Role Mission
Build and lead Malaysia’s first world-class digital takaful operator from application to launch, regulatory approval, operational readiness and scalable growth.
This is a zero-to-one builder role. The CEO must be hands-on enough to build the company from scratch, disciplined enough to satisfy BNM, and commercially sharp enough to create a differentiated takaful business that is digital, trusted, compliant and profitable.
Key Responsibilities
1. Licensing & Regulatory Leadership
- Lead the DITO licence application, BNM engagement and operational readiness process.
- Own the 7-year business plan, capital plan, governance model and launch roadmap.
- Ensure the company is built to meet BNM expectations across governance, conduct, risk, compliance, technology, cybersecurity, actuarial, operations and customer protection.
- Work closely with Board, legal counsel, compliance, risk, actuary, Shariah advisors and external auditors.
2. Build the Company From Scratch
- Recruit and lead the founding team across finance, compliance, risk, actuarial, technology, underwriting, claims, operations, product and customer service.
- Set up the operating model, policies, controls, reporting cadence, decision rights and execution rhythm.
- Build a culture of ownership, speed, clarity, truth-seeking and accountability.
3. Product, Underwriting & Customer Proposition
- Build takaful products that are simple, fair, Shariah-compliant, digitally native and commercially viable.
- Own the customer journey from quote, purchase, certificate issuance, servicing, claims and renewal.
- Balance growth, pricing discipline, claims control, customer trust and long-term sustainability.
4. Technology & Digital Execution
- Partner with CTO/CISO to build secure, reliable and scalable digital infrastructure.
- Ensure strong technology governance, cybersecurity, data protection, disaster recovery and incident response.
- Drive automation and AI adoption where it improves speed, accuracy, cost and customer experience without weakening control.
5. Commercial & Capital Discipline
- Own P&L, capital efficiency, growth strategy, pricing discipline and unit economics.
- Build retakaful/reinsurance strategy and partner relationships.
- Drive distribution, partnerships and customer acquisition while maintaining regulatory and conduct standards.
Must-Have Profile
- Proven CEO, COO, GM, insurance/takaful leader, fintech leader or zero-to-one business builder.
- Strong understanding of regulated financial services, ideally insurance/takaful, banking, fintech or insurtech.
- Able to work directly with regulators, Board, auditors, actuaries, Shariah advisors and senior stakeholders.
- Hands-on operator who can build the first version personally before hiring a full team.
- Strong commercial judgement, financial discipline and product sense.
- Calm under pressure, level-headed, low ego and high accountability.
- Able to make fast decisions with incomplete information, then update quickly when facts change.
- Comfortable with ambiguity, heavy execution, regulatory scrutiny and high ownership.
We are looking for someone who:
- Finds a way instead of explaining why something cannot be done.
- Updates quickly when new facts appear.
- Chooses first-principles thinking over corporate theatre.
- Has the humility to listen and the courage to decide.
- Can operate with intense focus without creating chaos.
- Builds trust with regulators, customers, employees and shareholders.
- Is willing to get into the details: product, claims, pricing, compliance, tech, hiring, customer complaints and cash flow.
Not Suitable For
- Traditional corporate leaders who only manage through committees.
- Insurance executives who cannot build digitally.
- Startup operators who underestimate regulation.
- People who need a large team before taking action.
- High-ego leaders who cannot take challenge from regulators, Board or technical experts.
- Leaders who chase growth without controls, capital discipline or customer protection.
Success in First 12 Months
- DITO application submitted with a credible Board-approved business plan.
- BNM engagement handled professionally and consistently.
- Core founding team hired across CEO office, finance, compliance, risk, actuarial, technology, underwriting, claims, product and operations.
- Operational readiness plan completed with clear owners and timelines.
- Digital takaful product, customer journey, claims model and control framework ready for launch.
- Company culture established around ownership, speed, truth, compliance and customer trust.
