Ghazanfar Azzam joined Kashf Foundation, the leading private sector MFI in Pakistan in early 2007. He worked with the founder of the Kashf Group and managing director of Kashf Foundation Ms. Roshaneh Zafar as project manager for establishing Kashf Microfinance Bank and assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer upon successful launch of the Bank in October 2008. He took over CEO’s responsibility in November 2009. Prior to joining Kashf, Ghazanfar worked with ShoreBank International as a senior consultant on a SME Capacity Building USAID funded WHAM Project 2005-07.

Ghazanfar did his masters (MBA) from Punjab University) and qualified as a professional banker (DAIBP) of Institute of Bankers, Pakistan in 1986. He is experienced banker in retail, consumer, commercial and SME banking. In his career spanning over 24 years, he worked with Habib Bank, Union Bank (now part of Standard Chartered), Bank Alfalah and Prime Bank (now part of RBS) in most of the banking functions i.e. branch banking operations, customer services, small business finance, liability & asset marketing.

In 2002, Ghazanfar rejoined Prime Bank as a Senior Vice President and member of the management forum and led establishment of Country Liability Marketing function which was later converted to Small Business & Retail Banking Group at Prime Bank. He introduced cashflow and risk based lending techniques to small business lending to replace traditional collateral based lending methodology and transformed culture of the new functions through introduction of performance based remuneration, rewards and recognition systems. He left Prime Bank to join ShoreBank International in Oct 2005.

Ghazanfar is an experienced bank trainer and he has taught advanced banking courses at NIBAF, Institute of Bankers Pakistan and various bank training institutes. In recognition of his professional achievements, he was awarded Fulbright – Humphrey Fellowship for 2000-01 for mid career professionals by the government of the United States. He studied Leadership & Management at Pennsylvania State University and worked with ABN Amro Bank in Chicago as a visiting professional under Fulbright program. He has attended several senior level executive education and training programs at Pakistan Institute of Management, LUMS, Harvard Business School.

Khalid Kabeer is Chief Financial Officer at Kashf Microfinance Bank Limited. He joined Kashf Foundation in early 2003 and since then spearheaded many innovations in the function of finance. Besides being part of the strategic management team, he has played key roles in various initiatives including developing and implementing group structure involving range of entities, including a specialized microfinance bank, consequent business valuations and equity negotiations as well as developing long term financing strategy. He led the country’s first transaction leading to raising Rs 2 billion (USD 36 million). He also innovated on costing and delivery mechanisms of field cash management at Kashf with a throughput of over 8 billion rupees.

Introduction of financial risk management function and initiatives to increase transparency and quality of financial information were also significant initiatives taken by him. Mr Kabeer also led the process of transition of regulatory structure from society to a non-profit company resulting in transfer of balance sheet of over Rs 2 billion involving extensive legal research and compliance. Later on, he was actively involved in setting up and operationalizing Kashf Holdings and Kashf Microfinance Bank Limited and is currently the Chief financial and Risk Officer for the bank. His responsibilities include strategic financial management, treasury, reporting, legal and enterprise risk management.

Mr Kabeer is a Chartered Accountant and he completed his professional training with PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2000. He also holds a graduation in Economics. Before joining Kashf, he worked with in private sector organization in Pakistan for 2 ½ years. Mr Kabeer has also been teaching finance courses in Lahore University of Management Sciences and has developed a specialized course on microfinance.