23/03/2026

MONDAY | MAR 23, 2026

12

BANKING & INSURANCE

Allianz Life recruitment trends highlight talent diversification

PETALING JAYA: RHB Investment Bank recently celebrated the conclusion of its Trade & Win 2025: Power Up Your Trade Campaign with a prize-giving ceremony, recognising the achievements of retail investors who demon strated disciplined and purposeful investing. The campaign, which ended on Dec 31, 2025, achieved more than 60 million entries. A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the grand prize of two units of the Proton e.MAS 7. By selecting Malaysia’s first dual-powered electric vehicle (EV) as the premier reward, RHB reinforced its commitment to promoting green mobility and supporting the local automotive scene. RHB Investment said this initiative aligns with RHB’s broader sustainability efforts while celebrating a homegrown brand’s venture into the latest technology in transportation. RHB Investment managing director Kevin Davies said, “The tremendous response of over 60 million entries is a clear indication of the strong engagement and confidence of our clients. We are proud to be empowering customers to make thoughtful decisions in shaping their financial futures, and provide them with a chance to make a real difference to the environment through our grand prize. It is one of the many ways we play our role as a responsible financial institution.” The bank said the campaign was designed to encourage trading with purpose, rewarding clients for intentional and informed decision making. Participants received one entry for every RM1,000 of accumulated traded value per account. To encourage prudent investment behaviour, participants who traded foreign shares earned double entries, promoting well balanced portfolios. Beyond the grand prize EVs, other winners were recognised with shopping vouchers for PETALING JAYA: Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia Bhd recorded a notable shift in its agency recruitment composition in 2025, reflecting broader changes in workforce expectations and career priorities. Women accounted for 53% of new agency recruits in 2025, compared to 47% male participation – marking the highest female representation recorded to date and the first year participation surpassed parity. Between 2020 and 2023, female recruitment remained consistent at 47%, before reaching balance in 2024. In a statement, Allianz Life said the development mirrors growing demand for flexible, purpose-driven and performance based career pathways, particularly within the financial services sector. Allianz Life chief sales officer Raymond Cheah ( pic ) said the recruitment trend reflects structural workforce changes rather than short-term fluctuations. “The growing participation of women among our new recruits reflects evolving career expectations and the increasing appeal of flexible and purpose-driven professions. By investing in strong communities, develop ment platforms and clear career pathways, we aim to foster a trusted environment where women can also grow with confidence and build sustainable, meaningful careers as Allianz Life Changers.” Internal data reinforced this strategic direction. In 2024, women comprised 80% of Allianz Life’s top 10 performing agents, underscoring the importance of formalising scalable development platforms to sustain and grow high-performing talent. In response, Allianz Life introduced the dedicated recruitment programme SheSecures in January 2025, designed to strengthen leader ship capabilities, confidence-building and peer support networks within its agency force. The

munity-based engagement and recruitment initiatives; as well as clearer and more sustain able professional develop ment pathways. Moving forward, Allianz Life said it will continue to enhance its agency develop ment platforms nationwide, expanding leadership pipe lines and strengthening struc tured progression frameworks to ensure sustained growth and competitiveness within Malay sia’s life insurance industry.

o Women account for 53% of new agency recruits in 2025 – highest female representation recorded to date

their own careers and create some thing meaningful for themselves. The community and opportunities here have encouraged me to believe in my abilities and pursue my goals,” she said. Rather than viewing the recruit ment milestone solely through a demographic lens, Allianz

programme operates under the broader Kingmaker agency development framework, which focuses on structured onboarding, capability-build ing and long-term retention. The programme has resonated strongly with women seeking greater professional independence and personal growth. Canon Lim from MB8 Agency – a mother of four – shared that SheSecures helped her rediscover a sense of purpose beyond her daily responsibilities. “Through the Allianz SheSecures pro gramme, I rediscovered my confidence, learned valuable financial knowledge, and connected with a supportive community of women. It has given me the inspiration to grow, plan for the future, and pursue my own aspirations again,” she said. For Grace Lim from ACP Agency – who was a small business owner – the programme provided renewed confidence to build a meaningful career. “Being part of SheSecures has helped me rediscover my confidence as a woman and a mother. It showed me that women can build

Life positions it as part of a wider talent diversification stra tegy aimed at build ing a resilient, per formance-driven agency ecosystem aligned with evolving workforce dynamics. The company ex pects recruitment pat terns to remain sup ported by increasing preference for flexible and entrepreneurial career models; stronger com

RHB Investment hands over Proton e.MAS 7 to grand prize winners of campaign for retail investors

Zulkiflee Hashim appointed SME Bank chairman

PETALING JAYA: Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Bhd (SME Bank) has appointed Zulkiflee Hashim ( pic ) as chairman effective March 6. Zulkiflee, who was appointed an independent non-executive director of SME

Bank on March 6, 2019, brings more than 35 years of experience in the banking industry, with leadership roles across Citibank Malaysia, Deutsche Bank Malaysia and Hong Leong Bank Bhd. He previously served as executive director of Hong Leong Bank from July 1998 to October 2011, and prior to his retirement in 2015, held the position of chief operating officer, group strategic support. Zulkiflee currently serves as an independent non-executive director of Hong Leong MSIG Takaful Bhd and Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation (Malaysia) Bhd. He also served on the board of GuocoLand (Malaysia) Bhd. In a statement, SME Bank said the appointment reflects its continued commit ment to strong leadership and governance, with Zulkiflee’s extensive experience in the banking industry expected to guide SME Bank’s strategic priorities in empowering MSMEs and supporting sustainable eco nomic growth.

Kevin (centre) and senior management team of RHB Investment with the Trade & Win grand prize winners.

through its digital eKYC onboarding campaign which rewards new clients with up to RM500 in free brokerage, a refreshed website experience, and competitive share margin inancing rates at 2.88% per annum for the first six months. Platforms such as RHB Research’s Morning Cuppa@8 will continue to provide timely market insights, equipping clients with the knowledge needed to navigate evolving market conditions with confidence. Through consistent access to quality research and education, RHB Investment aims to promote sustainable trading behaviour, helping investors build long-term financial resilience.

their commitment to their investment jour neys. Building on this strong momentum, RHB Investment has launched its Trade & Win 2026 Campaign. The new iteration raises the bar with even more prestigious prizes and digital enhancements, including a grand prize of the Tesla Model Y and 12 units of Apple’s iPhone 17. There will be bonus entries for trading in markets such as the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia, as well as RHB-issued structured warrants. Additionally, RHB Investment looks to continue innovating its services, including

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