OCBC Bank has promoted its Malaysian head of business banking, Ong Eng Bin to the post of chief executive of its Malaysian business.

It announced on Friday that Mr Ong takes on the top role at OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad with effect on the same day.

Prior to this appointment, he was OCBC Malaysia's Head of Business Banking.

The 51-year-old succeeds Jeffrey Chew, who left the bank on Jun 30.

Mr Ong has risen up the ranks, having joined OCBC Malaysia as a management trainee in 1988.

In the early 1990s, he headed the credit and marketing function of a branch before joining the corporate banking division.

In 2012, he was appointed as head of business banking, which comprises corporate and commercial, emerging business and transaction banking.

Under Mr Ong's leadership, the division accounted for 55 per cent of OCBC Malaysia's revenues and 65 per cent of its pre-tax profits in 2013.

OCBC Group CEO Samuel Tsien said the appointment of Mr Ong highlights the bank's commitment to developing local talent and underscores its achievement in succession planning. "Under Eng Bin's leadership, our corporate banking business has sustained good growth momentum over the past two years.

"He has also built a strong team of bankers who serve the needs of our customers well."

Mr Tsien also thanked Mr Chew for his contribution to OCBC Bank's Malaysian franchise as its CEO over the past six years.