Bank South Pacific Financial Group Limited has announced the appointment of Mark T. Robinson as Group Chief Executive Officer.
Robinson is a senior financial services executive and globally experienced banking Chief Executive Officer with more than 30 years of experience across developed, developing, and emerging markets.
BSP Financial Group Chairman, Sir Kostas Constantinou said Robinson had invaluable expertise across global emerging markets in wholesale, retail, and investment banking and was the ideal person to lead the bank in its next phase of growth.
Robinson’s appointment follows a rigorous and competitive global executive search, led by Ashurst Board Advisory, which considered highly credentialled candidates globally, and across the Pacific region.
In a statement, Sir Kostas said Robinson impressed the Board with his history of developing and executing strategic plans incorporating high-quality revenue growth across many geographies, including operating in challenging environments.
Sir Kostas said Robinson had a strong understanding of the Asia-Pacific region and banking market, reinforced by years of experience in various global economies.
Robinson’s previous roles include Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Bank International, a publicly listed bank based in the United Arab Emirates, Chief Executive Officer of ANZ Banking Group’s operations for Southeast Asia, and prior, numerous senior executive roles with Citibank, including in India, Russia, Turkey, and Hungary.
Robinson said he’s delighted to be appointed to this role in an exciting region with huge potential.
He said BSP Financial Group has a highly skilled workforce and is well advanced in its digital transformation, and he looks forward to working with the team to continue to improve customer experience and explore new growth opportunities.
Robinson’s appointment has received the approval of the regulator – the Bank of Papua New Guinea, and his start date will be determined upon receipt of his work permit and visa approvals from PNG authorities.
Meanwhile, Sir Kostas extended his sincere gratitude to outgoing Chief Executive Officer, Robin Fleming.
He said since Fleming’s appointment in 2013, his efforts have seen the bank grow its profitability from K407 million (US$115 million) in 2012 to K1,075 billion (US$283 million) in 2021, increase its customer base and deposits significantly, and expand BSP across the region.
Sir Kostas said Fleming has also driven the digital transformation project which has been critical to the Bank’s future and sustainability.
Fleming departs BSP at the end of this year after serving 42 years with the Bank.