Kabeer Naqvi is a seasoned financial services leader with over 26 years of experience spanning banking, fintech, corporate finance, and strategic transformation. Currently serving as Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) at Abhi Fintech UAE, he plays a pivotal leadership and advisory role in shaping the future of financial services in Pakistan through innovation, inclusion, and digital disruption.
In his current capacity, Kabeer works closely with the holding company and the Board as the shareholder’s representative, while also acting as a trusted coach and mentor to the executive management team of ABHI Microfinance Bank. His mandate goes beyond governance and oversight, he is actively driving the strategic transformation of Abhi Microfinance Bank into a next-generation digital bank designed to serve the evolving needs of Pakistan’s underserved and emerging consumer segments.
Under his strategic guidance, the bank is currently undergoing massive digital interventions across its operating model, customer experience, product architecture, and technology stack. His vision is to transform the institution from a traditional microfinance bank into a technology-led, customer-centric digital financial platform.
Most recently, Kabeer led the successful acquisition and transformation of FINCA Microfinance Bank into Abhi Microfinance Bank, a landmark transaction that reimagined a struggling institution into a future-ready platform for financial empowerment. As principal advisor, he guided this complex and high-impact transaction from inception through execution, delivering one of the most significant strategic deals in Pakistan’s financial sector.
Previously, as President & CEO of U Microfinance Bank, he led its transformation into one of Pakistan’s leading microfinance institutions. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Tameer Microfinance Bank, Ernst & Young Saudi Arabia, TPL Pakistan, and House of Habib.
A Chartered Accountant, a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), and a Fellow Member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Kabeer has also served as Chairman of the Pakistan Microfinance Network, where he championed inclusive finance and drove sector-wide initiatives for sustainable impact.
Working between Pakistan, UAE and the United States, Kabeer brings a global perspective, deep market expertise, and transformational leadership to every mandate he undertakes. Today, he stands at the forefront of building one of Pakistan’s most exciting digital banking stories.
Mr. Syed Mohammed Ali Raza brings over 25 years of diverse experience across Investment Management, Corporate Finance, and FinTech, with exposure to both local and international markets. He has a strong track record of structuring and launching innovative investment vehicles, including venture debt, private credit funds, and offshore investment platforms, while successfully raising capital from a broad base of investors including DFIs and global institutions. He has held senior leadership roles including Director – Corporate Finance at Abhi (Pvt.) Limited, Investment Principal at Rahmat Group & ePlanet Communications, and Chief Operating Officer at Lakson Investments. His experience also includes key positions at IGI Financial Services, BMA Asset Management, Al Meezan Investment Management, and The Hartford Mutual Funds (USA), where he led investment strategy, fundraising, and product development initiatives.
Sardar Hasan Raza is a seasoned human capital professional with a career spanning over 20 years, encompassing diverse industry sectors such as Banking, FMCG, Telecommunication, and Aviation. He has held pivotal roles in renowned organizations like MCB Bank, Jazz, Engro, and Gerry’s dnata, serving as Head of HR, Head of Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding, and Head of Transformation and Culture. His extensive experience also includes international assignments with multinational corporations prior to his tenure at ABHI.
Throughout his career, Hasan has played a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of companies after new business acquisitions. He excels in developing efficient management structures for emerging business lines, streamlining performance management processes, implementing cutting-edge learning solutions, enhancing operational and process excellence, and fostering strong industrial relations. These accomplishments have contributed significantly to the agility and rapid growth of the organizations he has been a part of.
Hasan’s educational background includes a master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Surrey in Guildford, UK. His academic foundation, combined with his extensive professional experience, makes him a truly exceptional human capital expert.
Mr. Janjua has more than 18 years of diversified experience as legal and corporate professional; managing corporate commercial, conventional/arbitration & banking, regulatory & compliance, civil and criminal litigation at law firms, as well as serving as Chief Legal & Corporate Officer and Company Secretary handling civil and criminal litigation, mediation & microfinance banking, corporate, real estate, investments, regulatory and compliance affairs including Board Committee, Board and Shareholders meetings and related issues of the Bank. He Joined the Bank in 2009 and presently serving as Chief Legal & Corporate Officer and Company Secretary. He is Law Graduate and Masters in Political Science from University of the Punjab. He is also a certified director from the Institute of Charted Accountants of Pakistan. His tenure at the Bank witnessed a successful completion of major equity injection of US based Microfinance organization, ABHI Impact Finance.
Mr. Atif Aziz Ahmed brings over 30 years of extensive experience in Information Technology, having successfully led transformation initiatives across leading financial institutions to deliver innovative solutions, improve system uptime, and achieve significant operational efficiencies. His core expertise includes IT governance, IT strategy, IT infrastructure management, business continuity & disaster recovery, and project management.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Atif Aziz Ahmed has held leadership positions including Chief Information Officer, CIO/Group Executive Director – IT, Head of Information Technology, and Project Manager at renowned organizations such as Khushhali Microfinance Bank, Telenor Microfinance Bank (formerly Tameer Microfinance Bank), KASB Securities Limited, AKD Securities Limited, Progressive Systems Private Limited and AT&T Research Labs.
A result driven and highly skilled Finance Professional with over 19 years of wide-ranging experience, which include business development, strategy formulation, optimizing treasury function, ALM management and structured debt raising along with corporate liability generation. Demonstrates expertise in banking governance as a company secretary, overseeing finance functions together with dealing regulatory and external audits. Proven track record in optimizing business operations, driving growth, improving efficiency, and enhancing profitability.
A skilled motivator, adept at prioritizing tasks, multitasking, and leading teams to success. Commercially astute, adaptable, and a strong communicator, consistently delivering outstanding results with a positive work ethic, energy, and a commitment to long-term success.
Holds a BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University and is an Associate Member of ICAEW (ACA) and Fellow Member of ACCA (FCCA).
Mariam Pervaiz is a distinguished banking executive with nearly 21 years of leadership and innovation in Pakistan’s financial sector. She has a proven track record of driving growth and operational efficiency, making her an exceptional candidate to lead a financial institution in a complex landscape.
She played a pivotal role in spearheading TPL and Abhi’s strategic acquisition of the bank, overseeing critical negotiations and aligning stakeholder interests to facilitate a smooth transition.
She navigated complex regulatory and financial landscapes, ensuring compliance while optimizing value for both acquirers and the bank. Her leadership was instrumental in structuring the deal, mitigating risks, and fostering collaboration between involved parties, ultimately setting the foundation for a successful integration.
At U-Microfinance Bank, Mariam played a key role in establishing it as Pakistan’s fastest-growing microfinance institution. As a founding team member and Chief Commercial Officer, she directed strategic initiatives and led core areas like Islamic Banking and Urban Retail. She improved the bank’s commercialization and addressed liquidity by boosting urban and rural deposits and exploring borrowing options. The Board of Directors selected Mariam as the CEO successor, a choice reinforced by a rigorous validation process from Korn Ferry, highlighting her strategic and operational expertise. Her roles as Acting President & CEO provided her with vital experience in executive decision-making, governance, and effective engagement with regulators.
Mariam’s advocacy in the financial sector focuses on promoting financial and social inclusion for women. As a notable public speaker at events like the Pakistan Microfinance Network’s Annual Conference, she collaborates with industry leaders and policymakers to foster knowledge-sharing. In 2022, she represented Pakistan at the World Economic Forum in Davos, highlighting the nation’s investment potential.
Mariam served as Acting CFO at U Microfinance Bank, overseeing financial strategy and growth programs. Previously, she spent over a decade at MCB Bank Limited in senior roles across corporate and transactional banking, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the sector.
She is certified as a Director by Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and holds an MBA and BBA (Honors) in Finance from Bahria University, Islamabad. Her commitment to financial inclusion and sustainable growth reflects the core leadership qualities essential for the evolving financial sector in Pakistan.
Muhammad Aminuddin is the Executive Director & CEO of TPL Insurance, a pioneering force in Pakistan’s InsurTech sector and a leader in non-life insurance. Under his strategic leadership, TPL Insurance has not only established itself as the country’s largest retail insurer but also as the second-largest provider of Shariah-compliant Takaful insurance, setting new benchmarks for innovation, customer-centricity, and technological advancement in the industry.
With over 25 years of extensive experience in global financial services, Mr. Aminuddin has built a distinguished career spanning banking, insurance, fintech, energy, commodities, and oil & gas. He began his career with American Express Bank and ABN AMRO (1996-2010) before moving on to senior leadership roles at Barclays and IGI Life Insurance, where he served as Deputy Chief Executive. Prior to leading TPL Insurance, he was the CEO of United Bank UK, a joint venture between two of Pakistan’s largest banks, United Bank Limited and National Bank of Pakistan, where he successfully led the organization to new heights.
Mr. Aminuddin’s career is marked by a strong track record of driving growth, operational excellence, and innovation across diverse markets in Europe, Asia, and Africa. His deep expertise in financial strategy and digital transformation has enabled him to steer TPL Insurance through a period of extraordinary growth, reinforcing its position as an industry leader while introducing groundbreaking solutions in insurance technology.
A visionary leader with a forward-thinking approach, Mr. Aminuddin is committed to transforming the insurance landscape in Pakistan and beyond. He holds an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, and is a Chartered Director & Fellow of the Institute of Directors (IoD), UK, exemplifying his commitment to excellence in corporate governance and leadership.
Pavel Khristolubov is an accomplished fintech executive with a proven track record in digital banking, consumer finance, and technology-driven financial services across global markets. With a strong operational and strategic leadership background, he has served in key executive roles, including Chief Operating Officer at DXC Luxoft, Tinkoff Group, and Kuda Bank, where he managed large-scale operations, P&L performance, and transformational growth initiatives.
Pavel excels in driving business expansion, optimizing operational efficiency and spearheading innovative product development in emerging markets. His expertise spans regulatory compliance, digital transformation and high-performance team leadership. Combined with his academic foundation in computer science, Pavel brings a unique blend of technical acumen and business strategy positioning him as a dynamic leader in the evolving fintech landscape.
Mr. Atif Riaz Bokhari is a seasoned banker with 40 years of experience in domestic and international banking. He started his banking career with the Bank of America and handled diverse assignments for over 15 years. Following the Bank of America, he joined Habib Bank Limited as Head of Corporate and Investment Banking. Mr. Bokhari took charge of UBL as President/CEO and leaded UBL for a decade. During this ten-year period UBL ventured into new diversified business and revenue streams namely Consumer Financing, E-Commerce, Branchless Banking, Asset Management and General Insurance. He also served as the Chairman of UBL Tanzania, UBL AG Zurich and a Director of UBL UK. Bokhari had a two-year stint ending in 2017 as a CEO/ President of NIB Bank (wholly owned subsidiary of Fullerton Financial Holdings – Temasek. Singapore) with a specific assignment to divest FFH’S holding in Pakistan. Recently, Mr. Bokhari along with two large business groups in Pakistan has formed the first Private Sector Housing Finance Company. He is also the founding director of a private equity company which successfully acquired Linde Pakistan (subsidiary of Linde AG).
In March 2020, Mr. Bokhari was appointed as a Minister of State & Chairman Board of Investment (BOI), Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan and served until 2021. Thereafter, he took over as a CEO/President of Askari Bank Limited and served until May 2024. During his tenure, major restructuring was affected and 2X profitability was achieved within 24 months.
Mr. Bokhari has been actively involved with private sector programs for health and development of education in Pakistan. He was founding Director of the Karachi School of Business and Leadership (KSBL). He also serves/served on the Board of Governors of Kidney Center Karachi, Patients Aid Foundation, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and Indus Valley school of Arts and Architecture. Mr. Bokhari was also a Director of State Bank of Pakistan Board and a Member of the Monetary Policy Committee. He has also been a Director of numerous Boards with diversified sectors like Consumer Products, Oil Marketing, Chemicals, Banking and Engineering.
Ms. Khursheed Kotwal has been appointed as an Independent Director on the Board of ABHI Microfinance Bank. A distinguished Fellow Chartered Accountant and corporate secretary with over three decades of diverse experience, she is a recognized leader in accounting, finance, business, and corporate governance. Her distinguished career began with an 18-year tenure at Unilever Pakistan, where she rose to become its first female Corporate Finance Director & Chief Auditor. A woman of many portfolios, she is the founder of Aasman International, a management consultancy.
Ms. Kotwal is a prominent figure in the professional community, currently a council member & was also the Vice President (2024-25) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP). She also chairs the Digital Accounting and Assurance Board.
Her deep commitment to financial inclusivity is demonstrated through her role as an Independent Director and Chairperson of the Audit Committee at the Pakistan Microfinance Network. Her influence extends globally through her participation in international bodies like the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants and Chartered Accountants Worldwide. She is also a certified director.
Beyond her professional achievements, she is a trustee dedicated to community welfare and a recipient of prestigious awards, including Accountant of the Year and The Most Influential Woman in Pakistan.
Mr. Jehangir Shah has had over forty years’ experience in commercial banking, private & personal banking and leasing, including overseas work experience in the U.A.E., Egypt and Brazil. Mr. Shah was last associated with Pak Oman Investment Company Limited from July 2008 up to retirement in November 2023 as Deputy Managing Director. Previously he served as Country Manager-Pakistan of Oman International Bank SAOG (2006-2008), and as Managing Director / CEO of Capital Assets Leasing Corporation Limited. His former employments include Bank of Credit and Commerce International.
Mr. Shah was a Sponsor and founding Director of Pak Gulf Leasing Company Limited, listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange in 1996. From 2021 to September 2024 was an Independent Director of Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited. Mr. Shah is currently on the Board of Directors of the following Companies:
Ms. Ammara Masood is the Global Industries GM, Banking and Financial Services at Systems Limited and CEO of Ndc Tech (a wholly owned subsidiary of Systems) which is one of the leading technology firms providing solutions and services internationally in Banking. In July 2022 her company NdcTech was acquired fully by Systems Limited (SYS) the largest exporter of software services. Ms, Masood has a vast experience of working and founding various IT companies in global markets including United States; Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. She has led some of the industry’s largest transformation initiatives in Banking, Telecom and High-Tech Sectors. While working in top leadership positions, Ms. Masood has opened new markets, bought institutional reforms, governance and turned around companies in all aspects.
Ms. Masood also holds a position as an Independent Director for Central Depository Company, Member Policy Board SECP, Governing Council ICT member Pakistan Single Window and on the Industry Advisory Board of Habib University. Previously, she also held positions as elected member of Central Executive Committee for Software Houses Association of Pakistan, Independent Director for DataCheck. Ms. Masood is the winner of a prestigious award by FinTech Futures in the leadership category at the 2021 and 2022 Global Banking Tech awards in London.
Ms. Masood has pursued a versatile career path traversing Information Technology; Consulting and Entrepreneurship across 3 continents. She is a Senior Executive Leader with 29+ years of experience in Information Technology and Governance. Her primary expertise is in IT Strategy, Consulting and Digital Transformations for global clients in Banking & Finance; Telecom and High Tech Sectors.
Ms. Masood did Bachelors from Kinnaird College, Lahore and MBA from Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad. She is also a Master’s in Business Administration (Information Sciences) from California State University, San Bernardino and got an Executive Diploma in Strategic Uses of Information Sciences from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Mr. Omair Muzzaffar Ansari stands at the foreground of the financial technology revolution as the CEO and Co-founder of ABHI, an innovative embedded finance platform rapidly expanding its influence in the MENAP region. Before foundation of Abhi, Ansari worked in the Frontier & Emerging Equity/Derivatives market space for more than a decade. Ansari’s rich tapestry of roles across Arqaam Capital, Renaissance Capital, and Religare Capital Markets in consultancy, directorial, and vice-presidential capacities, respectively, speaks volumes of his versatile leadership and deep market insight. Ansari is educationally grounded with a double major in finance and political science from McMaster University, Ontario, Canada and his experience of living in over 9 countries has shaped his global outlook. This extensive exposure not only stoked up his passion for emerging economies but also established his stature as a visionary financial strategist.
Mr. Ali Muhammad Raza is a seasoned entrepreneur and fintech expert, recognized as a pioneer in Pakistan’s fintech industry. Raza is a co-founder of Abhi Private Limited, a Pakistani fintech company which provides technical and financial solutions to the companies. Before inception of Abhi, Raza gained extensive experience in the financial and technology sector and worked with renowned organizations and startups. His expertise spans financial services, product development, and strategic planning. Under Raza’s leadership, Abhi has achieved significant milestones, including successful fundraising rounds, launch of innovative financial products, partnerships with major financial institutions and expansion of financial services to companies. Raza holds a degree in Computer Science from Cardiff University Wales and his work has been featured in prominent publications highlighting his contributions to financial inclusion and innovation.