The federal government appointed Ashraf Mahmood Wathra as deputy governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), for a period of three years from the date he assumes office, said a notification issued by the Finance Division.
Wathra brings 35 years of commercial and investment banking experience to his new assignment. He is currently serving the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) as its Senior Executive Vice President and Group Chief, Credit Management Group, since October, 2012.
Before joining NBP, Wathra served Habib Bank Limited from April 1999 to September 2012 in various responsible capacities such as Regional General Manager (Bangladesh), Executive Vice President & Regional General Manager (Singapore), Executive Vice President, Group Executive and Risk Manager & Senior Credit Officer, Asset Remedial Management Group.
He was attached with Faysal Bank Limited from May 1992 to March 1999 in senior positions such as Executive Vice President & Country Risk Manager, Executive Vice President & Regional Manager and Senior Vice President & Chief Manager. From 1978 to 1992, he had been associated with many distinguished organisations such as BRR Capital Modaraba, Emirates Bank International, American Express Bank Ltd. and ANZ Grindlays Bank.
Wathra is also the Director & Vice Chairman, Himalayan Bank Limited, Nepal. He also served as Director at Habib Finance International, Hong Kong and Habib Finance, Australia.
Holding a Masters Degree in Business Administration, Wathra has attended a number of seminars, conferences and courses at home and abroad including Wharton/SMU General Management Program, Operational Risk Management and Asian Bonds Summit among others.
He holds extensive experience in restructuring and reorganisation of business units. He has extensive knowledge of investment banking and commercial banking operations, trade finance products and underlying delivery systems.
Well conversant with Islamic modes of finance, he has extensive marketing experience of a cross section of corporate, government and aid agencies including syndication of large facilities for corporate and public sector. He also has experience in line management, audit & risk review and credit and risk management.
