CIMB Group names chief fintech officer

CIMB Group has appointed Hendra Lembong (pictured) as chief fintech officer, who will oversee CIMB FinTech, a strategic unit launched in 2017 to examine and invest in new technology including artificial intelligence, blockchain, data science and machine learning.CIMB FinTech is also responsible for charting and executing the group's long term digital roadmap. Prior to his new role, Lembong was CEO, group transaction banking, during which he oversaw the group's growth across ASEAN. He started his career at CIMB in 2013 as chief of transaction banking for CIMB Niaga, Indonesia. According to his LinkedIn, he was also MD, regional head of cash management, APAC at JPMorgan Chase.Group CEO, CIMB Group, Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Aziz, said he is confident that Lembong's experience and leadership will put CIMB Fintech on track to help the group achieve its digital ambitions, to enhance its value proposition for the group's stakeholders and consumers across ASEAN.He added that CIMB FinTech will enable the group to digitise its core, enhance consumer experience and disrupt its own business where necessary. As such, the unit will play a "crucial role" in the formulation of our next mid-term growth strategy.CIMB Group is bolstering efforts to enhance the digital aspect of the group. In May this year, the group pledged RM75 million over the next three years to its CIMB 3D Academy, which focuses on digital, data and disruption. It aims to equip its 36,000-strong workforce across all levels and categories with digital knowledge and skills – appropriate to their jobs – by end 2019.In April, it picked M&C Saatchi Malaysia to manage creative duties for social media, as well as its festive and corporate segments for a period of one year each.