Hery Gunardi Named New President Director of BRI

JAKARTA, investortrust.id — PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, or BRI, has appointed Hery Gunardi as its new president director following the end of Sunarso’s tenure. The decision was made during the company’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on Monday.

Gunardi, who most recently served as president director of PT Bank Syariah Indonesia Tbk, or BSI, emerged as one of three leading candidates for the top position at Indonesia’s largest state-owned bank by profit. The other contenders were Alexandra Askandar, deputy president director of PT Bank Mandiri Tbk, and Catur Budi Harto, deputy president director of BRI.

“I am grateful to have been entrusted with this role to continue building the national economy through the banking sector,” Gunardi said. “Leading BSI or BRI carries a similar essence—strengthening the country’s economy—but with different focuses. BSI is rooted in Islamic finance, while BRI is centered around micro, small, and medium enterprises.”

A Seasoned Banker with National Impact

Gunardi began his banking career in 1991 at Bank Bapindo. In the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis, he played a pivotal role in the government-led merger that formed Bank Mandiri in 1998–1999, combining four struggling state-owned banks into one.

He later led the establishment of PT AXA Mandiri Financial Services, a joint venture between Bank Mandiri and France’s AXA Group, before rising through the ranks to become acting president director of Bank Mandiri in 2020.

During his tenure at Bank Mandiri, Gunardi held several key leadership roles, including director of micro and retail banking, where he oversaw the disbursement of Rp35 trillion in micro loans. Under his watch, Bank Mandiri was named Indonesia’s Best Domestic Retail Bank by The Asian Banking & Finance in 2014.

In 2018–2019, he helped push retail lending to Rp214 trillion, covering micro, small, and medium enterprise (SME) segments. Gunardi also led Mandiri to multiple accolades, including a decade-long streak as Best Service Excellence provider and a ranking among the World’s Best Employers in 2018.

Architect of BSI’s Rise

Leveraging decades of experience, Gunardi spearheaded the 2021 merger of three Islamic banking units—BRI Syariah, Bank Syariah Mandiri, and BNI Syariah—into BSI, now the country’s largest Islamic bank. He was appointed BSI’s inaugural president director on February 1, 2021.

Under his leadership, BSI posted remarkable growth. By year-end 2024, BSI's total assets reached Rp408.61 trillion, a 15.55% year-on-year increase. Third-party funds rose 11.46% to Rp327 trillion, while financing expanded by 15.88% to Rp278 trillion. The bank's net profit surged 22.83% to Rp7.01 trillion.

These figures positioned BSI as the sixth-largest bank by assets in Indonesia and the fifth in third-party deposits. Internationally, it ranked ninth among global Islamic banks by market capitalization, a milestone achieved ahead of its 2025 target.

“With a clear and determined mindset to continue contributing to Indonesia’s economic growth, I am committed to fulfilling this responsibility at BRI to the best of my abilities,” said Gunardi. “I firmly believe in a growth mindset—because the world is constantly changing, we must be agile, innovative, and work beyond the limit.”

Educational Foundation and Career Legacy

Born in Bengkulu, Gunardi holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Universitas 17 Agustus 1945, a master’s degree in finance and accounting from the University of Oregon, and a doctoral degree in business management from Universitas Padjadjaran, earned in 2021.

His extensive experience and leadership in various state-owned banks have earned him a reputation as one of Indonesia’s most influential bankers—now tasked with steering BRI through its next phase of digital and cultural transformation.