KUALA LUMPUR (June 6): Dafinah Ahmed Hilmi has been appointed as the chief executive officer of Hong Leong Islamic Bank Bhd (HLISB). She succceeds Jasani Abdullah, who retired at the end of April 2023 after 16 years of service at HLISB, of which six years were spent as the CEO of the Islamic banking arm of Hong Leong Bank (HLB).

In a statement on Tuesday (June 6), HLISB said that Dafinah brings with her 23 years of conventional and Islamic banking experience. She has held leadership roles across various areas of banking, including her last role as the director of commercial banking at HSBC Amanah Malaysia Bhd.

"For the past 19 years, she has been with HSBC, covering roles in global banking and markets, global trade and receivables finance, and shariah-compliant commercial banking products and solutions," the bank said.

Prior to that, Dafinah, who holds a Master in Business Administration from the University of Manchester in the UK and a degree in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Essex in the UK, started her career in UOB Malaysia.

“I am honoured to lead HLISB into an exciting chapter of growth for Islamic banking in Malaysia. By combining the bank’s strong digital foundation with a customer-centric approach and sustainable practices, we are well positioned to meet the evolving needs of our customers and create long-term value for all stakeholders," said Dafinah.

At Tuesday's noon break, shares in HLB were down 30 sen or 1.58% at RM18.66, valuing the group at RM40.45 billion.