Ma Weihua will soon resign after nearly 15 years at the helm of China Merchants Bank (CMB), the country's sixth largest lender by asset value, the bank announced Wednesday.

I would say that Ma is China's most innovative banker. He is a role model when it comes to running a bank efficiently in a country that has historically not welcomed private participation within the loan industry.

During his tenure, Ma did a great job promoting innovation in banking services, which eased the banks' reliance on lending. The business model Ma championed insulated the bank from losses from its declining credit business as authorities opened new financing sources for local businesses.

CMB's focus on innovation explains why it continues to occupy a key position behind the country's five leading State-owned commercial banks, even though it lacks the same degree of government support its rivals have long enjoyed.

The author is Ye Tan, an economic commentator.

Source: National Business Daily