It seems Sunarso is gifted with the Midas touch—his tenure in every bank that he’s been with has turned out to achieve solid-gold performances. During his stints, he brought recognition both for himself as an outstanding CEO and his organisations for excellence in marketing, profitability and branding.

Sunarso’s stint at state-owned PT Pegadaian in particular cemented his reputation as a leading innovator. He raised the bank’s profile with the launch of the Pegadian-funded The Gade Coffee and Gold outlets, its successful digital transition, and the Waste to Gold Savings initiative, wherein household waste—such as oil—is converted to savings.

All Sunarso’s achievements led to his 2019 appointment as President Director at Bank Rakyat Indonesia, where he faces new challenges as Indonesia starts its recovery from the disruptions caused by the pandemic. But with Sunarso’s record, his post will likely be just another triumphant run.