Jul 15th, 2019

Yangon, Myanmar – July 15th, 2019 – Yoma Bank is pleased to announce that our Board of Directors has nominated Dean Cleland to succeed Hal Bosher as Chief Executive Officer of Yoma Bank. Subject to approval by the Central Bank of Myanmar, Mr. Cleland will take up his role in September 2019.

Serge Pun, Executive Chairman of Yoma Bank, said “Our Board carried out a rigorous selection process screening over 150 candidates. Dean has extensive leadership experience as well as hands on experience in financial services including banking, operations, technology, digital, property & enterprise services and major transformation. We are delighted to announce the Board’s unanimous decision to appoint him as Chief Executive Officer of Yoma Bank.”

Mr. Cleland is currently working as Executive General Manager at the National Australia Bank (NAB), where he spent seven years in both Singapore and Australia. Previously he spent 30 years at the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) where he worked across a number of countries in the Pacific and Asia, including as the founding CEO of ANZ Royal in Cambodia. Mr. Cleland is a highly experienced banker with a depth of knowledge spanning both developed and developing markets in many different roles across multiple geographies. He has strong experience in operational, digital and technology transformations leading strong customer segmentation, organization, risk and process redesign to deliver superior customers and stakeholder outcomes.

Hal Bosher – who has served as Advisor to the Chairman and CEO of Yoma Bank since 2013 – will transition to a new role as Advisor to Yoma Bank’s Board of Directors. “It’s been an honor to serve as CEO of Yoma Bank for the past six years,” said Mr. Bosher. “With many years of experience, Dean is well equipped to take Yoma Bank to the next level. With his leadership, we will accelerate the digital transformation of our Bank and increase our penetration in the mass market.”

To ensure a smooth transition, Mr. Bosher will hand over to Mr. Cleland during the month of September. “Yoma Bank is uniquely positioned as the Responsible Bank differentiating and innovating to serve the Myanmar people. I am impressed with the calibre of the leadership in the Bank, as well as the care and focus the Team have for customers and the passion to do the right thing. It is an organization that has created high ethical standards and embedded these in the Bank’s values. The benefit of this can be evidenced by the many strong and loyal relationships the Bank has with the clients. “, said Mr. Cleland. “The Banking and Financial Service industry in Myanmar is dynamic, exciting and ever evolving and we can look forward to an exciting new digital era, where Yoma Bank continues to put its customers needs first. I am humbled and privileged to have been given the opportunity to grow Yoma Bank and build on the strong foundations of the last 25 years.”

Mr. Dean Cleland’s Bio

Mr. Cleland, a highly proficient international banker, has worked for over 20 years in Asia and the Pacific. He possesses extensive experience in Financial Services in the areas of Banking, Operations, Technology, Digital, Property & Enterprise Services and Major Transformation. Working as an Executive General Manager at National Australia Bank (NAB), he has spent the past seven years working in Singapore and Australia. Mr. Cleland led the development, execution and implementation of the NAB Business Bank strategy by redefining Relationship Banking at Australia’s largest business bank, delivering an end-to-end operating model to enhance and grow the customer value proposition. Prior to NAB, Mr. Cleland worked at ANZ for 30 years in various roles, including as founding CEO of ANZ Royal in Cambodia. With more than 35 years of banking experience, he brings unique international banking expertise and leadership to Yoma Bank.