Maheswari Kanniah (Mahes), is an experienced Regulatory and Compliance professional with over 47 years of experience including senior management roles in the financial services sector. She has wide-raging exposures covering 24 years of Compliance, Regulatory, Governance, Ethics, Fraud Investigation and Risk Management functions in the financial and capital market services as well as 23 years of senior company secretarial functions of a listed company.
In her 47 years in the financial industry, she was instrumental in establishing Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd’s (KIBB) corporate partnership with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, USA (“ACFE”), making KIBB the first company in Malaysia and Southeast Asia to partner with the ACFE. She has also been awarded the “Outstanding Achievement in Outreach and Community Service” by the ACFE in June 2023, being the first Southeast Asian to be conferred this Award. Mahes is also the first Malaysian to be elected to serve on the Board of Regents of the ACFE for the term 2024/5.
Mahes served as the Executive Director/Group Chief Regulatory and Compliance Officer of KIBB until her retirement on 31 July 2025. She currently serves on the Board of Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (“ICDM”) and is a Member of the Audit and Risk Management as well as Chairman of its Membership and Strategy Committee and Member of the Procurement Committee. She also serves on the Board of Turiya Bhd and is the Chairman of the Sustainability Committee as well as Member of the Audit and Risk as well as the Nomination and Remuneration Committees. She was also appointed to the Board of Malaysia Building Society Berhad (MBSB) on 1 August 2025, and is the Chairman of the Risk Management Committee as well as Member of the Audit Committee. Mahes is also a Member of the Risk Management Committee of University Malaya and Adviser to the ACFE Malaysian Chapter.
On the national and community front, Mahes was an active sportswoman. In the early 80s, Mahes captained the Malaysian Hockey Team at various international games and represented the country in athletics. She has also been inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Olympic Council Malaysia in 2024 for her contributions to the nation in hockey.
Another milestone in her achievement is that she has been inducted into the Malaysia Book of Records in July 2025 for two awards - the First Malaysian to be elected to serve the Board of Regents of the ACFE and the First Malaysian to receive the “Outstanding Achievement in Outreach and Community Service” by the ACFE.
Mahes is a Life Fellow of ICDM, Fellow Chartered Secretary and Chartered Governance Professional of the Chartered Governance Institute, United Kingdom - FCIS (CS)(CGP) and the MAICSA. She is also a Certified Fraud Examiner (“CFE”) with the ACFE, USA/Malaysia, a Chartered Banker, AICB/CBI (UK), a Certified Capital Market Professional – Compliance Advocate, a Certified Expert in ESG and Impact Investing from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management and an Honorary Member of the Director Members Community at Leadwomen.
