Government Opens Competition for NEPSE CEO, Seeks Experienced Capital Market Leadership

Kathmandu — The government has started the process of selecting a new chief executive officer of the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE), inviting qualified Nepali professionals to compete for the top executive position of the country’s only stock exchange.

A recommendation committee formed for the selection has issued a public notice seeking applications within 15 days of its publication. Candidates are required to submit their applications to the Financial Sector Management and Corporation Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance.

The eligibility criteria indicate that the government is looking for a candidate with both strong academic credentials and substantial professional experience. Applicants must have at least a master’s degree in economics, commerce, finance, management, information technology or law from a recognised institution. Professionals holding Chartered Accountancy or an equivalent qualification are also eligible.

Experience, however, is likely to be a major factor in the selection. Candidates must have at least 15 years of professional experience in the capital market, financial sector or management-related fields, including a minimum of seven years at the managerial level. The requirement narrows the competition largely to senior professionals who have already handled institutional or market-level responsibilities.

Applicants must be at least 30 years old and not older than 65. They must also meet the eligibility provisions prescribed under the NEPSE Chief Executive Officer Selection and Recommendation Procedure, 2083, as well as the standards governing appointments and nominations in public bodies under the Ministry of Finance.

Beyond academic qualifications and work experience, candidates will also be assessed on their vision for NEPSE. Each applicant is required to submit three sealed copies of a professional business plan prepared in line with the selection procedure. An application fee of Rs 5,000 has been fixed.

The requirement for a business plan gives the selection process greater significance at a time when Nepal’s capital market is facing growing expectations for technological modernisation, stronger governance, improved market infrastructure and wider participation. The next CEO will therefore be expected not merely to manage the institution but also to provide strategic direction for the future of the stock exchange.

NEPSE occupies a central position in Nepal’s capital market, and its leadership directly influences trading systems, market development and coordination with regulators and other market institutions. With investor participation expanding and demands for new trading products and modern infrastructure increasing, the appointment is likely to attract close attention from investors as well as financial-sector stakeholders.

The vacancy arose after the previous CEO position became vacant, prompting the government to begin a fresh leadership selection process. The open competition is expected to determine who will lead NEPSE during a period when pressure for institutional reform and modernisation of Nepal’s securities market is intensifying.