Mr. Muhammad Ali was appointed by the Federal Government as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on December 24, 2010. He has an extensive and diversified corporate and financial markets experience spread over 20 years in Asia, Europe and North America.

An MBA from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Karachi, Mr. Ali is a well-known professional and entrepreneur. He started his career with Citibank and moved on to Smith New Court Securities in London and was responsible for selling Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi equities to UK and Continental European institutional investors. In 1994, Mr. Ali finalized a joint venture with Indosuez W.I. Carr Securities (Asian brokerage arm of Credit Agricole Indosuez) and established and led Indosuez W. I. Carr Securities, Pakistan for six years. During his tenure as CEO, the company became one of the largest and the best rated brokerage houses in Pakistan, attracting highest level of foreign portfolio investment in the country’s equity markets amongst all market intermediaries. Mr. Ali also led the expansion of W.I. Carr’s business activities to Bangladesh and finalized group’s strategy for Middle East and North African markets.

Mr. Ali then established Threesixtydegreez (Pvt.) Ltd. by acquiring and merging six different companies in the information technology sector. Threesixtydegreez was a leading software development house with offices in USA, Canada and Pakistan. The company focused on telecom, health care, financial services and e-business services.  On his return to Pakistan in 2003 from the USA, Mr. Ali re-joined the stock broking/investment banking industry and worked as Country Manager, Elixir Securities Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited. During his two and a half year tenure, company’s revenues increased 300% and profitability increased 500%. During this period, for the first time in its history, Elixir advised the Government of Pakistan on IPOs of the largest commercial bank (NBP) and one of the largest E&P company in the country (PPL). At the time of his departure, the firm was one of the most active Corporate Finance & stockbrokerage house in the country having 8% market share.

In 2006, Mr. Ali moved to UAE and then to Canada and changed his focus to private equity investments and setting up of new businesses in different parts of the world. He has been the driving force behind the creation and success of various companies in Pakistan, Middle East and North America in financial, real estate development, information technology and digital content management sectors.

Mr. Ali has also served as Director on the Boards of Karachi Stock Exchange (Guarantee) Limited, Engro Corporation Limited, Dawood Bank Limited, JCR – VIS, etc.