Abdullah Akhtar

Abdullah Akhtar Email and Phone Number

Connecting Business and Technology Worlds | Fintech (Payments Lending Wallets) Real estate Ecommerce SAAS Retail BNPL | Ex Country Head - Business Operations Retailo FINJA Foodpanda Arpatech Hubpay | @ Al-Syed Group of Companies
Abdullah Akhtar's Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates
About Abdullah Akhtar

+971 56 766 0931Abdullah.akhtar871@gmail.comPersonal Growth Journey:One aspect that I like about my career is the fact that I have held the role of the first employee in four distinct companies, starting their development from the very beginning. Throughout my career, I have gained valuable learnings in diverse roles, which I would like to emphasize and highlight.I am a seasoned Business Growth and Operations Strategist with a rich 13-year tenure in leadership positions, including Director Sales and Operations, Chief Growth Officer, Head of BNPL Operations, Head of Lending Operations, and Head of Commercial & Growth. My expertise lies in constructing and scaling commercial and digital ventures.As a detail oriented manager, I am driven by systems and processes, with extensive exposure across diverse departments. Throughout my career, I have led the formation and management of teams comprising 350+ individuals across critical domains such as Product Management, Data and Performance, Growth, Expansion, Operations, Risk & Compliance, Customer Support, and Technology. My expertise lies in shaping customer-centric, achievement-driven and accountable high-performance teams.With a solid foundation in financial planning, budgeting, and analysis, I have held complete P&L responsibility for a number of highly successful organizations over the years.My Personal Books and Guidance:On a personal level, I have a witty sense of humor, possessing keen vision for problem-solving and building at the design level. I prefer simplified processes and minimal protocols. Fluent in the language of data, numbers, and precise analysis, I am passionate about collaborating with intellectual giants, kind souls, and empathetic individuals. In my free time, I engage in conversations on tech businesses, startups, chess, and cards.My Professional Skillset:In terms of professional skills, I excel in developing strategic alliances and establishing C-suite level partnerships. My market research skills are exemplary, and I am skilled in executing go-to-market strategies and successful product launches. I am fearless in decision-making and skillful in navigating risks. Additionally, I possess proficiency in talent acquisition and organizational development. Notably, I have critical thinking and decision-making abilities. I am experienced in complex financial planning, precise task prioritization, and consistently meeting deadlines.

Abdullah Akhtar's Current Company Details
Al-Syed Group of Companies

Al-Syed Group Of Companies

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Connecting Business and Technology Worlds | Fintech (Payments Lending Wallets) Real estate Ecommerce SAAS Retail BNPL | Ex Country Head - Business Operations Retailo FINJA Foodpanda Arpatech Hubpay |
Abdullah Akhtar Work Experience Details
  • Al-Syed Group Of Companies
    Director Sales And Export Operations
    Al-Syed Group Of Companies Jun 2022 - Present
    United Arab Emirates
    AlSyed, a cross-border trading company with a legacy since 2012, specializes in sourcing and importing premium food commodities from three continents. Our specialty lies in the seamless distribution of these high-quality products throughout the GCC, Asia, and Africa regions, with registered offices located in Qatar, the UAE, Uganda, and Pakistan.Our commitment to excellence is reflected in the array of services we offer:Direct Procurement and Sales:We take pride in direct buying, importation, and sales of food commodities, ensuring a direct link between producers, manufacturers, and consumers.Comprehensive Sales Engine and Logistics Services:AlSyed operates sales engines in key markets such as the UAE, Pakistan, Uganda, and Qatar. Beyond sales, we extend our expertise by providing comprehensive logistics, warehousing, and sales services to manufacturers, accompanied by a transparent commission structure.Diverse Product Portfolio:Oranges from PakistanOnions sourced from IndiaAvocado from UgandaMangoes from PakistanPotatoes from PakistanLimes from VietnamBlack Chickpeas from TanzaniaWhite Chickpeas from North SudanMasoor Daal / Red Lentils from TurkeyChanna Daal / Split Chickpeas from TurkeyKala Channa from TanzaniaPassion Fruit from UgandaSweet Potatoes from UgandaMatooke, a Ugandan Culinary GemPineapples from UgandaHass Avocados from Mexico and TanzaniaQuality-Checked Used Automobiles Imported from JapanUsed Clothing from Pakistan and Dubai
  • Hubpay
    Country Head Of Lending Operations - Fintech (Digital Wallet, Payments And Lending)
    Hubpay Jul 2022 - Present
    Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    Hubpay's inaugural target market centers on the United Arab Emirates. The digital wallet, duly licensed by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and introduced in 2020, presents remittance services, international bill disbursement, and peer-to-peer exchanges. With an annualized capacity, Hubpay successfully handles over $4 Billion in cross-border remittances.Our vision is to offer state-of-the-art financial products that simplify the lives of our valued customers.Led the strategic direction, operational functions, and profit and loss management of Hubpay's lending and payments services in Pakistan. Additionally, assuming leadership responsibilities for lending products across the UAE and Egypt.Obtained the right regulatory licenses and established effective communication with group senior management, legal experts, and regulators to fulfill all legal and compliance requirements.Served as an advisor to the CEO and the global team. Presently, Hubpay is in the preliminary phase of launching lending and payment products such as the individual and corporate Wallets, MSME Lending, Working Capital and Payroll Financing, Multicurrency corporate account and Invoice Factoring.
  • Megnus
    Director
    Megnus Jan 2018 - Nov 2023
    United Arab Emirates
    We are a Software as a Service (SaaS) company specializing in delivering advanced ERP solutions tailored specifically for the retail sector and microtechnology solutions for both corporate enterprises and MSMEs.Megnus represents a comprehensive digital transformation suite, allowing you to create your own customized software in real-time. You can access our suite at this link: https://megnus.app/Our primary mission is to assist businesses in optimizing their operations, automating their workflows, and enhancing overall performance.Within our portfolio, you'll find a range of modules designed to meet various needs, including strategic user experience (UX) design (FrontX), centralized order management (Keevy), targeted messaging (Titanz), logistics optimization and performance enhancement (AF16), advanced analytics (Dygno), streamlined process automation (Xapper), and precise inventory forecasting (Vision).
  • Retailo Technologies
    Head Of Bnpl Operations - Fintech (Retail Lending)
    Retailo Technologies Dec 2021 - Jul 2022
    Retailo has successfully onboarded and disbursed loans to 20,000 retailers across the markets of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. They have maintained a loan performance ratio (LPR) of 5.4 and a non-performing loan (NPL) rate below 1%. The company has experienced a 27% month-on-month growth in active loans and an 87% prompt payment collection rate. Retailo's credit offerings have contributed to a 32% increase in gross merchandise value (GMV), driving business growth.I led the strategic vision, go-to-market strategies, and end-to-end operations of the Fintech vertical, including the successful launch of credit products. Additionally, I headed cross-functional teams, identified market opportunities, and established key partnerships. By implementing robust risk management and regulatory compliance measures, I achieved significant revenue growth and customer acquisition. I ensured alignment of Fintech objectives with the corporate strategy for long-term growth.I built teams and implemented operational processes, focusing on operational excellence throughout the customer acquisition and credit recovery journey. I held accountability for revenue generation, KYC/KYB compliance, maintaining a risk and compliance framework, achieving an NPL rate below 1%, and fostering continuous growth.
  • Retailo Technologies
    Head Of Growth And Commercials (Technology Driven Fmcg Distribution And Saas Company)
    Retailo Technologies May 2020 - Dec 2021
    Retailo is a user-friendly online B2B marketplace focused on improving the technological capabilities of retail supply chains in the MENAP region, specifically in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.Through its carefully designed mobile application, Retailo aims to provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with a reliable and curated list of suppliers. This platform enables SMEs to easily place orders for a wide range of products, which are promptly delivered the following day. Additionally, Retailo helps manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors expand their reach to a broader audience of retailers, including those beyond their traditional target markets.The primary goal of Retailo is to empower SMEs in the retail sector across the MENAP region by equipping them with cutting-edge technology and real-time data. This approach streamlines complex supply chains, promoting seamless efficiency.Retailo has achieved significant milestones, including acquiring an impressive network of 100,000 retailers, primarily in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Pakistan. The company effectively manages a diverse team of over 400 resources and processes an impressive volume of 3 million annualized orders, showcasing its strong market presence and operational capabilities.
  • Empire Properties / Pearl Constructions
    Director & Co-Founder
    Empire Properties / Pearl Constructions 2018 - 2022
    United Arab Emirates
    Over the past five years, I have operated a prominent real estate firm, specializing in investment advisory services, executive-level stakeholder management, and building relationships with high-level decision-makers.I have overseen various business aspects, including operations, regulations, policies, ownership transfers, and inventory sourcing. Additionally, I played a key role in establishing partnerships with five banks and fintech companies to facilitate financial assistance for property loans to our customers.Our team conducts detailed credit assessments by analyzing customer bank statements, verifying income sources, assessing debt-to-income ratios (DBR), and conducting Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) processes. Approved cases are then forwarded to the respective banks.Here are some notable achievements and highlights:Sold over 250 properties, including plots, commercial shops, offices, apartments, high-rise buildings, bungalows, villas, and penthouses. Personally, I handled over 100 sales, while the team collectively managed 250+ transactions.Organized more than 25 successful fundraising sales events, with participants including investors, brokers, and corporate entities.Negotiated selling rights for 16+ projects from reputable builders, resulting in the expansion of our portfolio and business opportunities.Managed social media channels and teams, overseeing more than 40 digital marketing campaigns. This led to a consistent influx of 10 qualified leads per day, with a turnaround time of 7 days. We achieved a meeting conversion rate of 30% and a sales conversion rate of up to 8%.Established a successful B2B sales model, collaborating with over 200 real estate agents and agencies for inventory sourcing and selling within our own inventory.
  • Finja
    Chief Growth Officer - Fintech (Retailer, Corporate, Horeca, Supply Chain, Payroll, Invoice Lending)
    Finja Nov 2016 - May 2020
    Pakistan
    This role focuses on developing and implementing a financial inclusion strategy with the goal of transitioning both conventional and unbanked individuals towards adopting wallets, payment solutions, and lending services. Our notable achievements include successfully onboarding 1,500 companies, resulting in 275,000 salary wallets for our Payroll product and two million consumer wallets. We have also digitized the supply chain for over 14,000 retailers and onboarded 400 brands for our payment gateway, enabling QR payments for 9,000 merchants.One of our accomplishments is the first launch of a mobile banking application that goes beyond traditional payment capabilities. This application has been downloaded by over two million users.To drive user acquisition and promote wallet adoption, we employ various strategies such as supplementary wallet offerings, reference-based campaigns, acquisition through offline channels and inbound calls, cross-selling, open APIs, B2B-2C partnerships, third-party alliances, and category wallet programs. Our focus is to ensure widespread usage of payment instruments, including payment gateways and wallets, across different sectors such as e-commerce businesses, fee collection, and cash collection models.In my leadership role, I have overseen five digital verticals, namely Simsim (an advanced digital wallet), a payroll disbursement module integrated with wallet accounts, supply chain digitization with lending options for the retail market, working capital solutions for restaurants and SMEs, and an online marketplace with EMI options. We continue to drive innovation and empower businesses across various sectors
  • Arpatech (Pvt) Ltd
    Head Of Business 04 E-Commerce Ventures (Market Place, Logistics, Ecommerce, Software)
    Arpatech (Pvt) Ltd Jan 2016 - Nov 2016
    Led the expansion efforts and established a fully functional Sales to drive business growth in international markets, the United States, Europe, and the Gulf region, with annual revenue of $5 Mn.Managed three multimillion-dollar companies based in Europe and the United States, namely Oats, Global Serve, and Connections.Served as an IT Firm & Venture Capitalist (US Official), where I assembled and led core team while developing and executing the business strategies for four e-commerce ventures under ATV ventures. These ventures encompassed B2B Logistics, an Online Shopping Marketplace, a Digital Media Channel, and an Online Grocery platform, namely Forrun, Sheops, Rava, and Tazamart
  • Foodpanda
    Head Of Business Development, Account Management & Expansion (Online Food Delivery And Logistics)
    Foodpanda 2014 - 2016
    Karāchi, Sindh, Pakistan
    As the leader of the Business & Key Accounts, I spearheaded various functions, including financial planning, development of revenue channels, expansion into new cities, and month-on-month growth in the number of orders and revenues, and enhancing partner restaurant experience.Managed teams across 17 major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Jhelum, and onboarded over 75,000+ restaurants and facilitating 9 million annual orders.Achievements worth highlighting include a 92% installation rate of foodpanda signage, securing 57% digital backlinks, ensuring 95% tablet installations, and 100% online payment success rate.Furthermore, we executed over 50 digital and offline campaigns in collaboration with renowned brands such as Pepsi, Unilever, Shan, Colgate, P&G, and TCS.
  • Eatoye Pvt. Ltd
    National Sales Head (Founding Team)
    Eatoye Pvt. Ltd Jul 2013 - Mar 2015
    Karachi Pakistan
    Secured 26 contracts, amounting to a value of 15.2 million PKR, within a single month.Business Development - Maintained proactive engagement with a diverse network of 134 advertising and digital agencies, consistently nurturing and capitalizing on business opportunities on a monthly basis.Managed a portfolio of key accounts, ensuring effective sales management and fostering strong client relationships.Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams, facilitating seamless coordination to deliver the highest level of pre-sales and post-sales service excellence.Participated in management meetings, contributing valuable insights and initiatives to drive sales improvement and enhance overall business performance.Keenly identified challenges and implemented timely corrective actions, effectively mitigating potential issues and maintaining optimal operational efficiency.
  • The Cricketer
    Senior Sales Executive
    The Cricketer Jun 2011 - Mar 2012
    Demonstrated an exceptional track record of securing an impressive 26 contracts, amounting to a substantial value of 15.2 million PKR, within a single month.Business Development - Maintained proactive engagement with a diverse network of 34 advertising and digital agencies, consistently nurturing and capitalizing on business opportunities on a monthly basis.Proficiently managed a portfolio of key accounts, ensuring effective sales management and fostering strong client relationships.Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams, facilitating seamless coordination to deliver the highest level of pre-sales and post-sales service excellence.Actively participated in management meetings, contributing valuable insights and initiatives to drive sales improvement and enhance overall business performance.Keenly identified challenges and implemented timely corrective actions, effectively mitigating potential issues and maintaining optimal operational efficiency.
  • Events
    Marketing Executive
    Events Feb 2011 - Jun 2011
    Successfully closed six high-value sponsorship deals worth of 3.2 million PKR within a tight timeframe of 90 days. Notable industry players, including Pak Suzuki, PIA, Habib Oil, Habib Bank, and Summit Bank, were brought on board as strategic partners.Led the management for key events like Karachi Fashion Week 2011, Islamabad Fashion Week 2011, Women Leadership Conference 11, and Pakistan Media Awards, driving impactful brand presence and significant business opportunities for the organization throughout my tenure.
  • Bahria University
    Coordinator - Src (Student Resource Center):
    Bahria University Jul 2009 - Jan 2011
    Karāchi, Sindh, Pakistan
    Managed various university events, including sports events, entertainment programs, corporate events, job fairs, alumni dinners, and guest speaker sessions.Secured sponsorships from 12 companies, including Total Oil Pakistan, PSO (Pakistan State Oil), Pfizer, Feroz Sons, GSK (GlaxoSmithKline), Leopard, Packages Ltd, and Starcom Pvt Ltd.Facilitated connections between graduates and potential employers by creating comprehensive graduate directories distributed to over 100 corporate entities.Successfully organized and executed nine major events with a dedicated team of 150+ individuals, including the Alumni Dinner 2010, Jashn.e.Baharan 2010, and Bahria Career Expo 2009.These achievements demonstrate efficient event management, valuable sponsorships, enhanced corporate engagement, and successful networking platforms for students and alumni.
  • The Baby Shop
    Founder
    The Baby Shop Jan 2006 - Dec 2010
    Karāchi, Sindh, Pakistan
    I started a retail store selling accessories and clothes for newborn babies. We had nearly 18,000 customers, and our direct sales transactions generated a revenue turnover of 200 million PKR.My responsibilities included increasing store footfall, optimizing profitability, strategizing merchandising plans, designing attractive displays, and implementing effective shelf spacing, competitive pricing based on demand, supply, and market trends. Additionally, I managed a strong distribution network, ensuring seamless garment delivery to two markets and overseeing 54 retail stores. I implemented a weekly recovery model to for distribution.

Abdullah Akhtar Education Details

Frequently Asked Questions about Abdullah Akhtar

What company does Abdullah Akhtar work for?

Abdullah Akhtar works for Al-Syed Group Of Companies

What is Abdullah Akhtar's role at the current company?

Abdullah Akhtar's current role is Connecting Business and Technology Worlds | Fintech (Payments Lending Wallets) Real estate Ecommerce SAAS Retail BNPL | Ex Country Head - Business Operations Retailo FINJA Foodpanda Arpatech Hubpay |.

What schools did Abdullah Akhtar attend?

Abdullah Akhtar attended Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute Of Science And Technology, Bahria University.

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