Mashreq Pakistan, a part of Mashreq which is the leading financial institution in the MENA region, has further solidified its commitment to Pakistan by announcing three key leadership appointments. Shamsulhaq Niaz has been appointed the Chief Digital Officer and Head of Payments, Khurram Mumtaz has been appointed as Head of NEO, and Rabia Atlas will serve as the Head of NEOPAY for the market.
These strategic appointments reflect Mashreq’s dedication to strengthening its presence in the Pakistani market and its focus on delivering innovative digital banking solutions to its customers.
Commenting on these strategic appointments, Muhammad Hamayun Sajjad, CEO, Mashreq Pakistan, said: “As a trusted international digital leader, Mashreq brings with it a rich legacy of innovation and a profound commitment to catalyse Pakistan’s future growth. We are here to empower Pakistan’s people through banking innovation, superior customer experience and financial accessibility for all. Shamsulhaq, Khurram, and Rabia bring a deep understanding of the national market and a wealth of experience that are well-aligned to contribute to this strategic vision. Their leadership will provide us with a clear roadmap for the continued evolution of digital banking in the country and help us consolidate our position as a leading international digital innovator bank.”
Shamsulhaq Niaz, Chief Digital Officer and Head of Payments
In this pivotal role, Shamsulhaq will be responsible for establishing the Digital Payments and Channel verticals for the Bank, in addition to driving product development across all business streams.
Shamsulhaq has over 16 years of experience in the Pakistan and UAE financial services landscape, focusing primarily on digital payments and product development. He rejoins Mashreq after having previously managed the Bank’s acceptance portfolio and having served in a range of roles covering online payment gateways, card acceptance, loyalty programs, dynamic currency conversion, DLL/E-socket integration, and hospitality solutions. He holds an MBA from INSEAD in France and a BSc in Computer Sciences from Lahore University of Management Sciences.
Shamsulhaq said: “It is incredibly exciting for me to return home to the Mashreq family. I look forward to working with colleagues across the international network to enrich the Mashreq digital ecosystem and to bring superior offerings to the market as we expand our reach across the country, to become the preferred digital banking partner for individuals and businesses of Pakistan.”
Khurram Mumtaz, Head of NEO
Khurram has taken charge of driving the expansion of Mashreq NEO’s offerings into the market, a critical component in the strategic development of the brand and implementation of Mashreq’s digital agenda in the country.
Khurram is a seasoned consumer banking and digital transformation practitioner with 23 years of experience in financial services. He has held various national roles, spanning distribution, operational risk, products, asset lending, employee banking, strategy and transformation, data analytics, and digital banking. Khurram’s senior financial leadership experience includes 11 years at Standard Chartered in Pakistan, where he served in a range of strategic and digital transformation positions, and nine years at Citibank. He holds an MBA in Finance from Washington International University.
Khurram said: “I am delighted to join Mashreq and look forward to facilitating the expansion of NEO in the market. Mashreq’s innovation legacy and leadership reflects in its pioneering efforts to create the best-in-class, fully integrated, customer-centric experiences. It’s exciting to be part of this journey that will significantly enhance the trajectory of Pakistan’s digital banking growth.”
Rabia Atlas, Head, NEOPAY
Rabia, in this strategic role, will be responsible for developing the framework for acquiring business in Pakistan and identifying areas of business profitability and growth. She will also work to redesign the Bank’s merchant ecosystem by building value-added partnerships that enhance financial inclusion.
Rabia has worked in the banking and telecommunication sectors for 16 years. During this time, she has been responsible for developing and leading multiple digital payment products and applications. Prior to joining Mashreq, Rabia headed Digital Proximity and E-commerce Payments at Bank Alfalah. Previously, she has also worked as the Assistant Director for the Retail Payments vertical at easypaisa. Rabia has an MBA from the Institute of Business Management in Pakistan and has completed the INSEAD Telenor Strategy Execution Online Programme.
Rabia said: “Digital business banking is growing rapidly in Pakistan, and it has enormous potential as an equalizer of opportunity and inclusivity. In this landscape, it is truly exciting for me to join Mashreq and to take charge of its cutting-edge NEOPAY platform, products, and services.”
Mashreq is actively progressing towards acquiring a restricted license from the State Bank of Pakistan to initiate pilot digital retail banking operations, marking an important step in its journey to becoming a licensed banking entity. The In-Principal-Approval (IPA) received last year is a significant step towards its commitment to bring innovative digital banking solutions in line with the bank’s broader strategic ambition of becoming a digital banking leader across its international markets and the country’s vision for a digitally empowered economy. By leveraging its robust infrastructure and institutional frameworks and investing in top talent, Mashreq aims to redefine the future of banking and become a trusted partner committed to supporting the financial well-being of its customers in Pakistan.
