Governance

Aezaz Hussain

Chairman/Non-Executive Director

Mr. Aezaz Hussain founded Systems Limited in 1977 as the first software house in Pakistan. His professional acumen provided the overall direction for turn-key computer projects involving systems design, hardware selection and installation, and the planning and management of large scale industrial projects.

Within the organization, he has been responsible for the internal restructuring needed to respond to periodic shifts in the Company’s strategy. Mr. Aezaz was also involved in the acquisition of Visionet Systems, Inc., in New Jersey, USA. His main role is the development of enterprise strategy. He was a member of Pakistan’s Information Technology Commission, which advised the President of Pakistan on IT related matters and national policies. He has been a member of a number of Committees and Advisory bodies set up by the government on information technology strategies and on the development of public sector/ government information systems. He was a founding Member and Founding President of Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA). He was Member, Economic Advisory Board and Government of Pakistan and of the Information Technology Commission of Pakistan as well as the Council of the Computer Society of Pakistan.

Mr. Asif Peer

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Asif started his professional career with Systems Limited in 1996, straight out of university. Out of the 23 years of his professional experience, Mr. Asif has spent 13 years in the US and played vital role in the success and growth of Systems’ US office as Chief Operating Officer.

As the CEO of Systems Limited, Mr. Asif is leading the organization into a new era of growth in both IT and BPO sectors by strengthening strategic partnerships with clients and vendors, and further aligning the company’s business model to solidify its position as a leading technology solution provider. In 2018, he was appointed as a member of the Prime Minister’s Council of Business Leaders. Mr. Asif holds a BCS degree from FAST and an MBA degree in Finance & Marketing from Institute of Business Administration.

Mr. Arshad Masood

Non-Executive Director

Mr. Arshad Masood started his career with IBM Corporation in the US and held various sales and managerial positions. Mr. Masood founded Visionet Systems, Inc. in 1994.

Mr. Arshad Masood holds a BSc (Engineering) degree from Engineering University, Lahore, an MSc degree from University of Guelph, Canada, and an MBA degree from Baruch College, New York.

Mr. Shabbar Zaidi

Independent Director

Mr. Shabbar Zaidi is a graduate with distinction from Hailey college of Commerce , Lahore and a Chartered Accountant. He is Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (FCA).

Mr. Zaidi has served as the Chairman of Federal Board of Revenue, GOP, for the year 20192020. Previously, Mr. Zaidi also served as Caretaker, Ministry of Finance, Board of Revenue, Excise and Taxation, Government of Sindh. In addition, he has been Territory Senior Partner at AF Ferguson & Co. till 2019. He has also been the Founder Director, Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance from 2003-2009.

Mr. Zaidi has been involved in extensive interactions with regulatory authorities on domestic and international levels. In addition he has also been part of representation to authorities regarding practical issues and suggested measures and recommendations for reforms.

Further, Mr. Zaidi has also written several books which includes: (a) A journey for clarity – An analysis of some accounting concepts in taxation matters; (b) Pakistan: Not a failed State; (c) Panama Leaks: A Blessing in disguise – Offshore assets of Pakistani Citizens; and (d) Rich people Poor Country – The story of fiscal and foreign exchange policies in Pakistan.

Mr. Omar Saeed

Independent Director

Mr. Omar Saeed graduated with high honors from Brown University and did his Master’s in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

Omar has recently been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Service Long March Tyres (Private) Limited, a Joint Venture between Service Industries Limited and Chaoyang Long March Tyre Co., Ltd. Additionally, Omar serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Servis Foundation.

Omar has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Service Industries Limited (SIL) from 2011 to 2018. Under his stewardship, SIL won the highly prestigious Pakistan Stock Exchange Top 25 Companies Award for the years 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Prior to that, Omar was responsible for building Servis into Pakistan’s largest footwear retailer, with 500 stores and more than PKR 12 Billion in annual revenues. He founded Ovex Technologies (Private) Limited in 2004, which went on to become one of Pakistan’s leading call center companies before the business was sold in 2011.

He has served on the Boards of various private and public companies in the past. Omar has also been an adjunct faculty member of LUMS where he taught entrepreneurship.

Mr. Asif Jooma

Independent Director

Mr. Asif Jooma started his career in the corporate sector with ICI Pakistan in 1983 and has over 35 years of extensive experience in senior commercial and leadership roles.

Following his early years with ICI Pakistan Limited and subsequently Pakistan PTA Limited, he was appointed Managing Director of Abbot Laboratories Pakistan Limited in 2007. After serving there for nearly six years, he returned to ICI Pakistan Limited as Chief Executive in February 2013.

Mr. Jooma has previously served as the President of the American Business Council, President of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) and Chairman of the Pharma Bureau. He has also served as a Director on NIB Bank Limited, Engro Fertilisers Limited and Director and Member Executive Committee of the Board of Investment (B01) — Government of Pakistan. Mr. Jooma currently serves on the Board of National Bank of Pakistan, Systems Limited and Pakistan Tobacco Company Ltd. and is the Chief Executive of NutriCo Morinaga (Private) Limited.

He is on the Board of Governors of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and a Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Programme whilst previously also serving on the Board of Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVSAA). Mr. Jooma graduated cum laude from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in Development Economics. He has attended Executive Development Programmes at INSEAD and Harvard Business School.

Mrs. Romana Abdullah

Independent Director

Mrs. Romana Abdullah is CEO of Highpoint Ventures (Pvt) Ltd and leads Hopscotch, a kidswear brand she co-founded in 2014. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Romana was part of the Management Team of MCB Bank, one of Pakistan’s largest banks, leading their strategic planning, transformation and new initiative functions.

She was also Group Head for strategy at Soneri Bank. Earlier, Romana spent significant time at The Boston Consulting Group (Management Consulting) and Merrill Lynch (Investment Banking) in New York, where she focused on strategic, financial and operational assignments for Fortune 500 financial services and consumer clients. Romana is also on the board of Karandaaz, a DFID and Gates Foundation funded company that promotes access to capital for small businesses and digital financial inclusion for individuals in Pakistan. She also mentors young start-ups/incubators/accelerators in her free time. Romana has a BSc in Financial Engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.