SINGAPORE: Maybank has appointed Datuk Lim Hong Tat as chief executive officer of Maybank Singapore.

In a statement, the bank said Lim, who was previously head of community financial services Malaysia, takes over from Pollie Sim who has been appointed as CEO, International for Maybank Group.

He will also concurrently hold the position of head of community financial services (CFS) for Maybank Group's entire global operations.

In his new position, Lim, 54, will be responsible for driving the overall profitability and growth of Maybank's operations in Singapore.

He will also work closely with other Maybank Group entities in the Republic -- Maybank Kim Eng and Etiqa Insurance -- to ensure they are able to optimise synergies and leverage on business opportunities, as well as develop new market segments for growth.

Apart from his responsibilities in Singapore, Lim will also be responsible for the overall management and performance of Maybank Group's community financial services businesses globally.

Theses include the global SME, business banking and consumer segments as well as sales and distribution.

Commenting on Lim's appointment, Maybank Group president and CEO Datuk Abdul Farid Alias said that with over three decades of solid banking experience, Lim is the ideal candidate to spearhead the future growth of Maybank Group in Singapore and take it to the next level.

"We continue to believe that there are tremendous opportunities to grow our businesses in Singapore and are confident that Lim will be able to drive our growth strategy there in line with Maybank's vision of being a regional financial services leader.

"At the same time, given his broad experience in, and in-depth understanding of, the consumer banking segment, Lim will be able to strategise and lead the various country CFS heads into accelerating the growth of the Group's consumer and business banking segments," added Abdul Farid.

He noted there is significant potential for growth in these segments particularly within the Asia-Pacific region, and this new portfolio will help the Maybank Group to utilise its resources and know-how more effectively as well as work more efficiently to boost its market presence.

Lim has been with the Maybank Group for over 30 years, having covered all aspects of banking, including at branch and regional levels, as well as in credit cards and international banking.

He also served as director/president and CEO of Maybank Philippines Inc, and later, head of International Banking, before assuming the post of head of community financial services for Malaysia.-- Bernama