Ajmal Naleer, joins M Pharis Jazeel and M M S Quvylidh as Senior VP
Amana Bank has appointed versatile banker Imtiaz Iqbal as its Chief Operating Officer (COO) with effect from 1 January 2022. Having joined Amana Bank in 2018, Imtiaz Iqbal served as its VP Operations taking over the responsibilities of Operations, Branches, SME Banking and Administration. With his appointment as COO, Imtiaz Iqbal will also oversee the HR, Legal and IT functions of the Bank.
Imtiaz possesses a strong career track record in banking which commenced in HSBC Sri Lanka where he gathered valuable experience in both business and risk aspects by overseeing many areas such as Credit Risk Management, Operational Risk, Financial Crime Risk Management, Collection & Recoveries and Card Operations, while being exposed to overseas assignments and training. He culminated his illustrious career at HSBC as the Chief Operating Officer – Retail Banking and Wealth Management while also being a member of the Bank’s Management Committee from 2013 to 2016. Imtiaz holds an MBA from the University of Wales, UK as well as a professional qualification from the Institute of Bankers Sri Lanka.
The Bank also announced the promotion of its Chief Compliance Officer Ajmal Naleer to the position of Senior Vice President. Ajmal Naleer joined Amana Bank in 2013 as its Vice President – Credit before taking up the role of Chief Risk Officer and then later Chief Compliance Officer. A veteran banker with 40 years of experience, Ajmal started his banking career at HNB in 1982 and subsequently moved to UAE in 1989 where he worked at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Emirates NBD Bank. During his 18 year span in UAE, Ajmal was exposed primarily to the areas of Bank Management, Risk Management, Credit & Special Assets Management, Credit Control, and Relationship Management. In 2006 he joined the Sri Lanka office of MCB Bank, where he functioned as the Head of Credit and Risk Management. Ajmal possesses strong Credit and Risk Assessment skills with a proven track record in Credit Portfolio Management. He is an Associate of the Institute of Bankers, Sri Lanka and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, UK
With this appointment, Ajmal joins existing Senior Vice Presidents M M Q Quvylidh (Chief Risk Officer) and M. Pharis Jazeel (SVP – Treasury and Financial Institutions) as part of the Bank’s Management Committee.
Commenting on the new appointments the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Azmeer said “I am delighted to have these four versatile and well-versed bankers taking up greater responsibilities in leading Amana Bank towards its next growth phase. Over the years, they have showcased and established a strong track record of performance and leadership”
Amana Bank PLC is a stand-alone institution licensed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange with Jeddah based IsDB Group being the principal shareholder having a 29.97% shareholding of the Bank. The IsDB Group is a ‘AAA’ rated multilateral development financial institution with a membership of 57 countries. In September 2021 Fitch Ratings Sri Lanka affirmed the National Long Term Rating of Amãna Bank to BB+(lka) with a Stable Outlook. Amãna Bank does not have any subsidiaries, associates or affiliated institutions.