Fast growing Amana Takaful top stars get recognition

Amana Takaful, the pioneer and flag bearer of the Takaful way of insurance, recently held its colourful Annual Awards Ceremony to recognise its top performing Sales and Operations staff of General, Life,  Medical Takaful along with staff from the Maldivian Branch who rose above the rest to shine as achievers in 2010.

Seated from right: Silmy Faizal (Snr. Manager Sales and Distribution, Family Takaful), Nazeem Ghafoor (Snr. Manager Sales and Distribution, Family Takaful), Fawas Farook (General Manager, Amana Global), Adel Hashim (General Manager, Sales and Marketing), Zaid Abubucker (General Manager, Medical and Operations), Reyaz Jeffrey (GM/Chief Executive Officer, Family Takaful), M.H.M. Rafiq (Director), Ehsan Zaheed (Director/Chief Executive Officer), M.I. Hussain (Overall Performance, Sales), M.G.M. Ansari (Manager, Motor Takaful), Thasleen Ammon, Omar Ali Mustapha, Riyad Fowzi, H.M.M. Irshad and Jawfer-us-Sadik. Standing first row (from right): Hamdhi Nizam, M.N.M. Irshad, S.A.M. Fazir, Imran Sanoon, J.M. Silmy, A.M. Faraj, M.L. Basheer, A.A.M. Fazeel, M.N.M. Jahas, M.S.M. Shawmi and A. Mufatheen. Standing second row (from right): A.C.M. Nifras, S.M. Rafeek, M.N.M. Shimas, M.G.J. Diruwan Janaka, A.W.M. Afham, A.C.M. Ramzan, M.M.M. Imtiyas, B.M.R.K. Dissanayaka, M.H.S. Basheer, M.A. Halaldeen and R.P. Sinhawansha. Standing third row (from right): M.H.M. Risvi, S.H.M. Nooman, H.M.M. Arshad, M.A.M. Azmi, M.I.M. Irshad, A.M. Alikhan, W.S.S.P. Fonseka, M.M. Fiyas, A.R.M. Fazly, M.S. Mukeeth and A.M.M. Ihlas

The ceremony also saw a theme ‘Let’s Make it Happen’ being rolled out, highlighting the importance of a people oriented approach and preparing the staff for the next phase of the company’s growth plans.

The Annual Awards play a vital role in the corporate calendar of Amana Takaful as it brings together the joint efforts of both Sales and Operations staff in line with strong people related strategy to fuel performance par excellence.

In 2010, Amana Takaful saw an increase of premium to Rs. 1.173 billion in income. Amana Takaful also has operations in the Maldives and members of staff from its office were also invited to be a part of the celebration.

Amana Takaful has been providing total Takaful solutions in the island for over a decade and has been able to successfully carve a market for itself by working with all Sri Lankans. The concept was first introduced in the year 1999 together with expertise obtained from Takaful Malaysia, which at the time was one of the largest Takaful operators in the world.

Today, the Takaful industry world over has grown phenomenally. According to a report filed by Ernst & Young contributions drawn by the global Islamic insurance, or Takaful, are expected to reach $12 billion in 2011, up from $9.15 billion last year, with Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates accounting for most. The Indian subcontinent has seen contributions – Takaful’s equivalent of premiums – rise 85 per cent, Indonesia had a growth rate of 67 per cent and Bangladesh 58 per cent.

Speaking at the Annual Awards Ehsan Zaheed, Director/CEO of Amana Takaful stressed the importance of investing in people and the individual’s personal responsibility of developing oneself.

“We strongly believe in the ability of the human resource to make things happen. It is our intention to provide the best possible opportunity for the staff to develop themselves and the company by embracing a productive work ethic,” he said, adding that an energised workforce will keep customers happy and invariable result in shareholder value.

Amana Takaful’s HR philosophy is based on nurturing human talent through proper guidance, motivational programs and events, industry specific and functional skills training. These programs aim to shape a complete employee who can be called a true Takaful Ambassador who can be admired by colleagues, partners and customers.

In his address Adel Hashim, General Manager, Sales and Marketing stressed on the power of the human mind and the will to succeed that drives people to achieve the impossible.

“The world as we know it is ever changing. Many products and services we enjoy today would have been thought to be impossible some years ago. These triumphs were realised not by accident but by the sheer determination and grit of some determined people,” said Hashim.

“Many of us accept the given and ordinary and stretch ourselves just enough to meet the basics but have not actually realised the full potential of one’s own capability. What we need is to strengthen our will to stay the course however difficult it is until we reach our goals regardless of how impossible it may appear to be sometimes. Only then will true champions be born,” he added.

The chief guest at the Awards Ceremony was Chairman Tyeab Akbarally, who gave away the key awards, while the coveted ‘The Most Outstanding Sales Person’s Award’ was given away by Director M.H.M. Rafeek.

In the Family Takaful (Life Insurance) division under Agency M. Imran Hussain won the Best MCFP Award while M.N.M. Shimas took home the 1st prize for Highest New Business. The winner of the Overall Best Agent Award went to M. Imran Hussain.

In the Senior category both the Best MCFP Award and Highest New Business Awards went to M.H.M. Rizvi. The Best Team Leader Award was presented to W.S.S.P. Fonseka while the Best Overall performance in Family Takaful went to M. Imran Hussain and the Best New Comer Award went to H.M.M. Arshad. The Best Branch Award for Family Takaful went to Pettah Branch.  

In the General Takaful category the Best Performance Award, Seniors for sales was clinched by M.G.M. Ansari while Roshan P. Singhawanse won the Intermediate category, A.M. Faraj was adjudged the best in the Junior category and A.W.M. Afham won the Agency Category.

The Best Branch and Best Branch Manager Award went to Eranga L.B. Amunugama of Kandy Branch while the Best Region Awards was won by M.L. Basheer of North Western Region. Meanwhile, Thasleen H. Ammon took home the Award for Best Portfolio Mix.

Amana Takaful is presently on an expansion drive with a joint agenda of building on its past successes and creating a platform for education on Islamic Finance and investments, the latter through a fully owned subsidiary named Amana Global. The present investment climate also augurs well for Islamic Finance making it even more attractive to the market at large.

Meanwhile in the Maldives, Amana Takaful is poised to launch its Initial Public offering and listing on the Maldivian Stock Exchange marking a significant milestone in the country’s financial service industry’s history. The Board of Directors of Amana Takaful include Tyeab Akbarally (Chairman), Osman Kassim, M.H.M. Rafiq, Dato’ Mohd Fadzli Yusof, Faizal Salieh, Dr. A.A.M. Haroon, Dr. T.Senthilverl, A.S.M. Muzzammil, M.U.M. Ali Sabry and Ehsan Zaheed (Dir/CEO).