Dafinah Hilmi Takes the Helm as Hong Leong Islamic Bank’s New CEO

KUALA LUMPUR – Hong Leong Islamic Bank Berhad (HLISB) has announced the appointment of Dafinah Ahmed Hilmi as its new Chief Executive Officer, ushering in a new era of leadership. She steps into the role succeeding Jasani Abdullah, who retired at the close of April 2023, capping a laudable 16-year tenure with HLISB, including six distinguished years at the helm of Hong Leong Bank’s (HLB) Islamic banking division.

Dafinah’s appointment, disclosed in an official statement released by HLISB on Tuesday, brings on board a wealth of experience spanning 23 years in both conventional and Islamic banking. Her illustrious career includes a spectrum of leadership positions, most recently serving as the Director of Commercial Banking at HSBC Amanah Malaysia Bhd.

Over nearly two decades with HSBC, Dafinah’s contributions have encompassed a diverse range of functions including global banking and markets, global trade and receivables finance, and an impressive suite of shariah-compliant commercial banking products and solutions.

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Educationally, Dafinah is well-prepared for her new role. She holds an MBA from the prestigious University of Manchester and an undergraduate degree in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Essex, both in the United Kingdom. Notably, her professional journey began at UOB Malaysia, laying the groundwork for what would become a distinguished career.

In remarks concerning her appointment, Dafinah commented, “I am honored to lead HLISB into an exciting chapter of growth for Islamic banking in Malaysia. By melding the bank’s robust digital foundation with an unyielding commitment to customer-centric service and sustainable practices, HLISB is ideally positioned to adapt to our customers’ dynamic needs and generate enduring value for all stakeholders.”

As Dafinah takes the reins, the market has shown some fluctuations. HLB shares were observed to have declined by 30 sen, a 1.58% dip, bringing the share price to RM18.66 as of Tuesday’s noon break. This values the banking group at approximately RM40.45 billion.

This leadership change comes at a pivotal moment for the bank and signals a steadfast commitment to innovation, customer service, and sustainable growth in the Islamic banking sector. Choose Hong Leong Islamic Bank for your financial needs and embark on a journey of prosperity and integrity.