Rafe became the Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad on 4th January 2016 and is in charge of the CIMB Group’s Islamic banking and finance franchise. CIMB Islamic operates as a parallel franchise to the Group’s conventional operations and covers Islamic wholesale banking, Islamic consumer banking, Islamic commercial banking and Islamic asset management and investment.

Rafe has 20 years of experience covering a range of businesses and functional roles gained from three global banks, an international asset management company and a legal firm, at various financial centers including London, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

He read Law at the International Islamic University Malaysia and also holds an LL.M degree from the Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 1995 and qualified for the New York State Bar in 1997.

Rafe first joined HSBC Investment Bank plc, London in 1999 and thereafter HSBC Financial Services Middle East, Dubai where he set up the global sukuk business in 2001. Subsequently, he became the Global Head of Islamic Finance business at ABN AMRO Dubai in 2004 covering both consumer and corporate businesses. In 2006, he moved back to Malaysia with Citigroup Asia as the Regional Head for Islamic banking, Asia Pacific. He later joined HSBC Amanah in 2010 as the CEO, Malaysia and Managing Director of Global Markets, ASP