Zeti Akhtar Aziz
Encyclopedia
Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz is the 7th and current governor of Bank Negara Malaysia
, Malaysia's central bank. She has been governor since May 2000, and was the first woman in the position.
, Johor
, to father Royal Professor Ungku Aziz, who is of Malay, Circassian
and English descent and mother Sharifah Azah Mohamed Alsagoff, who is of Hadhrami Arab
and Malay descent.
Zeti received early education at Assunta High School
, Petaling Jaya
in 1958. She then did her Form 6 in St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur
. In 1970, she received a Bachelor's degree in Economics
from University Malaya. She subsequently continued her studies at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
, receiving a PhD in monetary and international economics
. As part of her PhD dissertation she carried out pioneering work on capital flows and its implications for monetary policy.
for the South-East Asia Central Bank Training & Research Center, remaining at that post from 1979 to 1984. She was then appointed Deputy Manager of the Economics Department at Bank Negara Malaysia
.
She joined the Economics Department in Bank Negara Malaysia in 1985 and was appointed Secretary to the Board of Directors
of the bank in 1987. In 1989, she was posted to the Bank Negara Malaysia London Representative Office as the Chief Representative. Upon returning to the Head Office in 1994, Dr. Zeti was appointed the Bank's Chief Economist
and the Head of its Economics Department. In 1995, she was appointed Assistant Governor, responsible for economics, reserve management, foreign and money market operations and exchange control.
Additionally, she was on the board of directors of Khazanah Nasional
Bhd from 2004 to 2008.
On November 16, 2008, she was selected as one of the members of a special task force at the United Nations
to examine reforms of the global market system.
In 2009, Global Finance magazine, named her as one of the world's best central bank chief. In 2010, she was named "Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah 1432H" at the national-level Ma'al Hijrah celebration .
Her contract with Bank Negara expires May 1st 2011 and to start a new five year term after that..
On 20th May 2011, it was reported that Bloomberg columnist William Pesek has picked Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz as one of his four nominees to head the prestigious International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the position became vacant following the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn who was arrested in New York, and is presently facing sexual assault charges.
Bank Negara Malaysia
Bank Negara Malaysia is the Malaysian central bank. Established on January 26, 1959 as the Bank Negara Malaya, its main purpose was to issue currency, act as banker and adviser to the Government of Malaysia and regulate the country's credit situation...
, Malaysia's central bank. She has been governor since May 2000, and was the first woman in the position.
Early life
Zeti Akhtar Aziz was born in Johor BahruJohor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
, Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
, to father Royal Professor Ungku Aziz, who is of Malay, Circassian
Adyghe people
The Adyghe or Adygs , also often known as Circassians or Cherkess, are in origin a North Caucasian ethnic groupwho were displaced in the course of the Russian conquest of the Caucasus in the 19th century, especially after the Russian–Circassian War of 1862.Adyghe people mostly speak Adyghe and most...
and English descent and mother Sharifah Azah Mohamed Alsagoff, who is of Hadhrami Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
and Malay descent.
Zeti received early education at Assunta High School
SMK Assunta
Assunta Secondary School is the first girls' school in Petaling Jaya. Established since Malaysia gained independence in 1957, this school has become one of the premier non-boarding mission schools for girls in Malaysia.- History :...
, Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya is a Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur comprising mostly residential and some industrial areas. It is located in the Petaling district of Selangor with an area of approximately 97.2 km². On 20 June 2006, Petaling Jaya was granted a...
in 1958. She then did her Form 6 in St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur
St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur
St. John's Institution is a secondary school for boys and one of the oldest schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
. In 1970, she received a Bachelor's degree in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from University Malaya. She subsequently continued her studies at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wharton was the world’s first collegiate business school and the first business school in the United States...
, receiving a PhD in monetary and international economics
International economics
International economics is concerned with the effects upon economic activity of international differences in productive resources and consumer preferences and the institutions that affect them...
. As part of her PhD dissertation she carried out pioneering work on capital flows and its implications for monetary policy.
Career
Zeti Akhtar Aziz began her career as an economic analystFinancial analyst
A financial analyst, securities analyst, research analyst, equity analyst, or investment analyst is a person who performs financial analysis for external or internal clients as a core part of the job.-Job:...
for the South-East Asia Central Bank Training & Research Center, remaining at that post from 1979 to 1984. She was then appointed Deputy Manager of the Economics Department at Bank Negara Malaysia
Bank Negara Malaysia
Bank Negara Malaysia is the Malaysian central bank. Established on January 26, 1959 as the Bank Negara Malaya, its main purpose was to issue currency, act as banker and adviser to the Government of Malaysia and regulate the country's credit situation...
.
She joined the Economics Department in Bank Negara Malaysia in 1985 and was appointed Secretary to the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the bank in 1987. In 1989, she was posted to the Bank Negara Malaysia London Representative Office as the Chief Representative. Upon returning to the Head Office in 1994, Dr. Zeti was appointed the Bank's Chief Economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and the Head of its Economics Department. In 1995, she was appointed Assistant Governor, responsible for economics, reserve management, foreign and money market operations and exchange control.
Additionally, she was on the board of directors of Khazanah Nasional
Khazanah Nasional
Khazanah Nasional Berhad is the investment holding arm of the Government of Malaysia entrusted to hold and manage the commercial assets of the government and to undertake strategic investments. Khazanah was incorporated under the Companies Act 1965 on 3 September 1993 as a public limited company...
Bhd from 2004 to 2008.
On November 16, 2008, she was selected as one of the members of a special task force at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
to examine reforms of the global market system.
In 2009, Global Finance magazine, named her as one of the world's best central bank chief. In 2010, she was named "Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah 1432H" at the national-level Ma'al Hijrah celebration .
Her contract with Bank Negara expires May 1st 2011 and to start a new five year term after that..
On 20th May 2011, it was reported that Bloomberg columnist William Pesek has picked Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz as one of his four nominees to head the prestigious International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the position became vacant following the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn who was arrested in New York, and is presently facing sexual assault charges.