A senior Syrian official announced the appointment of Maysaa Sabrine, the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, as the new Governor of the bank. With this appointment, Saber becomes the first woman to hold this position in the bank’s 70-year history, succeeding Mohammed Issam Hazima, who was appointed by the ousted President Bashar al-Assad in 2021.
Maysaa Sabrine’s Career Path
Prior to her new role, Maysa Saber served as the First Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Syria since October 2018. She was also a member of the board of directors of the Damascus Securities Exchange, representing the Central Bank. Saber brings over 15 years of professional experience in the financial and banking sectors.
Academic Qualifications
Maysaa Sabrine holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Damascus, as well as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. These qualifications have enabled her to hold prominent leadership positions, including Director of the Government Commission for Banks.
Upcoming Challenges
One of the most pressing challenges for the new Governor will be the recovery of the Syrian lira. The currency has lost over 97% of its value since 2010, dropping from 50 liras per dollar to approximately 13,500 liras per dollar today.