Datuk Zainal Izlan Zainal Abidin was appointed Deputy Chief Executive of the SC on 5 April 2018. He joined the SC in January 2011 as Executive Director, Islamic Capital Market and was appointed Managing Director, Development and Islamic Markets in November 2016. He currently provides direct oversight on the SC's Surveillance and Supervision functions as well as the People and Corporate Resources division.

He is also Chairman of Capital Markets Malaysia, an entity established by the SC to promote the Malaysian capital market. Datuk Zainal Izlan has over 30 years' experience in the financial services industry. He began his career with Citibank before moving to MIDF Amanah Asset Management. Just before joining the SC, Datuk Zainal Izlan was the CEO of i-VCAP Management.

Datuk Zainal Izlan holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics (dual concentration in Accounting and Finance) from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, US, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.