Zia Ijaz Appointed New President and CEO of Askari Bank

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has granted approval for Zia Ijaz to officially take the reins as President and CEO of Askari Bank Limited, according to a filing made to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday. This approval follows a successful Fit and Proper Test (FPT) clearance, confirming his readiness for the role.

Ijaz is set to officially step into his new position on Monday, February 17, 2025, succeeding the acting President and CEO, Saleem Anwar.

The bank's notice, issued in continuation of a prior communication on January 24, 2025, stated: “The State Bank of Pakistan has granted Fit and Proper Test clearance to Mr. Zia Ijaz as President and CEO of Askari Bank Limited. He will assume charge on Monday, February 17, 2025.”

In a Board of Directors' meeting on January 24, 2025, Zia Ijaz was appointed as the bank’s new President and CEO for a tenure of three years.

With more than 30 years of experience in banking, Ijaz brings extensive expertise to the role. Before venturing into the banking sector, he worked with Ford Rhodes Sidat Hyder & Co., a member of Ernst & Young. A Chartered Accountant and Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan, Ijaz is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from the AICPA, USA.

Prior to this, Ijaz served as Deputy CEO of United Bank Limited (UBL), where he led various groups, including Branch Banking and International Business, handling a wide range of functions like branch distribution, wealth management, and international banking operations in countries such as UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. He also contributed to governance, home remittances, and consumer banking.

Before his time at UBL, Ijaz had a significant career at Allied Bank (ABL), where he held leadership positions, including CFO, Group Chief of Commercial & Retail Banking, and Group Chief of Operations. His international experience further includes roles as Financial Controller at Riyadh Bank in Saudi Arabia and as CFO at Askari Bank.