RHB Banking Group has announced the appointment of Vashta Mahendran as its new Group Chief Operations Officer, effective 1 July 2025. She takes over the role from David Chong, who will be stepping down on 30 June 2025 to pursue new opportunities.
Vashta brings with her over 30 years of experience in the financial sector, along with deep institutional knowledge and a strong track record in operational transformation and strategic execution. She first joined RHB in 2015 as Group Treasury’s Lead for Strategic Business Management. Her portfolio expanded in 2021 to include Group Wholesale Banking, and in 2022, she was appointed to lead group-wide transformation initiatives.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, majoring in Accounting and Finance, from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. A qualified Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA), Vashta also holds the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) certification from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). Her early career began at Arthur Andersen & Co., followed by key roles in several major financial institutions.
Commenting on the leadership transition, RHB Group Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Mohd Rashid Mohamad said, “David has been a valued member of our leadership team and we thank him for his contributions over the years. As we embark on the next phase of our growth journey, Vashta’s leadership and strength in driving operational transformation will be key in delivering our PROGRESS27 strategy, and achieving our strategic objectives of being best in service, highly profitable, and a responsible and purposeful organisation.”
This leadership change marks a pivotal moment for RHB as it accelerates its focus on operational excellence and digital transformation across the Group.