Azhar Hamid

Mr. Azhar Hamid is an international banker with a career spanning over 55 years with Grindlays Bank, ANZ Bank, and latterly Standard Chartered Bank. He was appointed as the first Pakistani Country Head of ANZ Grindlays Bank in Pakistan in 1994. After the acquisition of the Bank in 2000 by Standard Chartered Bank, he was asked to continue as the Country Head of the combined bank, retiring in 2003. After the introduction of a Riba-free financial system in Pakistan in 1985, he led the team that established the First Grindlays Modaraba which became the most successful and dominant Modaraba Company in the Country. Senior overseas assignments with ANZ Bank include the UK, Bahrain, Jordan, and Australia. He has served on the board of Grindlays Bahrain Bank in Bahrain. Upon retirement in 2003, he served as Director Board of the State Bank of Pakistan the position that he relinquished when asked by the Government to establish a Banking Mohtasib (Ombudsman) function in the Country. He was thus the first Banking Mohtasib (Ombudsman) in Pakistan and completed his 3 years term in May 2008. He has served as Director on the Board of the Bank of Punjab, the position which he was relinquished in September 2009, and served on the Board of Burj Bank for 3 years up to the end of 2015. He is currently serving as a Chairman of UBL Fund Managers since July 2017. He has also served on several Pakistan Government and State Bank of Pakistan committees on economic reforms and monetary policy.