Islamic finance body's secretary general steps down

The Bahrain-based Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) said on Thursday secretary general Khaled Al Fakih had left the organisation to pursue other opportunities. Al Fakih, a Lebanese-born commercial banker, had been secretary general since February 2012. Deputy secretary general Khairul Nizam will take over his duties while AAOIFI looks for a new secretary general, the organisation said. Set up in 1990, AAOIFI has issued a total of 88 standards for Islamic finance. Its membership includes more than 200 institutions from 40 countries, including central banks and regulatory agencies.