Zainal Abidin is new CIMB chairman

CIMB Bank has appointed Datuk Zainal Abidin Putih as chairman of the board of directors.

He succeeds Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Nor, who retired.

"The appointment of Zainal brings the experience of a distinguished and dedicated professional to the chairman's role," said CIMB Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Nazir Razak in a statement Tuesday.

Nazir thanked Haidar for his contribution to the bank over the past five years, particularly for the significant part he played in ensuring the successful merger of CIMB, Bumiputra-Commerce Bank and Southern Bank.