INCEIF Appoints Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar As New Chairman

INCEIF The Global University of Islamic Finance today announced the appointment of Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar as Chairman of the INCEIF Board, effective 21 September 2021. He takes over the role from Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus who has stepped down after holding the position from 11 December 2018.

INCEIF takes this opportunity to thank Datuk Nor Shamsiah for her invaluable contributions and stewardship of the INCEIF Board over the last three years. Her leadership and guidance have contributed to INCEIF’s growth and progress on many levels. INCEIF also records its gratitude to board member Bank Negara Malaysia Deputy Governor Datuk Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour who has retired from the Board at the same time.

Tan Sri Azman was appointed to the INCEIF Board in December 2020. He has had an illustrious career in both public service bodies and the corporate world; the most recent was as the former Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional Berhad (June 2004 to July 2018), the strategic investment fund of the Government of Malaysia.

“Tan Sri Azman brings a wealth of experience in finance, business, and economics to lead the INCEIF Board. He has the necessary credibility within the business community in Malaysia and globally and with INCEIF key stakeholders. Armed with a passion for education and the future of the next generation, INCEIF and Bank Negara Malaysia look forward to his contribution to Islamic finance education.

As the only full-fledged Islamic finance university with full accreditation from AACSB International, a global association providing quality assurance to more than 900 accredited business schools worldwide, INCEIF is well-positioned to nurture talent to meet the industry’s needs. I wish Tan Sri Azman, members of the Board, and everyone at INCEIF all the best in the university’s next chapters of growth,” said Datuk Nor Shamsiah.

Tan Sri Azman has extensive experience in the financial industry and is currently active in several public service and education institutions. His current affiliations include as the Chairman of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, a Bye-Fellow of Darwin College, University of Cambridge, and a member of the Global Future Council on Investing of the World Economic Forum, the Steering Committee of the Global Ethical Finance Forum and the Finance and Investment Committee of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. From 2019 to 2021 he was the Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Centre of Development Studies, University of Cambridge. Earlier this year, he was appointed to the Malaysian Government’s National Recovery Council.

Tan Sri Azman holds an M. Phil in Development Studies from Darwin College, Cambridge University, as a Chevening scholar, and a Diploma in Islamic Studies from International Islamic University Malaysia. He is also a CFA Charter Holder and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Among the professional accolades received over a 37-year career were Chairman of the Year in Malaysia (by MSWG-ASEAN Corporate Governance in 2017), Value Creator for Outstanding CEO of Malaysia (by The Edge in 2016), Most Outstanding Individual for contributions to Islamic Finance (by KLIFF in 2011) and the Special Humanitarian Award by MERCY Malaysia (2019).

On his appointment, Tan Sri Azman said, “It has been a privilege to work with Datuk Nor Shamsiah. Her insights and deep knowledge of regulatory and financial matters have been very valuable to me and everyone at INCEIF. I am honored to continue the legacy of guiding INCEIF through the next phase of its journey.

The strategy for INCEIF remains fully committed to strengthening our mission for the benefit of our students and all stakeholders. I look forward to working with all to steer INCEIF in its mission as one of the world’s leading Islamic finance universities, towards a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future through Islamic Finance”.

As the only postgraduate university to focus on Islamic Finance studies, INCEIF has received various awards and recognitions both locally and internationally. Of special mention is the acknowledgment of its importance in the nation’s development when the Malaysian Government accorded INCEIF the status of ‘Project of National Interest’ in 2009, in recognition of its role in the development of human capital for the country’s Islamic finance industry.

Internationally, INCEIF brought its expertise to developed and emerging countries in need of Islamic finance knowledge as varied as the sophisticated financial hub Luxembourg and the upcoming sub-Saharan African nation of Senegal. Through collaborations with universities and institutions, INCEIF provided a platform for the development of a network of global talent and expertise in Islamic finance.

The university also benefits from the largest pool of Islamic finance experts under one roof with faculty members coming from academia and industry. With a faculty of such strength, INCEIF has provided its students and graduates with value-added insights and skills, bridging the gap between academic rigor and the industry’s needs. Today, INCEIF alumni are spread all over the globe making a meaningful contribution through their involvement as policymakers, advisors, researchers, academicians, and business owners in the public and private sectors.