FINCA Microfinance Bank Ltd. serves clients with responsible and affordable financial services.
FINCA Microfinance Bank’s Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors brings a breadth of expertise and dedication to providing access to responsible financial services.
Zar Wardak
CHAIRPERSON
VICE PRESIDENT & REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST & SOUTH ASIA, FINCA Impact Finance
Zar Wardak
Zar Wardak is a proven and respected leader in global finance. With over 10 years experience in executive financial management, she is currently the Regional Director of FINCA International (Middle East & South Asia), one of the leading microfinance organizations in the world. She is also the Chairperson for the Afghanistan Microfinance Association and Chairperson of Board for the MESA subsidiaries.
She is the former CEO of FINCA Afghanistan, where she transformed the subsidiary to sustainability within three years. Prior to joining FINCA, Zar was a financial services industry consultant in Afghanistan, and before that, Vice President with Citibank North America.
Ms Wardak completed a Bachelor of Arts in International Business at Southwestern College in Kansas, and a Master of Science in Peace Operations at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.
Being fluent in English, Dari, Pashtu and Urdu, and having a unique cultural understanding and perspective, allows Afghan-American Zar to achieve exceptional outcomes for the organizations she works for. She is a sought-after speaker, and has shared the stage with Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus on the topic of Microfinance as it relates to peace and prosperity.
Despite working in extremely complex and challenging environments, Zar Wardak has an impressive track record of transforming financial organisations into well-governed, high-performing and sustainable entities.
Jeffrey Smith
BOARD DIRECTOR
VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL CHIEF AUDITOR & CHIEF RISK & COMPLIANCE OFFICER, FINCA Impact Finance
Jeffrey Smith
Jeffrey Smith has nearly 40 years of experience in auditing, finance, accounting, risk management, internal control and regulatory compliance. He has led many restructuring efforts of global audit, risk management and compliance departments, as well as, many global efforts implementing effective risk controls and compliance monitoring systems.
Mr. Smith has worked in both the public and private sectors. He has been an independent consultant and held global positions at Citibank and Ford Motor Company. Most recently, he was the Chief Auditor at Rotary International.
Mr. Smith is a Certified Risk Professional and earned a Master of Business Administration from Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan, USA). He also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA).
Volker Renner
BOARD DIRECTOR
Volker Renner
Volker Renner has over 15 years of senior management experience in the microfinance industry. Prior to his current position, he served as Chief Operating Officer for FINCA’s global operations, and Regional Director for FINCA’s Eurasia Region. Before joining FINCA in 2004, Mr. Renner held positions as CEO of ProCredit Bank (Ukraine), Team Leader of EBRD/KfW’s joint Ukraine Microlending Program, and Bank Advisor to banks in Russia’s Siberia region. Throughout his career, Mr. Renner has served as board chairman, board member and audit committee member for numerous microfinance institutions and banks. He holds an M.B.A. with a focus on banking from the Mannheim Professional Academy.
Roshaneh Zafar
BOARD DIRECTOR
FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, Kashf Foundation
Roshaneh Zafar
Ms. Roshaneh Zafar is the Founder and Managing Director of Kashf Foundation – the first specialized microfinance organization in Pakistan established in 1996. Kashf Foundation was awarded the Microfinance Excellence Award by the Grameen Foundation-USA for its groundbreaking innovations in the field of microfinance in Pakistan, while in 2005 it won the AGFUND International Prize for Microcredit 2005 out of 98 countries
Prior to establishing Kashf Foundation, Ms. Zafar worked with the World Bank in Islamabad in the Water and Sanitation department for several years. Ms. Zafar was one of the first Ashoka Fellows in Pakistan and has been a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur since 2004. Ms Zafar has also been awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest civilian awards, by the President of Pakistan for her work in the field of development and women’s empowerment and was also awarded the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2007. Ms Zafar is a graduate of the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, USA and also holds a Master’s degree in Development Economics from Yale University, USA.
Fatma Safiye Ozuygun Sahin
BOARD DIRECTOR
Fatma Safiye Ozuygun Sahin
Safiye is a seasoned senior banker with vast experience across many banking functions, geographies and client segments. Over the last 20 years at Citi she worked as a Senior Banker both in Turkey and London covering several FTSE 100 clients overseeing complex financing transactions. Subsequently, as a Regional Head for Europe Middle East and Africa Citi’s Internal Audit and Risk Management Group she has led transformational global projects in risk and control functions. She is also a Senior Credit Officer.
She has recently been awarded ‘Champion for Women Award’ in 2014 by Women in Banking and Finance UK Network (WIBF) in recognition for her efforts supporting women in the workplace.
In order to pursue her life-long ambition and commitment for women’s economic empowerment, Safiye joined Citi Microfinance in 2009 as a Business Director.
She has since worked to address issues of access to finance for women entrepreneurs focusing on building scalable solutions. Safiye was part of a team in Citi Microfinance that has developed a Citi-Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) microfinance partnership providing funding to 40 microfinance institutions with outreach to almost 1 million micro-entrepreneurs in 22 countries, approximately 91% of whom are women. Safiye has expended considerable effort in creating and expanding women’s networks and platforms for women to gather and flourish. Safiye served as the co-chair of the Citi Women UK Network for two years and now sits on the steering committee.
She was recipient of the Citi Diversity Employee Network Star Award in 2009 and 2010.
In addition, in 2011, Safiye co-founded ‘Women Advancing Microfinance’ (WAM) to connect women interested in financial inclusion and social businesses in the UK and internationally. WAM is the only UK network for the advancement of women in the microfinance industry.
She has MSc degree in Banking and Finance from Nottingham University.
Makhmud Saidakhmatov
BOARD DIRECTOR
CEO, FINCA Jordan
Makhmud Saidakhmatov
Makhmud joined FINCA in December 2006 as COO for FINCA Kyrgyzstan. After successful implementation of all strategic goals assigned to this role, in 2009 he has been appointed as CEO of FINCA Azerbaijan, and later in 2010 as the CEO of FINCA Kyrgyzstan. He held the position of CEO of FINCA Kyrgyzstan till February of 2015, and later he was assigned as an advisor to the management team of FINCA Bank Kyrgyzstan.
Prior to FINCA, Makhmud worked for over 4 years for “LFS Financial systems GmbH”, a German consulting and management company specialized in banking and SME finance projects in developing and transition countries. As a banking advisor, he managed projects in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan focused on establishment of micro and SME lending operations at various commercial banks. In 2003, Makhmud was working in Azerbaijan to develop micro and SME lending practices at Access Bank Azerbaijan. Makhmud commenced his professional banking career in 1998, at the National Bank of Uzbekistan, where he worked for three years as a Senior Investment Officer.
Makhmud holds a diploma in economics from the National University of Uzbekistan and Master’s degree in Economic and Social Studies from the University of Manchester, UK. He also holds a professional certification of Stonier Graduate School of Banking administered by the American Bankers Association at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
Amer Hussain Haider
BOARD DIRECTOR
Amer Hussain Haider
Mr. Haider has over 15+ years of senior management experience in Information Technology. He has a successful business track record in starting, acquiring and growing multiple companies with combined equity value over $2B. Most recently he was the CEO and Co-Founder of Doctella.com a company acquired by Masimo(NASDAQ: MASI) in 2018 His areas of expertise span across healthcare, cloud, mobility, networking, and semiconductors. He has been awarded 11 patents in digital security, mobility, networking, and processors. Mr. Haider completed his Masters in Engineering and MBA from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaignand Bachelors in Engineering from NED University in Karachi, Pakistan.
Allan Christopher Michael Low
Board of Director
Allan Christopher Michael Low
An international banking, digital transformation, emerging markets, and risk management business leader, with more than 30 years of proven financial services industry delivery, both as a Non-Executive and in CEO roles. He holds a Chartered Accountancy qualification and has worked in the UK, Africa, Asia and the Middle East; until recently he was Group CEO at Letshego Holdings Limited, one of Botswana’s largest public listed and multinational groups, with an eleven country presence in West, East and Southern Africa. Currently he sits on Motive Partners’ Labs Advisory Board and now is building a portfolio of Board and Advisory roles that leverage his leadership, good governance and consumer/ digital experience. Other interests include travel, art, antiques, fly fishing and fund raising.
FINCA Microfinance Bank’s Management Team
Our management team brings vast experience, professional skills and expertise from various industry backgrounds.
Farid Ahmed Khan
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (ACTING)
Farid Ahmed Khan
Shahid Hosain Kazi
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Shahid Hosain Kazi
Shahid Hosain Kazi is a banking industry veteran. He has 22 years of banking experience in different institutions, departments, territories & jurisdictions and in various capacities, including in Leadership roles. Shahid’s experience covers key banking functions such as Corporate & Retail Banking, Strategic Planning, Risk Management & International Business.
Shahid started his banking career with Emirates Bank in 1994. Over the years, he held senior positions at Bank Alfalah and Habib Metropolitan Bank (subsidiary of Habib AG Zurich). Most recently, he served for 4 years as “Group Head – Corporate & Transaction Banking” at Habib Metropolitan Bank.
He holds an MBA in Banking & Finance from Institute of Business Administration (IBA) – Karachi.
Manzoor Ahmed Janjua
CHIEF LEGAL & CORPORATE OFFICER/COMPANY SECRETARY/ GROUP HEAD HR, TRAINING & OD
Manzoor Ahmed Janjua
Manzoor joined FINCA Microfinance Bank as Assistant Manager Legal and Corporate Affairs in 2009. He is a graduate of Law, and Masters in Political Science from University of the Punjab. Manzoor has 15 years of practical experience in representing a diversified clientele and pleading a variety of civil, criminal and corporate cases. He has expertise in both financial and non-financial industry sectors. His tenure at the Bank witnessed and successfully processed a major equity injection from a US Based Microfinance organization, FINCA Impact Finance. An avid Corporate Secretary and a gifted lawyer, Manzoor rendered valuable legal advice on critical projects of the Bank. He is currently a member of the Management Board, Disciplinary Action Committee and Sexual Harassment Committee of the Bank. He also provides managerial, corporate governance and legal advice on the highest decision making echelon of the Bank
M. Mubashar Bashir
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
M. Mubashar Bashir
Mubashar Bashir is a seasoned Chartered Accountant with 18 years of experience in senior executive roles in corporate and public sector organizations. During his career he has also practiced public accounting and appraised investment opportunities worth USD 15 Billion in infrastructure, banking, insurance, power, cement, etc. His last position was heading the Structured Finance Unit at WAPDA. Prior to that he was at MCB where he oversaw strategic initiatives and marketing among other assignments in Finance.
Muhammad Shahzad Sadiq
GROUP HEAD RISK MANAGEMENT
Muhammad Shahzad Sadiq
Muhammad Shahzad Sadiq has joined us as Group Head Risk Management of the bank. He is a banking sector veteran with over 25+ years of progressive experience in different institutions, departments and in various Leadership roles
His experience covers the following key segments/functions:
- Risk Management
- Credit and Marketing
- Legal and Corporate Affairs
- Finance and Budgeting
- Project and Corporate Finance Management
- Planning and Audits
Muhammad Shahzad is a diverse and experienced professional and prior to joining the FINCA Family, he has held a number of positions including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Internal Auditor to mention a few. He has worked with some of the leading commercial banks in the country and his last assignment was with Allied Bank.
Nuvin Jatala
HEAD OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Nuvin Jatala
Nuvin Jatala is the Head of IT. She joined in November 2007 and led the setup and implementation of the bank’s information and communication infrastructure as well as the core banking system. She was also responsible for assembling the IT team and developing the requisite policy/procedures. In addition to managing the IT operations, she is also overseeing the implementation of technology-based channels for the bank, which involve deployment and maintenance of ATM’s at all branches, and other such initiatives.
Prior to joining FINCA, she was working with City Schools Private Limited from 2004-2007. Her initial work experience comprises of software project management and re-engineering at two software service providers. Her total career span is now more than 13 years. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems from N.E.D University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi and Masters in Computer Science from SZABIST, Karachi.
Muhammad Qaisar
HEAD OF DISTRIBUTION
Muhammad Qaisar
Mr. Qaisar brings over a decade of experience working in the microfinance industry. He started his career at the grass root level, successfully performed different roles like credit officer, branch manager, area manager, regional manager and finally attained the position of head of business banking at FINCA.
Mr. Qaisar possesses multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural and multi-institutional knowledge of working closely with rural/urban segment of the society; grip on individual and group based lending model, knowledge of social sector, implementing efficiency measures, in-depth understanding of effective communication and ability to travel extensively in operational areas.
Mr. Qaisar has a degree in Master of Arts in Sociology and also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Support Communication from University of the Punjab Lahore.
Syeda Noshina Bukhari
HEAD OF OPERATIONS & DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Syeda Noshina Bukhari
Syeda Noshina Bukhari is an experienced banker. She has over 10 years of commercial banking experience before joining the Microfinance sector in 2008. She has worked at Union Bank Limited, Askari Commercial Bank and Prime Commercial Bank before joining FINCA. She has experience in branch banking operations, trade finance and SME financing. She has also worked as a main trainer and director management trainee program at Prime Commercial Bank Limited. She has developed and implemented the Banking Operational Policies and Procedure, Internal Control Processes and played a vital role in implementation of the Banking software.
Mrs. Bukhari’s has done her Masters in Public Administration from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad.
A. Jamal Khan
HEAD OF ADMIN & PROCUREMENT
A. Jamal Khan
A. Jamal Khan is Executive Vice President (Senior Functional Head) for Administration & Procurement. His professional career span is over 45 years in the field of Banking and has served in different financial institutions in Pakistan and abroad in various roles.
His experience encompasses the following key business segments:
- Branch Banking
- Personnel Management
- Human Resources
- Administration
- Budgeting and Resource Allocation
- Vendor Management
- Asset Procurement
- Expenditure Control
- Compliance and Internal Controls
He started his career in 1970 as a Management Trainee Officer at Habib Bank Training Centre, Karachi and subsequently moved to Sarhad Bank Limited (now Allied Bank) and then United Bank Limited, where he worked as a Branch Manager and in the controlling office. Later he worked in several administrative and governance based positions with Bank of Credit and Commerce International in their overseas operations, Prime Bank (now Faysal Bank) and Bank Alfalah. His last position was as Officiating Group Head of Administration, Technology, and Operations Group at Bank Alfalah Limited. He has a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Peshawar.
Muhammad Asif Javed
HEAD OF COMPLIANCE
Muhammad Asif Javed
Mr. Asif Javed is a veteran banker with a cumulative banking experience of 20 years in leading commercial banks of Pakistan. He started his banking career in 1999 from MCB Bank and later on worked with HBL for 8 years in different capacities. Before joining FINCA, he had been at Barclays Bank, Pakistan for a period of 8 years, working as the Head of Trade Finance (central region).
His expertise includes foreign trade finance, core banking & branch operations, internal audit, customer service, compliance & internal controls. Mr. Asif obtained his MBA from Al-Khair University. In his position as the head of compliance, he looks after compliance related matters of the bank.
Hamayun Aslam Bhutta
HEAD OF RETAIL BANKING
Hamayun Aslam Bhutta
Hamayun has almost 16 years of banking experience in the major areas of business development, branch banking, customer experience, compliance and regional office. Before joining FINCA, he had been associated with Bank Alfalah for more than a decade.
Hamayun’s focus in FINCA has been to develop the liabilities team to enhance their professional skills in order to achieve and exceed the desired targets. As a result, new deposit trends and products have been introduced to not only meet the customer requirements, but also increase the FINCA’s overall deposit book.
Q&A
What activities enrich your life?
I believe enriching your life means making your life as fulfilling, meaningful, and filled with joy as possible. There’s no one trick to enriching your life, as there are many ways you can take to have new experiences. My ideas on enriching my life include chasing my fears, knowledge, caring for my friends and family, recognizing that it’s difficult to please everyone and trying to be less of a perfectionist at times. Though I do think these are some of the starting points in a broad and amazing journey that I’m taking :)
What words of wisdom would you share with a young person?
Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, and live on that in your muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. That is the way to success.
If you were given the ability to change one thing in the world, what would you choose and why?
I’d like to moderate the obsession with technology in today’s world. Our typical day is consumed so much by technology like smart phones, tablets, and laptops. We spend so much time with our faces glued to the bright little screens! We’ve become anti-social. At a restaurant, I see people sitting down at the table with their attention completely on their phones and not on the people sitting next to them. We should spend more time bonding with the people we care about. Technology is great for educational purposes but we have to recognize our limits.
“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!”
Audrey Hepburn
Syed Asghar Hussain
HEAD OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Syed Asghar Hussain
Asghar is a Product Management and Consumer Insights professional with more than 16 years of experience. He has worked in a wide variety of roles within the financial sector. He is skilled in the areas of business strategy, P&L management, research, product & project management. Asghar started his career in 2000 and has since worked with companies like Outreach Digital, Gallup Pakistan, BearingPoint, Oasis Insights, Standard Chartered Bank & Tameer Microfinance Bank. His last assignment was with The Pragma Corporation, an agency working with the USAID, where he served for 1 year as SME Banking Advisor. He holds a Masters in International Marketing from University of East London, London & an MBA from IBA, Karachi.
Hashim butt
HEAD OF DFS
Hashim butt
Hashim is a seasoned Sales and Business management professional with a diverse experience (23+ years) having started his career with The Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (Government of Punjab) back in 1998 to IT, Hospitality, Telecommunications and now in the Banking arena since 2017.
He has served in the telecommunication sector of Pakistan and contributed over thirteen years of his career to these including the top two telcos; Telenor Pakistan and Jazz (formerly Mobilink). Hashim was also been part of the Easypaisa core team that revolutionized the mobile banking industry of Pakistan. He led the Punjab region for Institutional sales and services for Easypaisa for over five years before moving to join one of the largest commercial banks of Pakistan MCB Bank as the Head of Branchless Banking.
Hashim specializes in B2B, B2C and G2P sales and services. He is currently leading the Branchless Banking unit of FINCA Pakistan managing business partners and overall SIMSIM Business, Including but not limited to; DFS Operations, Products, Compliance, Finance, Segments & Markets, B2B Sales, Channel Management and Special Projects.
M Omer Farooq Aziz
HEAD OF INTERNAL AUDIT
M Omer Farooq Aziz
Omer Farooq is a Chartered Accountant with 10 years of experience working within and outside Pakistan. He has extensive experience of designing systems of internal control, business process re-engineering and process automation. Omer’s career highlights include heading the largest financial systems transformation project in telecom sector in the region. His experience includes Project Management, compliance with IFRS’s, corporate laws and process streamlining using technology based solutions.
Omer started his career with A.F.Ferguson & Co (member firm of PWC) where he worked for various sectors including banking, textile, cement and FMCG. In his current role as Head of Audit, he looks after management and branch audits, IT audits and Anti-Fraud Management Unit.
Q&A
What activities enrich your life?
One of the best ways to enrich one’s life is to take up a hobby. Whether you’re good at it or not, just find something you enjoy and stick to it. For me, it is photography. Photography helps me challenge myself to become better at it, increases my sense of commitment and enriches my life.
If you could spend the day with one person from history, who would it be and why?
If I had that choice, I would spend the day with the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kamal. From a military strategist to a political and social reformist, Ataturk had done it all. His program of political, economic and cultural reforms lead to what ultimately became a modern, progressive and secular Turkey.
What do you like to do for fun?
Depends on my mood. My formula for stress relief is a daily dose of gym, however weekends would involve hanging out with friends, dining out or simply laying back watching a good movie with family.
“Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. Give a woman micro-credit, she, her husband, her children and her extended family will eat for a lifetime.”
Bono
Syed Haris Ali
DY. HEAD OF CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT
Syed Haris Ali
Syed Haris Ali is a seasoned banker. He has more than 13 years of experience within Risk Management across multiple credit domains e.g. Retail Lending and SME, Commercial Banking, Leasing and Modaraba. His area of expertise includes Credit Risk, Operational Risk, Portfolio Management, Credit Policy, Risk Analytics, Collections & Recoveries, Special Asset Management, Portfolio Due-diligence, Internal Audits and Credit Operations etc.
He started his banking career with Standard Chartered Bank in 2005 and over the years held senior positions within the Risk function. Most recently, he served as “Head of Credit & Risk Management, for Standard Chartered Leasing and Modaraba”. There, he successfully established Risk functions of both the subsidiaries on global Risk framework.
Haris is the Harvard University’s EMSEL fellow where he earned ‘Emerging Leaders Certification’ in ‘Leadership & Management’. He is also the ‘Omega CSA’ holder from Omega Performance, USA; a Global certification in Retail & Commercial Credit. Haris also holds an MS degree in Information Systems from University of Karachi.
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
Steve Jobs