HBL Microfinance Bank appoints Maya Inayat Ismail as chairperson

KARACHI: HBL Microfinance Bank (HBL MfB) has named Maya Inayat Ismail as its new chairperson of its Board of Directors, effective immediately. She succeeds Rayomond H Kotwal, who has stepped down after leading the bank through a period of significant growth.

Ismail, a seasoned financial sector veteran with more than 25 years of experience, has been a part of HBL MfB’s journey since its early days. She was a key member of the strategic team that founded the bank’s predecessor, First MicroFinance Bank (FMFB), which became the first microfinance bank in Pakistan.

Ismail has served on the board of HBL MfB since 2016, and as the chair of the FISC Committee, she has championed initiatives in financial inclusion. Her appointment marks a new chapter for the bank, as she takes the helm with a renewed focus on innovation and expanding financial access to underserved populations.

Outgoing Chairman Kotwal expressed pride in his tenure, saying, “It has been an honour to serve as the chairperson of HBL Microfinance Bank. I am confident that Maya Inayat Ismail’s leadership will steer the bank towards an exciting new phase of growth and innovation.”

Sultan Ali Allana, chairperson of HBL, echoed these sentiments, highlighting Ismail’s extensive expertise and her commitment to financial inclusion. “Her appointment not only strengthens HBL MfB’s mission but also breaks new ground in leadership, with Maya becoming the first woman to chair an Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) institution,” Allana said.

In her statement, Ismail expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, reflecting on her long-standing relationship with the bank. “I am deeply humbled to take on this role. It is an extension of my decades-long association with HBL MfB, and I am committed to continuing the momentum under Rayomond H Kotwal’s leadership,” she said.