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

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.