The board of directors at the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc has appointed seasoned banker Harold Jiya as the designated chief executive officer (CEO), effective from January 1, 2024. According to an internal communication shared with Corporate Link Africa, the current CEO, MacFussy Kawawa, announced Jiya's appointment. Jiya, who currently serves as the bank's deputy CEO and chief commercial officer (CCO), will assume the role of CEO upon Kawawa's retirement in June. Kawawa emphasized that Jiya's appointment follows careful consideration and strategic planning, marking a significant step in the bank's succession planning process. “This appointment is a significant step in the bank’s succession planning process triggered by my planned departure as the current chief executive officer on retirement in June 2024. The CEO-designate will work hand in hand with me until I leave." - He emphasized Kawawa, who has led NBM plc since 2017, will collaborate with Jiya until his departure in June 2024. Additionally, NBM plc has named Masauko Katsala, the chief finance officer, as the chief operating officer (COO) starting from July 1, 2024. Jiya has a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Exeter University in UK, an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (UK) apart from having a Bachelor's Degree in Accountancy from MUBAS formally The Polytechnic. Jiya was serving as Deputy Chief Executive prior to his new appointment and before that, he served as General Manager, understudying the incumbent CEO.