KUALA LUMPUR (May 4): Standard Chartered Malaysia said its chief executive officer (CEO) Mak Joon Nien will step down after nearly four years in the role, effective May 8.
The bank said Mak, who has spent almost 30 years with Standard Chartered, is leaving to pursue an “external opportunity” and will also step down from the boards of Standard Chartered Malaysia Bhd and Standard Chartered Saadiq Bhd, as well as other affiliated entities.
Mushahid Syed, currently Standard Chartered Malaysia’s chief financial officer, has been named interim CEO and head of coverage, Malaysia, taking on overall leadership of the Malaysia franchise while continuing in his existing role.
“An announcement of the permanent successor will follow in due course,” the bank said in a statement on Monday.
Mak joined the bank in 1997 as a graduate trainee and later spent 15 years in a regional role in Singapore before returning to Malaysia, where he eventually became the bank’s first homegrown Malaysian chief executive.
“For the past four years, he has significantly enhanced the profile of the franchise, strengthened key client and stakeholder relationships, and driven the business in line with the bank’s global strategies,” Standard Chartered Malaysia said.
Having joined the bank in 2013, Standard Chartered Malaysia said Mushahid has over 20 years of leadership experience and has been a core member of the country management team since taking on the CFO role in 2024.
