Radzif not renewing contract with bank
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Mohd Radzif Mohd Yunus, group managing director of SME Bank, yesterday bid farewell to the bank after deciding not to renew his contract which will expire end of this month, to pursue other transformation opportunities and interests.
In a statement, the SME Bank said Radzif had successfully turned around and strengthened the bank by recouping its accumulated losses and bringing the shareholders’ fund to RM1.43 billion, from RM765 million in 2010, recording a growth of a 87 per cent.
Joining the bank in July 2010, Radzif ’s focus then was to transform SME Bank to become a respected and key player in supporting the government’s effort of nurturing and developing SME entrepreneurs.
He was instrumental in rolling out the Five-Year Transformation Roadmap (2010-2015), with the primary objective of streamlining the bank’s business model and operational processes.
A major accomplishment under the five–year transformation plan was the unveiling of “Project Wisdom in 2012” which eventually paved the way for SME Bank to switch from the conventional banking system to syariah-compliant principles, effective June 2015.
The year 2012 was also the year the SME Bank introduced its maiden RM3 billion sukuk which enabled the bank to revamp its business while at the same time empowering the SME ecosystem by providing additional funds to assist more SMEs.
Under his leadership, SME Bank has received a total of 23 awards, both locally and globally.
The highlight of the recognition is the SME Bank being accepted as a member of The Montreal Group, an exclusive global forum for stateowned development banks focused on assisting micro, small and medium enterprises.
SME Bank is the only Development Finance Institution in the country and in the Asean grouping to have been accepted as a member.
Radzif also received the “Outstanding CEO Award” last year from the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific region.