CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, which is now searching for a new head for its Islamic banking arm, hopes to make a recommendation on the candidate to the Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC) by end-August.

Group CEO Tengku Datuk Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the board was in the process of finalising the list of candidates, which ideally would not be more than five.

"We are looking at both internal and external candidates and once that is finalised, we will interview them and make recommendation to the NRC.

"We want to at least make our recommendations by the end of August," he told a press conference after launching CIMB's Bumiputera Vendor Development Programme here Thursday.

To recap, CIMB Islamic Bank CEO Badlisyah Abdul Ghani has tendered his resignation which would be effective August 15.

For now, CIMB Islamic Bank's board has elected Mohd Shafri Shahul Hamid as person-in-charge of the bank.

On the Bumiputera Vendor Development Programme, Tengku Zafrul said the group had allocated RM500,000 for the 30-month upskilling programme for Bumiputera vendors and service providers that supports the banking industry.

Six vendors, namely Erat Harmoni Sdn Bhd, FM Media Sdn Bhd, Motiofixo Sdn Bhd, Professional Science Technologies Sdn Bhd, S&I Urban Designers Sdn Bhd and T-Melmax Sdn Bhd, have been selected to participate in the programme.