Page 22 - CMA Journal (Nov-Dec 2025)

CORPORATE
CORPORA T E

LEADERS OF ICMA
LEADERS OF ICMA

Ai f A i
Arif Aziz [F - 840]
Chief Executive Officer
Mackinnon Mackenzie & Co. of
Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., Karachi

Mr. Arif Aziz, FCMA is the Chief Executive Officer of Mackinnon Mackenzie & Co.
of Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., affiliated with DP World Dubai, and one of Pakistan’s leading
maritime, shipping, and logistics organizations. He brings over 28 years of senior
executive experience across shipping, ports, logistics, finance, and corporate
³ The CMA qualification has been pivotal in governance. Throughout his career,
he has led large-scale operations
shaping my ability to think strategically and lead
with clarity and discipline. It goes beyond and driven financial discipline, while
accounting and equips professionals to analyze strengthening compliance frame-
complex situations, manage risk, and make works and delivering sustainable
decisions grounded in data and ethics. business growth in complex, highly
Throughout my career, especially in leadership regulated environments. A Fellow
roles within large and multinational Member of ICMA Pakistan, he is
organizations, these skills have proven essential. known for combining strategic
My advice to young members and students is
simple and practical: treat the CMA as a lifelong financial insight with practical
framework, not a one-time achievement. Master operational leadership. His expertise
the fundamentals, apply them rigorously in real spans corporate restructuring, risk
business settings, and uphold integrity at all management, stakeholder engage-
times. Technical competence may open doors, but ment, and performance optimiza-
consistent judgment, accountability, and ethical tion, with a consistent focus on
leadership are what sustain long-term
professional success ³ accountability, transparency, and
long-term value creation.

Muhammad Imran Panawala [F-1268]
Director Strategy & Planning
PharmEvo (Private) Limited
Karachi

Mr. Muhammad Imran Panawala, FCMA, is currently serving as Director of Strategy
& Planning at PharmEvo (Pvt.) Ltd. A seasoned finance and operations leader with over
20 years of cross-functional experience
across Accounting, Finance, Taxation, Sales ³ The CMA qualification has been a turning
point in my career across the FMCG and
& Distribution, Regulatory Affairs, Opera- Pharmaceutical sectors. It strengthened my
tions, and Supply Chain Management, he capabilities in financial leadership, strategic
has worked in industries including thinking, and decision-making and gave me
Construction, FMCG, and Pharmaceuticals, the confidence to contribute at the boardroom
bringing broad perspective and strong level in shaping strategy, driving goals, and
execution capability to complex business assessing the impact of critical choices.
environments. Imran’s core strengths Aspiring CMAs should remember that the
include analytical thinking, team building, credential builds technical strength, but
and organizational redesign and restructur- lasting growth comes from daily habits of
ing. He has successfully implemented dedication, consistency, hard work,
self-discipline, collaboration, and
technology-driven solutions across field self-motivation. Above all, learn to lead people
operations, supply chain management, and with empathy and accountability. Keep
budgeting systems, enhancing visibility, evolving; in a rapidly changing world, those
discipline, and performance, and contrib- who combine the CMA qualification with a
utes to professional development as a digital first mindset will lead ³
course review committee member and
guest speaker at various institutes.

ICMA’s Chartered Management Accountant, Nov-Dec, 2025