Azman Mat Ali (Bernama filepix)

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 6): CSH Alliance Bhd has appointed former Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) currency management and operations department director Azman Mat Ali as its independent and non-executive chairman, effective immediately.

Azman succeeds Ahman Ruslan Zahari Zakaria, who retired from the chairman position at end-November, according to the group’s bourse filing on Wednesday.

CSH Alliance, formerly known as KTG Bhd, is principally involved in retail, manufacturing, exporting pottery, porcelain products, ceramic wares and ornaments.

Azman, 60, had been with the central bank from 1988 to 2023.

According to CSH Alliance, his journey at BNM began in the investment and treasury department as a foreign exchange trader from 1988 to 1999.

Subsequently, from 1999 to 2002, he transitioned to the role of bond trader, and was subsequently promoted to chief of the London representative office from 2006 to 2010, where he managed the central bank's multi-currency reserves portfolio.

In 2016, Azman was promoted to director of the foreign exchange administration department, where he was entrusted with the formulation and administration of foreign exchange policies.

He recently retired as the director of currency management and operations department, a position he had held since 2018.

"During his tenure [at the] currency management and operations department, he was tasked with overseeing critical initiatives, such as the issuance of new series banknotes and coins in 2012, and the development and operationalisation of the automated cash centre in 2016," said CSH Alliance.

Shares in CSH Alliance settled unchanged at five sen on Wednesday, bringing the group a market capitalisation of RM69 million.