CIMB Group Chief Executive Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz will take on the additional role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CIMB Bank, effective Jan 20, 2016.

With this appointment, Zafrul would step down from his position as Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Investment Bank with effect from the same date, the Group said in a statement today.

In the interim, Datuk Kong Sooi Lin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Investment Bank, would be elected as the Person-in-Charge.

"I look forward to working closely with the leadership team and the rest of the staff in guiding CIMB Bank towards becoming a leading ASEAN banking group," Zafrul was quoted as saying in the statement.

CIMB Group Chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak said the appointment reflected the board's confidence in Zafrul and underscored his accomplishments as Group CEO since his had led the firm through a challenging period of change and transition.

"CIMB Bank is our largest operating entity and this move consolidates his position as the group's primary executive officer," he said.