Imran Sarwar appointed as CEO/President NBP

According to Mettis Global, a Finance Division notice dated September 3 names Imran Sarwar as president and chief executive of National Bank of Pakistan for a three-year term, effective immediately. Authority for the move comes from Section 11(3)(a) of the Banks (Nationalization) Act, 1974, and Deputy Secretary Amna Shabbir signed the notice. It follows a cabinet decision Mettis Global flagged on Tuesday without naming the appointee.

Sarwar moves from United Bank Limited, where he led risk and credit policy as group executive while also serving as chief risk officer. He has over 27 years of experience across Pakistan, the UAE, the UK and Australia, spanning leadership and strategy. Earlier, he spent time at Standard Chartered, ending as head of corporate banking in the UAE, and has held board seats at Khushhali Microfinance Bank.

Applications for the top job opened in mid-June, after Rehmat Ali Hasnie left when a final extension lapsed on August 21. In the meantime, Abdul Wahid Sethi, the bank's chief financial officer, has been acting head. A panel under the Finance Minister interviewed nine candidates in mid-August, with Zafar Masud of the Bank of Punjab and Hassan Raza of the Bank of Khyber seen as closest rivals. Investors will look for his first public remarks on loan-book clean-up and governance, plus any board or PSX filing confirming the handover.