Imam Teguh Saptono Wins Best CEO 2025 Award

Imam Teguh Saptono, President Director of PT Bank Muamalat Indonesia Tbk, received the prestigious Best CEO 2025 award organized by SWA Media Group and Dunamis Organization Services in Jakarta (27/02).

The award was granted in recognition of his inspirational leadership, continuous innovation, and resilience in maintaining the bank’s stability amid business challenges.

“Alhamdulillah and thank you to SWA Media Group and Dunamis Organization Services. This award is certainly not my personal achievement alone, but the result of the dedication and collaboration of all employees at Bank Muamalat in building a sharia ecosystem that strengthens one another and upholds good corporate governance (GCG) values,” Imam said at the Best CEO & CFO Forum in Jakarta on Thursday (26/2/2026).

Restoring Public Trust as the Main Challenge

Imam has served as President Director since March 2025 and faced several challenges at the start of his tenure.

He stated that the biggest challenge came internally, particularly in restoring public trust. He emphasized that Islamic finance is not only about structure and products, but also about values and credibility.

“We are dealing with a market that is both highly critical and spiritual. They want a bank that is not only Islamic, but also dignified and trustworthy,” he explained.

Turnaround Plan Refocuses Strategic Direction

One of the key initiatives introduced under his leadership was a strategic restructuring through a values-based Turnaround Plan.

“We did not start with cosmetic performance improvements, but from the most fundamental aspect: collective awareness that a crisis is not a disgrace, but a spiritual and managerial momentum to rise. From there, we simplified our business focus, stopped unhealthy expansion, and redirected organizational energy to segments we truly understand and master—particularly the hajj and umrah ecosystem, gold financing, and resilient retail,” he said.

At the same time, the bank strengthened its internal culture, reaffirming its role as Indonesia’s pioneer Islamic bank and not merely a business entity.

He noted that changes were reflected in working methods, decision-making processes, and customer service practices.

“Gradually but surely, trust began to return, performance improved, and most importantly, the organization rediscovered its identity,” he added.

Survey-Based Selection Process and Stakeholder Support

Imam said the Best CEO 2025 recognition was inseparable from the trust and support of stakeholders throughout the bank’s journey.

“We are proud and grateful that for three decades, Bank Muamalat has been part of our customers’ financial hijrah journey, a shared effort toward blessings through sharia-compliant, trustworthy, and responsible banking services. May Bank Muamalat always be The Path of Hijrah Toward Blessings for anyone who wishes to build a better, more peaceful, and more meaningful financial future,” he concluded.

The Best CEO 2025 selection was conducted through a survey using The 4 Essential Roles of Leadership approach, which measures the ability to inspire trust, create vision, execute strategy, and provide coaching potential.

Survey respondents were employees positioned three to four levels below the CEO, and the company’s performance was also considered in determining the award recipient.

PHOTO: BANK MUAMALAT

This article was created with AI assistance.

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our content, some information may be incorrect or outdated. Please let us know of any corrections at [email protected].