Alex Thursby has stepped down as the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), after over three years in the role.

Abhijit Choudhury, NBAD’s Group Chief Risk Officer, has been appointed as acting CEO with immediate effect, the bank said.

“I would like to thank Alex Thursby for his leadership of NBAD. Under his guidance, the bank has transformed into a modern, well regarded, customer-oriented and results-focused financial institution,” said Nasser Ahmed Alsowaidi, Chairman of NBAD.

“NBAD approaches the merger with FGB in a strong financial and risk position, recognised as the safest bank in emerging markets and the highest rated bank in the UAE. I am confident Abhijit Choudhury will lead the bank successfully through the integration planning process in the coming months, drawing on his decade of experience at NBAD,” he added.

Choudhury will work closely with Deputy Group CEO Abdulla M S AbdulRaheem to lead the bank until the completion of the proposed merger with FGB, which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2017.

Khalifa Sultan Al Suwaidi, who is currently a member of NBAD’s Board of Directors, will take on the newly created position of managing director to support the bank through the integration planning process until the merger completes.

Abdulhamid Saeed, the current Managing Director of FGB, is the CEO designate of NBAD, and is due to take up this position on completion of the merger.

“It has been an honour to have been CEO of NBAD as the bank pursued a path of sustainable growth, which has culminated in the proposed merger with FGB to create the largest bank in the Middle East and North Africa region. I leave the bank in a very strong position to make a success of the merger and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape,” Thursby said.