Fazal e Abbas Najmi
Head of Technology
Dubai
Summary of Career
1. Define the technology vision, strategy, and roadmap that aligns with the organization's overall business goals and objectives.
2. Lead and promote research and development efforts to drive technological innovation and create new products, services, or processes. Foster a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement within the technology team.
3. Establish and maintain the organization's technical architecture, ensuring it supports scalability, reliability, and security.
4. Collaborate closely with other executive leaders, such as the CEO, CIO, and CMO, to ensure technology initiatives are aligned with overall business strategies. Work with product managers, engineers, designers, and other stakeholders to bring new products and features to market.
5. Build and lead high-performing technology teams by recruiting, training, and mentoring team members.
6. Establish and enforce robust cybersecurity and data protection practices to safeguard the organization's assets and customer data. Mitigate technology-related risks and ensure business continuity in the event of disruptions.
7. Manage relationships with technology vendors, partners, and service providers to ensure effective delivery of products and services. Negotiate contracts, licenses, and agreements with technology suppliers.
8. Provide regular updates to the executive team and board of directors on technology strategy, progress, and achievements.
9. Ensure compliance with relevant industry regulations, data protection laws, and cybersecurity standards.
10. Identify strategic partnerships and collaborations that can enhance the organization's technology capabilities and market position.
Experience as Head of Technology
Nexxopay DMCC
01 September 2021
To date
Achievements:
• Implemented acceptance solution (POS/Ecommerce) certified by VISA(ADVT) & MasterCard (MTIP) with a feature-rich mobile app for needs of an SME via Outcome-Driven Innovation
• Established dockerized cloud (AWS) infrastructure with DevOps automation
• Obtained PCI DSS certification for the POS acquiring technology stack & establishing security posture for the company
• Part of the team who conceived viral alternate delivery methods for SME outreach.
• Migrated the QPAYI system, responsible for processing USD 1.2 billion in payment transactions, to Qatar Islamic Bank within six months
• Lead a cross-functional team of 10 Rock stars to achieve business objectives, fostering team development through ongoing collaboration.
• Achieved ISO22031 status by creating & implementing BCMS policies &procedures; RPO of 4 hour & RTO of 1 hour, enabling data protection during disasters or prolonged outages and ensuring PCI DSS compliance.
Key responsibilities
• Manage Business expectation to ensure that perfect solution is designed to curtail the requirements.
• Managed company-level architecture, platform and data configuration processes and implementation protocols.
• Maintained high-level knowledge of current and emerging technology development and applications.
• Collaborated with cross-functional intra-company teams to fulfil the company's objectives.
• Facilitated ongoing team development & growth through training &professional skills enhancement.
• Developed and implemented long-term strategic technological blueprint.
• Supported current and emerging programs through interactions with high-level customers, business partners and external vendors.
• Creating & implementing Information Security and IT policies and procedures for the organization
• Provided project leadership in dynamic technology-driven environment with multiple priorities.
• Embraced macro-level strategic decisions and micro-level implementation.
Experience as Director Technology
Tasheel Finance
18 March 2020
31 August 2021
Achievements:
• Architected a complete solution for Islamic Master Credit card having integration with a modern digital frontend.
• Executed delivery of overall project by leading, partnering with multiple internal and external stakeholders (Openway, Mastercard, GoldenChip, Thales, Gemalto, and Avanza).
• Completed the execution of the multi-million-dollar project within budget & 6months’ time as per plan.
Key Responsibilities:
• Collaborated with stakeholders (internal) to determine project specifications and scope.
• Served as technical liaison, supporting engineering, management, procurement, sales and marketing, quality assurance and supply base.
• Developed project plans and managed project scope using methodologies to guide projects from conceptualization to implementation and maintenance.
• Updated customers and senior leaders on progress and roadblocks.
• Implemented best practices to drive quality IT project delivery.
• Acted as a team leader in group projects, delegating tasks and providing feedback.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in managing projects from concept to completion.
• Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
• Design solution for Digital roadmap including Mobile Application and Middleware
• Manage the planning and execution MasterCard (credit card) Issuance project – Focal person for all communication with MasterCard
• Manage and maintain HSM key generation procedure and processes (also the key custodian)
Experience as Head Products and Project Delivery
Paysyslabs
15 August 2017
18 March 2020
Achievements
• Successfully conceptualized and lead the development of state of the art Financial services products with LIVE deployments in several Pakistani banks. Products include:
o Card management system
o Mobile money system
o International remittance processing system
• Simultaneously managed large-scale projects effectively, and consistently delivered projects within the allotted time and budget to meet yearly KPIs
• Provided technical and functional expertise to assess and migrate the National Payment systems, both locally and internationally.
• Worked on the conceptualization of a shared, low cost, inter-operable digital financial payment scheme for credit unions associations across Indonesia and the Philippines.
Product/Projects
NBP Funds
Designed and developed card management product, to provide customers with EMV and contactless cards to be used across Pakistan over 1LINK ATMs.
Implemented financial middleware to provide customers with access to inter-bank funds transfers & utility bill payments via digital channels.
DIBL
Designed and developed mobile money product, to provide customers with a mobile wallet (linked to DIBL account). In addition, an innovative mobile application and companion card (powered by UPI) was provided to transact.
Enabled them to become the 2nd Union Pay certified bank in Pakistan, providing digital products such as QR & Tap-to-Pay (HCE).
JS Bank
Conceptualized and developed a remittance system for digitizing international remittances in accordance with SBP regulations for HRA.
NBP
Launched mobile banking application & internet banking. Enabled NBP to receive inter-bank funds transfers via implementation of financial middleware.
Empowered NBP to become the first Union Pay certified bank in Pakistan, providing digital products such as QR & Tap-to-Pay (HCE).
Experience as Technology Consultant
Paysyslabs
15 August 2017
18 March 2020
Consulting Projects:
WOCCU – Philippines & Indonesia
Worked with World Council of Credit Unions and its local partners in Philippines & Indonesia to assess the readiness of credit unions to connect to an interoperable digital financial payments system.
Managed the project to onboard credit unions to participate in an interoperable payment system, which allowed them to transact amongst each other via a mobile application.
1LINK
Provided consultancy services to assist 1LINK’s migration of their financial middleware.
WebDNAWorks
Provided technology advisory (software, hardware & infrastructure) & assistance to setup 1st ever White Labelled ATM – Cash 1.
APS – Afghanistan
Worked with FAIDA, a World Bank initiative, to provide strategic guidance for APS, a national cards and mobile payment switch in Afghanistan.
Conducted an overall assessment of the project and recommended a plan to optimize its operations and profitability.
Conducted capacity building exercises for various use cases to develop and implement effective training programs.
FBL
Provided consultancy services to assist the migration of financial middleware & CMS. Performed card PIN and other sensitive data migration from one middleware to other.
Mfloos - Yemen
Provided consultancy services to design and development mobile money platform. Provided business requirement documents on various functionalities and use cases of mobile money system.
Hey Karry – Dubai
Provided project governance services to Eagle Investment company to launch Hey Karry – order delivery and management solution.
Digital Bridge
Provided consultancy and project governance services for the setup of Digital Bridge products and services.
Experience as Head of Project Management and Business Analysis
Monet Pvt Ltd
01 January 2016
11 August 2017
Achievements
• Managed the entire branchless banking portfolio for Bank Alfalah as their technology partner. All solutioning related to branchless banking business requirement were done in the capacity of a Solutions Architect.
• Simultaneously managed large-scale requirements effectively, and consistently delivered updates within the allotted time to meet the Partner’s expectations (BAFL) i.e. EOBI pensioner project, supply chain digitization project and SCO project
Key responsibilities
• Managed a pool of consultants and engineers for project engagements
• Trained and mentored resources for mobile financial services domain knowledge
• Prepared & delivered technical presentations, performed demos / POCs & built client trust.
• Developed Training plans and Roadmap for team members
• Analyzed the needs of the business and proposed solutions to business problems
• Ensured the value of the project for business in time
Projects
BAFL
Managing the projects portfolio for ALIF branchless banking having multiple medium to large projects, not limited to upgrading Fundamo EE, Implementation of ESMARTS BO and Agent Portal. Launching UPI card and mobile-POS (mPOS).
Other large projects include;
- Supply Chain Digitization for Punjab Beverages Company (mPOS and Wallets),
- EOBI Pensioners – Biometric Wallet opening, Proof of life & Carded Wallet Project
- Implementation of Biometric verification system for Branch Account Opening
- Integration with Remittex to bring international remittances into mobile wallets with an option to cash out at agents
- Launched multiple carded wallets products e.g. Cinepax, Lootlo, Corporate payroll etc.
BAFL and SCO
Created open Branchless Banking APIs to re-used within multiple integrations and performed Lead Project team for Branchless Banking implementation using Fundamo EE.
Experience as Project Manager & Sr. Business Analyst
Monet Pvt Ltd
21 April 2014
31 December 2015
Client:
BAFL and WARID
• Managing the project portfolio for Mobile Paisa having multiple small to medium projects, not limited to upgrading Fundamo EE, Implementation of ESMARTS BO and Agent Portal. Launching CUP card and mobile-POS (mPOS).
Other Projects include;
• Supply Chain Digitization for Punjab Beverages Company (mPOS and Wallets),
• EOBI Pensioners - Carded Wallet Project with real time Bio Metric verification
• Enabling Bio Metric verification for Bank Account opening
Daewoo
Provided Daewoo with a payment solution to top-up their proprietary travel cards via KIOSK
A2ZPayments
Enabled A2ZPayments to offer online payments of e-traffic challans – Traffic Police
Responsibilities:
• Training and Mentoring for Mobile Financial Services domain knowledge
• Developing Training plans and Roadmap for team members
• Managing and satisfying the expectations of all the Stakeholders
• Analysing the needs of the business and coming up with solutions to business problems
• Ensuring the value of the project for business in time
• Quality Planning for project and its budget
• Assisting in the preparation of user and system test plans
• Delivered Functional and User Acceptance Testing
• Writing Functional Specification documents
• Communication - right information, right quantity, right time and right medium
• Scope Management – controlling and evaluating change request
Experience as Senior Technical Consultant
Paysyslabs
01 September 2016
30 November 2016
Working with FAIDA (Financial Access for Investing in the Development of Afghanistan) as Senior Technical Consultant to provide capacity building assistance to National Cards & Mobile Payment Switch of Afghanistan operated by APS (Afghanistan Payments Systems) with particular focus on improving their effective and sustainable management of the National Payment Switch.
My role was to do project management for the assignment and following are the Key activities performed:
• Developed Technical, Operational Manuals and related documentation.
• Onsite Documentation review sessions with APS teams. During these sessions all the submitted documents were discussed and explained in detail to the APS teams.
• Conducted two (2) capacity building workshops with following agenda:
Certification with Participants
Monitoring of systems
Switch Settlement Process
Dispute resolution
Implementation of inter-operability between banks and Mobile Money Operators in Other Countries
Role of APS for mobile money inter-operability
• Workshops and presentation presented to
Mobile Money Operators
Afghanistan Banks
Central Bank of Afghanistan (DAB)
Experience as Senior Technical Consultant
Paysyslabs
01 July 2016
31 July 2016
Working with FAIDA (Financial Access for Investing in the Development of Afghanistan) as Senior Technical Consultant for the overall assessment & recommendations on the way forward of National Cards & Mobile Payment Switch of Afghanistan operated by APS (Afghanistan Payments Systems)
My role was to do project management for the assignment and perform assessment and recommendations in the ares of Technology and Operations, following assessment methodology was followed:
• Background questionnaire
• Documentation review (including but not limited to Project Contract, Functional Specification document, SLAs, Agreement, System/software documentations and maunal, etc)
• Conference calls
• Industry data collection
• On-site visit consisted of closed group sessions, interviews and workshops with stakeholders.
Experience as Managing Consultant - Project Manager
Abacus Consulting
21 June 2012
14 April 2014
Achievements
• Launched UPaisa (UBank), mobile money brand in record time of 3 months.
• Successfully transformed mobile payment platform SAP SYBASE 365 to work as:
o Mobile banking platform (ABL)
o Mobile money platform (HBL)
Key responsibilities
• Managed and satisfied the expectations of all the Stakeholders
• Maintained the Best Practices
• Ensured the value of the project for business in time
• Quality Planning for the project and its budget
• Risk Management: Overall risk of the project in time
• Leadership – leading the team from the front
• Communication - right information, right quantity, right time and the right medium
• Scope Management – controlling and evaluating change request
Major Projects for SAP - Sybase 365
Business Analysis & Project Management for the Implementation of Sybase 365 as a Mobile Banking platform for Allied Bank of Pakistan - Jun '12 - Dec '13
Development (Manager) and Project Management for Mobile application for HBL Mobile Financial Services platform - Oct '12 - Apr '13
Business Analysis & Project Management for the Implementation of Sybase 365 as a Mobile Financial Services platform for Ufone - Nov '12 - Feb '13Achievements • Launched UPaisa (UBank), mob
Experience as Assistant Manager - Professional Services (Implementation Team Lead)
TPS Pakistan
01 July 2009
22 July 2012
Transaction switching middleware to remote banking, card management to EMV compliance, ADCs to Worldwide network (VISA, Master Card) certifications and reconciliation to disaster recovery management, I have worked on a rich and diverse portfolio of e-banking / e-payments products and services at TPS, which have offered me a competitive edge and seamless integration into the mechanisms of e-banking / e-payments operations.
My role of Implementation Team Lead included:
• Resource planning and allocation
• Mentoring and managing team members
• Documenting the Functional Specification Document
• Involved in the complete Project life-cycle
• Analysis and consultation for Project requirements with in-house (teams) and clients
• Project implementation activities planning and execution (SIT, UAT, DR, cutover & post-cutover monitoring)
Major Projects for IRIS as Lead
Habib Bank Limited, - January ’12 to June '12
Replacing Phoenix with IRIS; first time certification of HBL with VISA (Acquiring), along with ATM, 1Link, IVR, CRM, Moblie Banking, Internet Banking and HOST (Mysis)
Allied Bank, - July ’11 to December ’11
Deployment of a Reconciliation system - RECON
Faysal Bank, - Dec '10 to May '11
Merger of FBL and RBS; Certification of ATM, 1Link, VISA Issuing and Master Card CIRRUS acquiring
Tameer Micro Finance Bank, (Phase 2) - Nov '10 to Jan '11
EFT POS integration along with Card Production System migration
Tadhamon International Islamic Bank, Yemen - Apr '10 to Aug '10
Single-handedly deployed IRIS as a ATM controller
Tameer Micro Finance Bank, (Phase 1) - Mar '10 to Apr '10
Integration of UBPS with Fundamo through IRIS
Ufone Payments Gateway, Pakistan - August '09 to October '09
Single-handedly deployed Switching Middleware System as a Mobile banking controller
Experience as System Engineer & Business Analyst
TPS Pakistan
01 October 2007
30 June 2009
My role included:
• System Certifications, Migration and User Acceptance Tests
• Providing end-to-end technical assistance for numerous e-payments products like of Utility Bill Payment System, ATM Monitoring and Reporting System - InSight, Internet Banking - PRISM, Call Center system - HDA, EJ/EYE and Switching Middleware System - IRIS
• Product Trainings / Presentations for Clients and TPS employees
• Technical writing with respect to Product Specification documents
• Accomplishment of Turn Around Time according to SLA
• Tracking and updating of all the reported issues as per QSP for System Support according to ISO standards
• Development of Reports using Crystal Reports 7/8/9, SQL Server 2000/2005
Major Projects
Muslim Commercial Bank, Pakistan, December '08 to June '09 - Team based deployment of Switching Middleware System.
Standard Chartered Bank, Pakistan, July '08 to October '08 - Single-handedly deployed UBPS, InSight and HDA.
Analysis, Designing, Development and Implementation of InSight Reports - Multiple deployments
Utility Bills Payment System, October '07 to June '08 - Multiple deployments
Experience as ERP Consultant
Supernova Solutions
01 January 2007
30 September 2007
SuperNova Solutions specializes in ERP sales, development, training, implementation and maintenance. I was part of the operational and client service team working on 'ERManager', a comprehensive and state of the art Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). My responsibilities included:
- Consultancy for ERManager
- Successful implementation of Sales and Inventory management modules
- Application testing on development server and reporting errors
- Writing user manuals for developed business processes
- Development of business blueprints as per client's requirements in collaboration with domain experts
- Configuration, customization and deployment of ERManager at the client site, writing software requirement specification for business processes integration
- Adopted the ERMIM methodology of implementation with detailed documentation
- Conducting end-user training followed by UAT sessions
- Post implementation support after the Go-Live for implemented modules
- Basic reporting and editing with Crystal Reports and SQL Server
Experience as Software Quality Assurance Engineer
iVenster Inc
01 September 2006
31 December 2006
Application testing for XuQa.com
- Daily tasks consisted of in-depth testing of developed application on local dev server, writing, recording test scenarios and reporting bugs
- Thorough communication with the development team for bugs free application
Bachelor 31 December 2005
Bachelor in Computer Engineering