Arnee Ismail

Head, Strategic Communications

SME Bank Malaysia

Arnee Ismail is a strategic communications and brand leader with over two decades of experience shaping reputation, visibility, and stakeholder trust across banking and financial services, insurance, real estate, among others.

With a strong track record in brand transformation, stakeholder engagement, and executive communications, Arnee has led high-impact initiatives that connect strategy to story—translating complex business goals into clear, compelling narratives. Her work spans award-winning innovation programmes, national brand campaigns, and community initiatives that spotlight underserved communities and entrepreneurs.

Arnee currently heads the strategic communications function at SME Bank Malaysia, where she leads a multidisciplinary team across branding, public relations and media, corporate social responsibility and events management. Under her leadership, the organisation has significantly increased its media presence and public trust, including recognition as a winner at the 2025 ADFIAP Award for SME Development and the Bronze Award for Best PR Campaign – Start-Up/Small Business at the MARKETING-INTERACTIVE PR Asia Awards 2025.

She is passionate about communications that go beyond visibility, but also fosters trust and long-term value for both people and the organisations she collaborates with to shape meaningful change.