The Board of Directors of Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) has unanimously elected Anis Ahmed as chairman of the bank, effective Monday (27 July).

Before his election, Ahmed served on the Board's Executive Committee and previously chaired its Risk Management Committee, according to a press release.

Ahmed is the Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of MGH Group, a Singapore-headquartered multinational conglomerate operating across 26 countries.

The group's portfolio spans supply-chain solutions, container terminals, aviation, logistics, food and beverage retail, and financial services.

Ahmed also founded several start-ups, including ride-sharing platform Obhai, insurtech venture Waadaa.Insure and accommodation aggregation platform Jatra. The release said he had supported innovation and technology-driven enterprises in Bangladesh over the past decade.

"EBL today entered a new era of banking. The Board will actively support the advancement of women-led senior leadership and digital transformation, with the aim of making EBL a part of customers' everyday lives, built on the bank's solid financial strength," Ahmed said.

The Suhana and Anis Ahmed Foundation (SAAF) provided immediate assistance to 268 people described in the release as "July Freedom Fighters".

The foundation said its preventive healthcare programmes reached 10,000 underprivileged meritorious students in 2025. It also supports a 31-bed children's haematology ward at Bangladesh Medical University.

EBL said Ahmed's international business experience and strategic leadership were expected to strengthen the bank's position and support long-term value creation for customers, shareholders and communities.