Asif Qureshi has more than 20 years of experience in Pakistan’s financial sector with expertise in economic and investment research. He started his career in banking in 1996 and moved into equity research in 1999, joining Indosuez W. I. Carr Securities Pakistan, where he rose to the position of head of research in 2001. He later headed research at Global Securities before pursuing entrepreneurial path to co-found Invisor Securities in 2004 and later Optimus Capital in 2011. He has also worked as a consultant for the ADB and the Petroleum Institute of Pakistan and has also been associated with IBA as a member of visiting faculty. He is also a co-founder of Zakheera.com, an online financial database service. Asif Qureshi is a CFA charter-holder since 2000. He also holds MA International Financial Analysis (Distinction) from Newcastle University (UK), MBA from Quaid-i-Azam University and B.Sc. (Maths & Physics) from Punjab University.

Ovais Ahsan brings 15yrs of capital market’s experience specializing in equities sales & trading. He has served in various senior positions with leading global and domestic investment banks /brokerage firms including JPMorgan, Renaissance Capital and JS Global Capital. He was part of the JPMorgan team voted no.1 by Asia Money poll for sales trading in Pakistan in 2007-2008. He has recently joined Optimus from Renaissance Capital based in Dubai where he was overseeing the firms equities trading business for regional equity markets including all countries in the MENA and Frontier Asia space.

Mohsin Ahsan has over 20 years of experience with vast experience in financial sector. He started off his career in 1997 as a Business Analyst at GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan and subsequently moved into equity research in 1999 wherein he worked at Indosuez W.I. Carr Pakistan and Elixir Securities. He also worked as a Senior Research Analyst at Global Securities where he later rose to the position of Head of Research. He has coordinated and arranged visits of reputable foreign investors such as Arisaig Partners, ABN Amro Asset Management, JP Morgan and Credit Suisse to Pakistan. He also headed research at Invisor Securities in 2004. As a part of corporate finance transaction, he worked on arranging USD 50 Million equity financing for a leading paper and packaging mill for expansion. In 2009, he served as Head of Research for Asset Management, Saudi Arabia providing coverage across various asset classes with assets under management of approximately USD 1 Billion and later served as a Fund Manager, managing Saudi equity funds, discretionary asset management mandates and international fund of funds with assets under management of approximately USD 400 Million. Prior to joining Optimus Capital, Mohsin Ahsan worked with Arab National Investment Company, Saudi Arabia, as a head of local and regional equities. He holds MBA degree with major in finance from IBA.

Bilal Ghaffar is a highly dynamic professional with around 15 years of experience in equity sales with well reputed brokerage houses of Pakistan. He joined AKD Securities as Senior Equity Trader in 2004 and from there he moved to Noman Abid & Company, as institutional equity sales person, where he worked with mutual funds and financial institutions. In 2007, he rose to the position of Head of Equity Sales and headed Fortune Securities and Invest & Finance Securities, before joining Optimus Capital in 2012. Bilal Ghaffar holds MBA degree from Hamdard Institute of Management Sciences.

Salman Zaidi started his career in financial market in 1998. Prior to joining Optimus Capital, he worked as a Head of Fixed Income at Invisor Securities and Crescent Capital Management for over 5 years. He has also served as a Senior Executive and Dealer Money Market at Crescent Capital Management. Salman Zaidi also worked with Mumtaz Enterprises as SVP Money Market. He has an extensive experience of around 20 years in Money and Bond Markets together with specialization in Brokerage and Corporate Advisory Role that have helped him in maintaining portfolio for his clients. Mr. Salman holds a Bachelor’s degree from University of Karachi.

Faizan Sarmad has over 8 years of experience spanning across equity research, risk management, compliance, advisory and audit with leading professional service provider and corporate brokerage houses of Pakistan. Prior to joining Optimus Capital, Faizan Sarmad supervised the risk management services at RSM Avais Hyder Liaquat Nauman Chartered Accountants in 2009 and later joined First Capital Group as Manager Risk and Online Trading in 2013 where he also served as an Investment Analyst. Faizan Sarmad holds Bachelor’s degree from Government Premier College.

Mohammad Ovais has a vast experience of more than 20 years in Equity Settlements. He started his career in 1994 and served for more than a decade in well reputed brokerage houses of the Pakistan Stock Exchange which include Munaf Sattar Securities, Salim Chamdia Securities and Invisor Securities. His enriched experience in the field of equity brokerage provided him in-depth knowledge of settlement procedures and systems applicable in back office, CDC, NCHS, NCSS and KATS functions together with the knowledge of brokerage accounting and prevalent regulations provided him with added advantage in advancement throughout his career.

Ayaz Ahmed has over 9 years of experience in the field of audit and compliance with leading financial service providers of Pakistan. He completed his articleship in 2012 from RSM Avais Hyder Liaquat Nauman Chartered Accountants as Supervisory Senior Audit and Assurance. In 2013, he joined Faysal Asset Management Limited as Compliance Officer and moved to United Bank Limited in 2014 as Senior Financial and Management Auditor. He joined Optimus Capital as Head of Compliance in 2016. He is a final level candidate of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) and holds Master’s degree with major in Economics from Karachi University.