CEO, Digital Insurer & Takaful Operator (DITO) – Malaysia
Role Mission
Lead the build and launch of Malaysia’s next-generation digital takaful operator — from licence application and regulatory engagement to operational readiness, launch and scalable growth.
This is a zero-to-one leadership role requiring a rare combination of regulatory credibility, operational discipline, commercial judgement and hands-on execution capability. The CEO will work closely with regulators, Board members and key stakeholders to build a digital takaful business that is trusted, compliant, customer-centric and commercially sustainable.
Key Responsibilities
1. Licensing & Regulatory Leadership
- Lead the DITO licence application process and regulatory engagement with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
- Own the 7-year business plan, governance framework, capital plan and operational readiness roadmap.
- Ensure the organisation is built to meet BNM expectations across governance, risk, compliance, cybersecurity, technology, operations, conduct and customer protection.
- Work closely with the Board, legal counsel, compliance, risk, actuaries, Shariah advisors and external auditors.
2. Build the Company From Scratch
- Recruit and lead the founding leadership team across finance, compliance, risk, actuarial, technology, underwriting, claims, product, operations and customer service.
- Establish the operating model, controls, reporting structure, execution cadence and decision-making framework.
- Build a high-performance culture centred around ownership, accountability, speed, clarity and integrity.
3. Product, Underwriting & Customer Proposition
- Build simple, fair and digitally native takaful products that are Shariah-compliant and commercially viable.
- Own the end-to-end customer journey across onboarding, servicing, claims and renewals.
- Balance growth, underwriting discipline, claims management, customer trust and long-term sustainability.
4. Technology & Digital Execution
- Partner closely with technology leadership to build secure, scalable and reliable digital infrastructure.
- Ensure strong governance across cybersecurity, data protection, disaster recovery and operational resilience.
- Drive automation and AI adoption where it improves efficiency, accuracy and customer experience while maintaining appropriate controls.
5. Commercial & Capital Discipline
- Own P&L performance, capital efficiency, pricing discipline and growth strategy.
- Develop retakaful/reinsurance partnerships and long-term distribution strategies.
- Drive customer acquisition and partnerships while maintaining strong regulatory and conduct standards.
Must-Have Profile
- Proven experience as a CEO, COO, GM or senior leader within insurance, takaful, fintech, insurtech or other regulated financial services environments.
- Strong understanding of regulatory environments, ideally within insurance/takaful, banking or financial services.
- Experience engaging with regulators, Board members, auditors, actuaries and senior stakeholders.
- Hands-on operator capable of building and scaling businesses from early-stage environments.
- Strong commercial judgement, financial discipline and product thinking.
- Calm under pressure with high ownership, adaptability and execution capability.
- Able to make decisions in fast-moving and ambiguous environments.
We Are Looking For Someone Who
- Solves problems proactively and adapts quickly when new information emerges.
- Thinks from first principles and focuses on outcomes over corporate bureaucracy.
- Balances humility with decisiveness.
- Can operate with intensity and urgency while maintaining organisational stability.
- Builds trust with regulators, customers, employees and shareholders.
- Is willing to stay close to operational details across product, compliance, claims, technology, hiring and customer experience.
Not Suitable For
- Leaders who operate purely through hierarchy or committees without execution depth.
- Insurance executives unable to adapt to digital operating models.
- Startup operators who underestimate regulatory complexity and governance requirements.
- Leaders who prioritise growth without sufficient discipline around controls, capital or customer protection.
Success in the First 12 Months
- DITO application submitted with a credible Board-approved business plan.
- Strong and professional engagement established with BNM and key stakeholders.
- Founding leadership team successfully built across key business functions.
- Operational readiness roadmap completed with clear execution ownership.
- Core digital takaful product and operating framework prepared for launch.
- Company culture established around ownership, speed, compliance, accountability and customer trust.