Mr. Ashraf Mahmood Wathra is a distinguished professional with an illustrious career in the banking and financial sector. He served as the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) from April 29, 2014, to 2017, following his appointment as Acting Governor on January 31, 2014. During his tenure, Mr. Wathra represented Pakistan at several prestigious international forums and served on the Boards of Governors for the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Asian Clearing Union (ACU), and the ECO Trade and Development Bank. He was also a council member of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and co-chaired the Financial Stability Board - Regional Consultative Group for Asia (FSB-RCG Asia) in Basel, Switzerland, starting July 1, 2015.

Within Pakistan, Mr. Wathra held several critical roles that contributed to the financial stability and development of the country. He was a member of the Monetary and Fiscal Policies Coordination Board, the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) Council, the National Executive Committee (NEC) on Anti-Money Laundering, and the Agricultural Credit Advisory Committee (ACAC). He chaired the Board of the Institute of Bankers in Pakistan (IBP) and played an instrumental role in advancing the NFIS through his leadership in its Steering Committee. Mr. Wathra's journey with the SBP began on March 11, 2013, when he assumed the position of Deputy Governor. As Governor SBP, he was awarded "Central Bank Governor of the Year 2016" by Euromoney.

Before joining SBP, Mr. Wathra had a highly successful international banking career spanning several decades. He held leadership positions in various regulatory regimes, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Notably, he served on the Boards of Habib Finance International Hong Kong and Habib Finance Australia, and was the First Vice Chairman of Himalayan Bank Nepal for several years. His banking career began in 1978 with Grindlays Bank Plc after completing his Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Throughout his career, Mr. Wathra demonstrated exceptional leadership, driving initiatives that strengthened Pakistan's financial regulatory framework, enhanced financial stability, and promoted economic development. His extensive international experience, combined with his dedication to financial governance and regulation, has earned him a highly respected position within the global financial community.