PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jawa Barat and Banten (Bank BJB) has appointed social media figures Mardigu Wowiek Prasantyo, alias Bossman Mardigu, and Helmy Yahya as commissioners at the bank’s 2024 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (GMS) held at the Bank BJB Building in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
The appointment of both, especially Mardigu, has drawn public attention considering their backgrounds as social media figures, motivators, and non-financial business actors, compared to technical experience in the banking sector.
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi said that he had never met Mardigu nor Helmy in person before proposing the names. The communication process, according to Dedi, was only carried out via telephone because both were abroad during the proposal process.
"I only read their profile photos and banking organization experience," Dedi said. He emphasized that all appointments were made based on the principle of professionalism, not political interests.
Background
The appointment of Mardigu as Independent President Commissioner has raised questions among financial observers and the public, especially because of his controversial background.
Mardigu is widely known as an influencer who often conveys speculative narratives about macroeconomics and politics through social media, but has minimal technical track record in the banking or formal financial sector.
"What is important is that investors see how the implementation of Good Corporate Governance is truly implemented by Bank BJB," Nafan Aji Gusta, an analyst from Mirae Asset Securitas, spoke to Indonesia Business Post on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Although the West Java Provincial Administration insisted that there were no political elements in the appointment, the closed process and lack of open discussion in the shareholders’ forum raised questions about transparency and accountability in the management of regional banks.
The new Board of Commissioners of Bank BJB:
- Independent President Commissioner: Mardigu Wowiek Prasantyo
- Commissioner: Herman Suryatman
- Commissioner: Rudie Kusmayadi
- Commissioner: Tomsi Tohir
- Independent Commissioner: Helmy Yahya
- Independent Commissioner: Novian Herodwijanto
Meanwhile, the bank’s President Director is now held by Yusuf Saadudin, who previously served as Acting Director.
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