Ling worked with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for more than 11 years, serving as its regional portfolio head for Southeast Asia.

He was also the country head of ACCA Malaysia for four years and held various positions within the association over the past decade.

Ling is an accomplished business leader in the financial sector, with multiple awards and accolades to his name, including the Executive’s Award in 2017 from the ACCA. He obtained the Academic Excellence Scholarship from USA Groups in 2000.

AICB chairman Azman Hashim said Ling had vast knowledge and experience in the financial and professional development sphere, having held various local and regional portfolios.

“This uniquely positions him to lead the institute and serve the needs of our members and the banking industry during this period of rapid transformation,” he said in a statement today.

Ling said digitalisation had remarkably changed the banking industry with new challenges and a need to transform the workforce, adding that it was the key for the sector to optimise technology and upskill staff to keep up with the changes.

“I am excited to join AICB and look forward to contributing to raising the professional standards in the banking industry and ensuring our members are equipped with the professional knowledge and skills to navigate the future of banking,” he said.

He will be tasked with leading the AICB’s strategies for its 32,000 members while overseeing the institute’s initiatives aimed at empowering bankers in Malaysia and beyond.