Every year more than 10 lakh students complete their bachelor degree from more than 150 universities of the country. Among these, most of the students prepare themselves for their future dream jobs and many become busy to fulfill their dreams as entrepreneurs.
In the student age, every student has a dream to occupy the highest position in any multinational company of the country, as a result of which he can establish himself in a very secure and good position in the society.
But Bangladesh has always struggled with management and negotiation skills. Therefore, foreign top management was seen in most of the big companies in Bangladesh. In the case of multinational companies, its alternative could not be thought of. But the good news is that the day has changed. Today’s post is mainly about 7 successful corporate professionals who are leading 7 big companies in Bangladesh.
7 Bangladeshi Chief Executives Who Have Taken the Country to Unique Heights
Shehzad Munim
Shehzad Munim was appointed as the Managing Director of British American Tobacco Bangladesh on 1 October 2013. He started his career as a Territory Officer in British American Tobacco in 1997 after graduating from the Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka. Along with British American Tobacco-Bangladesh, Shehzad Munim worked in various marketing roles at British American Tobacco before taking over as Group Brand Manager of British American Tobacco New Zealand in 2003.
Appointed as Product and Packaging Innovation Manager in Sydney, Australia in 2006. Then in 2010, he assumed responsibility as the Head of Marketing for South Asia. Within a short time Mr. Mooney was appointed to the “Board of Directors” of British American Tobacco.
Yasir Azman
Prior to 2020, no Bangladeshi CEO in the history of Grameenphone had achieved the glory of Yasir Azman, a revolutionary change. Yasir Azman joined Grameenphone as Chief Marketing Officer in June 2015 and was appointed Deputy CEO in 2017. Prior to joining as Chief Marketing Officer, he was Head of Distribution and E-Business at Telenor Group. Yasir Azman was instrumental in setting up Grameenphone’s sales and distribution and transforming its structure.
Yasir Azman obtained his master’s degree in 1999 from the Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka. After that, he obtained a special degree in strategic marketing program from the University of London. Moreover, he was elected as the Vice President of the Digital Council of South Asia where he is credited with providing leadership for digital transformation and growth.
Javed Akhtar
On 1 July 2021, Javed Akhtar was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Unilever. He joined Unilever’s South Asia Leadership Team. Moreover, he was elected as the Vice President of the Digital Council of South Asia where he is credited with providing leadership for digital transformation and growth.
Javed Akhtar started his career at British American Tobacco as a marketing professional after graduating from the Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka. Then in 2000, he joined the Oral Care category business as Senior Brand Manager.
Javed Akhtar has gained experience and expertise in customer centricity, design thinking and innovation management in South Asia, South East Asia in his long career of 24 years.
Golam Murshed
Marketing Watch Bangladesh – A recent study by a non-profit organization of Dhaka University shows that about 80 percent of the total market share in refrigerators in Bangladesh is held by local manufactures, where at one time Bangladesh was dependent on refrigerators and imports. Walton holds 66 percent of this 80 percent market share.
Ghulam Murshed is the man behind this revolutionary evolution of the Walton Group. Currently he is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Walton Hi-Tech Industries Limited.
In 2010, he completed his graduation in mechanical engineering from Islamic University of Technology and joined Walton as a production in-charge. While working on the production line of refrigerators, the then managing director Ghulam Murshed was given the responsibility of business operations. Within three years of assuming this responsibility, he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Walton Refrigerator Department.
Nasir Ejaz Vijay
Nasir Ejaz Vijay appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank on 7th November 2017. Nasir Ejaz’s career started in 1992. After completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from Dhaka City College, he started his career in Standard Chartered Bank as an Apprentice. In his illustrious career of 29 years, he gained experience and expertise in various sectors of banking. He also led Standard Chartered Bank in South Asia, Middle East and Africa.
Elected as President 2022-2023 of Standard Chartered Bank as well as Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is one of the board members of Duke of Edinburgh Award Foundation Bangladesh. Besides, he is involved with Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Dhaka and British Business Group.
Rupali Chowdhury
Rupali Chowdhury is a unique rare star name in the history of Bangladesh as Chief Executive Officer. He has been serving as Berger’s Chief Executive Officer since January 1, 2008. His contribution to the painting industry in Bangladesh reaching a unique height and leading paint manufacturing company is undeniable.
After completing his graduation in Applied Science from Chittagong University, he passed with honors in Masters in Business Administration from Dhaka University’s Institute of Business Administration. His professional career began in 1984 with a multinational pharmaceutical and chemical company called Ciba Gaigi.
Then joined Berger Paints Bangladesh in 1990 as Planning Manager. After that he gained experience and expertise in different sectors of Marketing Sales, Distribution and Planning. Along with that, he served as the chairperson and managing director of Jenson & Nicholson, a subsidiary of Berger.
Also Rupali Chowdhury is an Independent Director of Bata Bangladesh, Linde Bangladesh. He is also a member of the advisory board of UNICEF Bangladesh and president of Bangladesh Paint Manufacturers Association. She won the Outstanding Woman in Business award in 2019.
Mohammad Mahbub ur Rahman
As a Bangladeshi, it was not easy to make his name as the Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation, a leading position in multinational banking, which Mohammad Mahbub ur Rahman managed to do in April 2020.
In 2002, Mahabub ur Rahman was appointed as the local chief executive officer of HSBC Bangladesh. Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, he was appointed as Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
After obtaining his bachelor’s degree from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Mahbub completed his Masters in Finance from Dhaka University.
This chief executive officer working in domestic and foreign multinational companies is a role model for us. Where our future generation has the skills, qualifications and ability to join the board of management in any business organization. Hope their life story will be an education and inspiration to many.
