank to fulfill its mandate in supporting and developing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia, starting with redefining its vision, mission and introducing its S.M.I.L.E core values.
In 2019, he introduced the successful completion of the Two-Year Accelerated Programme, a strategic plan to revamp the bank's business with 27 initiatives focusing on sustainable developmental goals, asset quality, comprehensive SME ecosystem, digitalisation and talent development, recording a profit before tax (PBT) of RM213.9 million in 2019.
"At the height of the global COVID pandemic, Aria initiated multiple relief programmes from October 2020 to September 2022 to support SMEs and microenterprises in various industries, which benefitted more than 5000 companies with a total financing of RM9.12 billion," it added.
As for Mohammad Hardee, SME Bank said he has over 20 years of extensive experience in the financial services industry, specialising in business banking and strategic management.
It said he served SME Bank in numerous portfolios including treasury, corporate finance, business banking and most recently corporate strategy.
"Their contributions have been pivotal in shaping SME Bank's aspirations to drive the country's economic growth through the provision of not only financial assistance but also training and development programs for SMEs to promote overall business growth in line with the Madani Economy Framework," it said.