Bank of South Pacific Financial Group Ltd Country Head Haroon Ali has been appointed chairman of the Association of Banks in Fiji (ABIF) executive board.

Originally from Vunimoli in Labasa, Mr Ali has more than 43 years of banking experience under his belt, and more than 30 years of that he served with ANZ Bank.

According to the ABIF, he is a generalist banker with experience ranging from retail banking, SME, commercial and corporate banking, credit and operating risk, international/trade finance and back-office operations.

Mr Ali holds a Master of Management from Southern Cross University in Sydney and Business Management Certificate from Central Queensland University; is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia, and is also an Honorary Fellow of Fiji Institute of Bankers.

The ABIF also announced the appointment of Westpac Fiji CEO Shane Smith as the Deputy Chairman of the ABIF executive board.

Westpac CEO Shane Smith. Picture: FT FILE

The ABIF states Mr Smith is an experienced Pacific banking executive who has worked for Westpac for 37 years, and worked extensively across the Pacific having held roles across Samoa, Vanuatu and Westpac Australia.

Prior to his current role, he was the chief operating officer for Westpac Pacific.

“He is passionate about the role banks play in people’s lives and in enabling economic growth in Fiji. Shane looks after a workforce of 550 employees and over 250,000 customers,” the ABIF stated.