ANZ has appointed Sohaib Mahmood as the new country head for its Fiji office, pending regulatory approvals. This appointment adds to his existing role as Head of Commercial Banking for the Pacific region, as announced by the bank.
Sohaib Mahmood brings a wealth of experience to this position, having lived and worked in the Pacific since 2013 and boasting over 20 years in international banking with previous roles in London, Singapore, and Melbourne. Sarah Stubbings, ANZ’s regional executive for the Pacific, emphasized that his appointment reflects the bank’s commitment to maintaining continuity and leveraging deep regional expertise.
“Sohaib has spent more than a decade strengthening ANZ’s business across the Pacific,” stated Stubbings. “His extensive knowledge of our people, customers, and regulators, along with established relationships with government and development partners, positions him as the ideal leader for this next chapter.” She noted his passion for financial inclusion and economic development, which will be crucial as ANZ continues to support Fiji’s economic growth.
Mahmood, who has significant leadership experience across the Pacific, including roles in Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands—where he previously served as country head—currently oversees a regional team of more than 200 staff focused on corporate, commercial, government, and institutional clients.
Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity, Mahmood shared, “Fiji plays a vital role in ANZ’s Pacific network, and I’m humbled by the opportunity to lead our business here. I look forward to working closely with our customers, regulators, partners, and communities as we continue to support Fiji’s economic ambitions. We have a strong, talented team in Fiji, and together we’ll continue delivering great outcomes for our customers and the broader economy.”
In the coming weeks, Mahmood will collaborate closely with the outgoing country head, Rabih Yazbek, to facilitate a smooth transition. Yazbek is set to assume a new position as head of Client Coverage for the United Kingdom and Europe at the beginning of April.
This leadership change not only fortifies ANZ’s commitment to the Pacific but also promises continued growth and stability for its operations in Fiji.
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