More women in Malaysia are taking up roles in financial services and institutions but only a handful of them hold prominent positions. These women have years of experience in the banking and financial sectors and have contributed much to the financial institutions that they are leading. Here, Top 10 of Malaysia shares its list of the top women in Malaysian finance institutions, who play a great role in the growth and management of their respective finance institutions.
Sharizad Jumaat
Sharizad Jumaat has more than 30 years’ experience in the capital markets and investment management activities. She began her career as a research analyst at Permodalan Nasional Berhad and joined the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) as Head of Treasury, and later, Head of Equity Investment. As Head of Treasury, Sharizad manages the Assets Under Management (AUM) portfolio with assets exceeding RM100 billion. Later, she became Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Amanahraya REITS Bhd and also the Managing Director/CEO of Amanahraya Investment Management Sdn Bhd. Sharizad is now CEO of RHB Islamic International Asset Management (RHBIIAM) and leads the domestic institutional business for both RHBIIAM and RHB Asset Management Sdn Bhd (also known as RHB Asset Management Malaysia). Since joining RHBIIAM in 2013, Sharizad has expanded the AUM size by 60%, and is currently driving efforts to further amplify the Group’s AUM by 25% within the next three years.
Raja Teh Maimunah Raja Abdul Aziz
As Chief Executive Officer of AmInvestment Bank Berhad and Managing Director of Wholesale Banking, AmBank Group. Raja Teh Maimunah has over 23 years of experience in banking and finance, focusing on areas of Islamic and investment banking. She also extended her services in Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Berhad during the Asian financial crisis in 1998 and was with CIMB Investment Bank over a period of almost 10 years covering debt and equity origination and equity sales. Raja Teh Maimunah is the Adviser on Islamic Banking and Finance to the World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation, a Board Member of IBFIM (Islamic Banking and Finance Institute Malaysia), and a member of the Islamic Finance Committee for the Malaysian Institute of Accountants. She also sits on the committee of Pertubuhan Tindakan Wanita Islam, a 47 year old NGO, and Agensi Innovation Malaysia’s Social Impact Committee.
Norzilah Mohammed
Norzilah Mohammed is the President/Chief Executive Officer of Export-Import Bank Malaysia Berhad (EXIM Bank). She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration majoring in Accounting. She has been with EXIM Bank for 9 years and had provided strategic leadership for the bank by working with the Board and Management to establish long-term goals, strategies, plans and policies. She also helps chart the overall direction of the Bank’s products and services including the Bank’s financial performance, credit quality, operations regulatory compliance and risk management. She is the leader of the management team and leads the way in the continuous growth and leadership development for the team.
Nilammasri Ja’afar
Nilammasri Ja’afar started her career in a commercial bank as a Credit Analyst in Corporate Banking Department for 4 years and later joined Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Berhad during the 1997/98 economic crisis. She was part of the pioneer team involved with restructuring and recovery of the bank’s non-performing loans. Currently, she serves as a Senior Vice President/Head of Business in Financing & Development Department at Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN). She is responsible for managing the growth of BSN’s Micro Finance portfolio, in line with Bank Negara Malaysia’s blue print for financial inclusion in driving the micro entrepreneurs to the next level. To date, she has positioned BSN as the market leader in Micro Financing among the participating financial institutions in Malaysia with s 52% market share. She also shares her views at various forums locally and aboard on entrepreneurship, particularly on micro-entrepreneurs and micro finance.
Dr Azura Othman
Dr Azura Othman is Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals and Independent Non-Executive Director of Bank Muamalat. She was also the Executive Director at PwC and Assistant Manager of Deloitte Kassim Chan Tax Services. Besides, she was a former Executive Director of PricewaterhouseCoopers Taxation Services, Malaysia. Having over 19 years of experience as a tax consultant relating to Islamic finance, she has worked together with the Malaysian Ministry of Finance, Inland Revenue Board and the Central Bank. Her major assignments include formulating the tax incentives for Malaysia as the International Islamic Financial Centre.
Yeoh Kim Hong
Yeoh Kim Hong is the Chief Executive Officer at Public Mutual Berhad since 2007 after joining the institution in 1996. She also served as its Portfolio Manager and Non-Independent Executive Director. She has been Senior General Manager as well as General Manager of Finance and Operations during her earlier years with Public Mutual Berhad. Yeoh’s previous work experience at an international public accounting firm for more than 12 years has given her vast exposure to auditing, management consultancy and advisory, both locally and in the United States. She is experienced in the unit trust industry and is active in its development in Malaysia. Yeoh sits on the Board of the Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia.
Dr Hasnita Binti Dato’ Hashim
Dr Hasnita Binti Dato’ Hashim is the Director of Malayan Banking Berhad. She was the Chief Executive Officer of Guidance Investments Sdn Bhd and has been Head of Institutional Business of Guidance Financial Group. She was also Chief Executive Officer of IslamiQ from 1998 to 2001 and Chief Executive Officer of Commerce MGI Sdn Bhd from 1994 to 1998. Dr Hasnita has 25 years of global financial management experience in asset securitisation, asset management and structured finance. She was also Independent Non-Executive Director of Malayan Banking Berhad since 2016 and holds an Investment Advisors License from the Securities Commission Malaysia.
Shahariah binti Shaharudin
Shahariah binti Shaharudin is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Kenanga Islamic Investors Berhad. Prior to that, she was Head of Institutional Business overseeing institutional business. Shahariah has 20 years of experience in the financial services industry having worked with banking and financial institutions such as RHB Investment Management Sdn Bhd, RHB Securities Sdn Bhd, SJ Securities Sdn Bhd and Kwong Yik Bank Bhd. She is currently a holder of the Capital Market Services Representatives License for fund management.
Foong Pik Yee
Foong Pik Yee is the Chief Financial Officer of Hong Leong Bank Berhad since 2013. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Banking, Finance and Economics from Monash University and Bachelor of Commerce from Melbourne University. Foong has more than 20 years of experience at strategic and tactical levels in banks across Asia, Oceania and Middle East markets such as Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Lebanon. Her expertise includes delivering strategic growth ambitions and establishing the framework for governance for financial institutions.
Norhazlizawati Binti Mohd Razali
Norhazlizawati Binti Mohd Razali joined Affin Bank Berhad as a Group Chief Credit Officer in 2015. She has more than 24 years of banking experience, primarily in credit risk management and business lending. Her areas of strength include Credit and Risk Management, Commercial, SME and Retail Lending, Relationship Management and Project Management. Norhazlizawati plays a pivotal role in the bank in undertaking process re-engineering and credit transformation for delivery efficiency and cost optimization. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Business Studies majoring in Accounting and Statistics from Leeds Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. She also holds a Certified Credit Professional (Business) qualification from the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers.
