Alex Thursby, who has been working with the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, has joined National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Thursby is working as CEO for the International & Institutional Banking Division at ANZ Bank. He will join the Abu Dhabi-based bank from 1 July, 2013, according to a statement by NBAD. Thursby will succeed Michael Tomalin, who will continue to remain a non-executive director for the lender. Tomalin is retiring from the bank after working for a period of 14 years.

Thursby has an experience of about 30 years in international banking mostly in the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand. NBAD said in a statement that Thursby is well regarded in the industry and has a reputation of developing and growing business with a strong risk management approach.

NBAD is increasing looking to expand its presence in other countries and has set a target of generating 25 per cent of its operating profit in five years and 40 per cent of operating profit by 2021. NBAD, which is 70 per cent owned by the Abu Dhabi government, has branches in 14 countries on four continents and is aiming to expand its presence to 41 markets by 2021. It is focusing to expand in countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East in the coming years.