CEO, Digital Insurer & Takaful Operator (DITO)

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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.