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Malek, 45, of Wildwood, is originally from India and studied at Southeast Missouri State University, Parson said Tuesday.

Malek, a Republican, will replace Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, a Republican who was elected state auditor in November.

“I know that times have been tough lately,� Malek said. “I believe that Missouri needs a steady, conservative hand in the office of treasurer and I will work every day to make sure taxpayers’ money is invested wisely.�

Along with managing Missouri’s $20 billion in annual state revenues, the treasurer directs its banking services, oversees the state’s $6.5 billion investment portfolio and sits on a number of financially focused state boards and commissions.

Parson, a Republican, said Malek’s “conservative principles are unimpeachable. And we know he will work hard every day to safeguard the peoples’ money.�

Malek said he would run for election to a full four-year term in 2024.

Parson said Malek was an international student at Southeast Missouri State University.

Parson said that despite only having $300 in his pocket, Malek “didn’t make excuses. He went to work, completed his education and has a successful business and law practice in 51ºÚÁÏ.â€�

He said Malek had “been a strong advocate for minority communities in 51ºÚÁÏ and across the state, and is the go-to person for legal and social matters for our state’s diverse communities.â€�

“The American dream is alive and well because I have lived it right here in Missouri,� Malek said. “I want to make sure every child in Missouri grows up with the same opportunities I have had here.�

Malek is a longtime supporter of Parson. He gave $500 to Parson’s campaign account in 2018 and $2,650 two years later.

According to a news release, Malek earned a bachelor of arts degree and Juris Doctorate from Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, India.

He also earned a masters of business administration from Southeast Missouri State University and a master of laws from the University of Illinois College of Law in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, according to the release.

Parson named Malek to SEMO’s Board of Governors in 2020.

He lives in Wildwood with his wife, Riju, and their three children.

He has run the Law Offices of Vivek Malek since 2011 and specializes in immigration law, according to the press release.

Parson’s fifth pick

Tuesday’s announcement marks the fifth time Parson has named a replacement to a statewide post.

His first appointment came shortly after Parson, the former lieutenant governor, was elevated to governor in June 2018, following the resignation of former Gov. Eric Greitens.

Parson named then-Senate Majority Leader Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, to the No. 2 post. Kehoe is now running to replace Parson as governor in 2024.

Parson, following then-Attorney General Josh Hawley’s election to the U.S. Senate in 2018, appointed then-Treasurer Eric Schmitt to be attorney general.

Replacing Schmitt in the treasurer’s office was Fitzpatrick, who had led the House Budget Committee.

Schmitt and Fitzpatrick, after winning their elections in 2020, both sought other offices.

Schmitt won election to the U.S. Senate in November, again freeing up the attorney general’s office.

Parson named his general counsel, Andrew Bailey, to the post, with Bailey saying the office needed stability.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, said House Democrats congratulated Malek, but she criticized Parson for not picking a non-white statewide officeholder sooner.

“It is disappointing, of course, that it took the governor five tries to look beyond the usual suspects before picking the first non-white Missourian to hold a top statewide executive branch office,� she said in a statement. “Missouri is a diverse state with a diverse pool of qualified candidates who merited more consideration than the governor had shown with his previous statewide appointments.�

Kurt Erickson of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.