The Board of Directors of Askari Bank Limited (PSX: AKBL) has announced the appointment of Zia Ijaz as the bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a three-year term.
This appointment is subject to the clearance of his Fit and Proper Test (FPT) by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and adherence to all applicable laws and regulations, as disclosed in the company’s filing with the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
The Board extended its gratitude to Saleem Anwar for his contributions as Acting President and CEO. Saleem Anwar will continue in this capacity until Zia Ijaz formally assumes the role.
Zia Ijaz brings extensive experience in the banking sector. He previously served as Deputy CEO of United Bank Limited (UBL), where he led the Branch Banking and International Business Groups. His responsibilities included overseeing branch distribution, consumer banking, SME, rural banking, wealth management, and marketing functions. Additionally, he managed UBL’s international operations in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, as well as home remittances and international governance.
Prior to UBL, Zia Ijaz worked at Allied Bank Limited (ABL) for over 12 years, holding key positions such as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Group Chief of Commercial & Retail Banking, and Group Chief of Operations. He has also served as Financial Controller at Riyadh Bank in Saudi Arabia and CFO at Askari Bank.
Zia Ijaz’s career began at Ford Rhodes Sidat Hyder & Co., a member firm of Ernst & Young. He is a Chartered Accountant, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan, and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from AICPA, USA.
