SME Bank Malaysia has appointed Samad Majid Zain as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2026, marking a leadership transition aimed at strengthening its role in supporting micro, small and medium enterprises.
The bank, a subsidiary of Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad, said the appointment reflects confidence in his leadership following his tenure as Chief Financial Officer since November 2021 and his role as Relief President and CEO during a period of transition.
SME Bank chairman Zulkiflee Hashim said the Board was confident in Samad’s ability to build on the institution’s development mandate and strengthen its impact on MSMEs.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors I am pleased to announce the appointment of Samad Majid Zain as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July 2026. His appointment reflects the Board’s confidence in his leadership, extensive experience across the financial services industry and steadfast commitment to SME Bank’s development mandate. Since joining the Bank, he has played an instrumental role in strengthening SME Bank’s financial resilience, operational excellence and strategic execution while providing steady leadership during a significant period of transition. As part of the BPMB Group, the Board is confident that he will build on this strong foundation to further strengthen SME Bank’s development impact, empower Malaysia’s MSMEs and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s long term economic growth and competitiveness,” he said.
Samad brings more than three decades of experience across finance, assurance, treasury, investment banking, corporate finance and operational leadership, including over 19 years in senior C-suite roles within the financial services industry.
Before joining SME Bank, he served as Group Chief Operating Officer of a local bank-backed investment bank. He began his career in external assurance with one of the Big Four audit firms before moving into management assurance at a multinational conglomerate.
He is a Chartered Banker with the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers and a Fellow Certified Practising Accountant with CPA Australia. He holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Business Administration in Information Technology Management from Multimedia University.
The appointment underscores SME Bank’s continued focus on strengthening its role within the BPMB Group ecosystem in delivering financial and developmental support to Malaysia’s MSMEs.
