Senior Banker,
Most recently, Mr. Zaman was the Chief Executive Officer at BRAC International with responsibilities over the business operations in Pakistan – a position held for 3 years. In addition to social sector programs, he was instrumental with transforming the microfinance program to a successful and profitable venture, most notably for growth in outreach and portfolio of the BRAC Microfinance program spread across the country. Under his direct leadership, the program successfully secured USD $14.3 Million (Rs. 2 Billion in local currency funding) to support lending capital and growth. Additionally, Mr. Zaman implemented organizational restructuring to improve outreach and expand access to finances, which enabled the Microfinance program to receive the “Most Innovative MFI Award” on behalf of the country.
Prior to this, Mr. Zaman held the position of Deputy CFO & Risk Manager at the First Micro Finance Bank, in Afghanistan; and later became Chief Financial Officer at FINCA Afghanistan, where he served 3 years until promotion to Chief Executive Office (becoming one of only a few individuals in the FINCA network history to be promoted from CFO to CEO). While CEO at FINCA Afghanistan, Mr. Zaman significantly enhanced loan portfolio growth and positioned the institution as one of the most outstanding competitors in the country – in terms of outreach and geographical office footprint. Given the extraordinarily challenged operating environment, Mr. Zaman contributed to increasing the outstanding loan portfolio and outreach targets well beyond initial targets established and was recognized for his efforts by receiving the 1st ever “Best Client and Best Loan Officer” Award in the microfinance sector category (a first in the history of Afghanistan).
Mr. Zaman has strong leadership and financial management skills honed through diverse experiences that include, amongst others, having been an active member of a Technical Working Group with the Central Bank of Afghanistan and USAID to formulate microfinance regulations for the country.
He started his professional career with Aga Khan Health Services and worked for 18 years in different Aga Khan Development Network organizations that included Aga Khan Health Service, Aga Khan Education Service, Aga Khan Foundation - Afghanistan, and the First Microfinance Bank - Afghanistan.
Mr. Zaman is bilingual in English and Urdu languages.
He holds an MBA in Finance from Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan; and a Bachelor’s in Commerce degree from the University of Karachi, Pakistan. He is a Certified Risk Manager from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Germany; and has completed a one-year course on Social Enterprise Management – through a joint Program between Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan & McGill University of Canada.
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