June 4, 2025
Kuala Lumpur – June 2025 – CIMB Group Holdings is reportedly preparing to appoint Datuk Syed Zaid Albar, former Executive Chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), as its next Chairman, according to sources familiar with the matter, as reported by Bloomberg.
Datuk Syed is expected to succeed Datuk Mohd Nasir Ahmad, who is set to retire after nearly a decade on the CIMB board, including serving as Chairman since 2018. The appointment remains subject to regulatory approval.
A respected figure in Malaysia’s legal and regulatory landscape, Datuk Syed Zaid led the Securities Commission from 2018 to 2022, steering the capital markets through the COVID-19 pandemic with a strong focus on market continuity and stability. Under his leadership, the SC launched the Capital Market Masterplan 3 in 2021 and drove key advancements in sustainability, Islamic finance, and financial innovation.
Before his tenure at the SC, Datuk Syed was the founding partner of the law firm Albar & Partners, known for its expertise in banking and capital markets.
The potential appointment of Datuk Syed Zaid Albar signals a strategic move by CIMB to continue strengthening its governance and regulatory alignment as it navigates the evolving financial landscape of ASEAN and beyond.
