Governors of Central Banks of Malaysia and Pakistan appointed Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the IFSB Council
Kuala Lumpur, January 12, 2007 – Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia is the fourth Chairperson of the IFSB Council for the annual term beginning January – December 2007. Dr. Zeti assumes the position from Sheikh Salem Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud Al-Sabah.
Dr Zeti is the 4th Chairperson of the IFSB Council, and Kuala Lumpur is hosting the IFSB General Assembly and Council Meetings in March 2007.
Dr. Zeti was appointed Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia in May 2000. She played an instrumental role in the establishment of the IFSB in 2002 and her contributions as an active personality in Islamic finance is globally acknowledged. She is also highly concerned on the human resource development in the Islamic financial services industry, and has spearheaded various training and education centres focusing on developing expertise in Islamic banking and finance.
Under her tenure, Malaysia, the host country of the IFSB, has enacted a law known as the Islamic Financial Services Board Act 2002, which gives the IFSB the immunities and privileges that are usually granted to international organisations and diplomatic missions.
Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Governor of State Bank of Pakistan is the Deputy Chairperson.
Dr. Akhtar assumed office of the governor of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in January 2006 and is the first woman and 14th governor of SBP since it’s establishment in July 1948.
Prior to her appointment as SBP governor, Dr. Akhtar served in the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as its Director General, Southeast Asia Department since January, 2004. The Southeast Asia Department covers Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore.
Chairmanship of the IFSB is on an annual rotational basis from among the Full members as specified in the IFSB Articles of Agreement.
