The new CEO has been at the firm since 1987.

Global financial services firm Macquarie Group has appointed Shemara Wikramtanayake, currently group head of its asset management arm, as managing director and chief executive.

Wikramanayake will replace Nicholas Moore in the role, after he has decided to retire from the firm, taking effect on 30 November.

She will be appointed to the boards of Macquarie Group and Macquarie Bank.

The new CEO joined Macquarie in 1987 and worked with Moore in corporate services and then in establishing Macquarie Capital, which at that time included advisory; infrastructure funds; corporate leasing and lending; and cash equities. She was appointed head of Macquarie Asset Management in 2008. 

In her time at Macquarie, Wikramanayake has worked in nine cities in six countries and across several business lines. This has included establishing and leading Macquarie’s corporate advisory offices in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Malaysia, and the infrastructure funds management business in the US and Canada. Wikramanayake also serves as chair of the Macquarie Group Foundation.

“Nicholas has been central to Macquarie’s growth and evolution over many years, transforming the group into the global, diversified business it is today,” said chairman Peter Warne said. “Shemara takes over a business with significant momentum and market-leading positions and does so with the international track record, vision and strong sense of our unique culture to make this a very successful transition.”