Syed Faisal Karim

AWT started about 53 years ago with a vision to be one of the leading business houses employing best business professionals. Today the Group comprises of 20 companies in diverse fields like Insurance, Aviation, Fuel, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Sugar, Lubricants, Real Estate, Security Solutions etc.

Group Director HR
Working as Group Director HR and a Board Member, my primary goal is to transform the inactive HR functions of the whole group into a business partnership model focused on enhancing efficiency and to link reward with performance.

Working as Group Director HR and a Board Member, my primary goal is to transform the inactive
HR functions of the whole group into a business partnership model focused on enhancing
efficiency and to link reward with performance.
Working as Board Member of all six entities and Chairman of HR Committees, my main objective
was to turnaround the dormant HR Function of these units to a performance centric Business
Partnership model.

Following has been achieved in this short period:
• Revisited the organizational structure of all units, identifying gaps and helping local
management to mitigate those gaps to become more efficient
• Initiated the process of standardization of HR Policies across all the entities
• Created KPIs for all levels. Introduced performance based career progression and reward
culture instead of time based promotions
• Completed salary and perks rationalization process for all units to bring it in line with market
practice

Berger is a leading name in paint manufacturing around the world. In Pakistan, Berger was established in 1950. With manufacturing facilities in Lahore, it has a retail network all across Pakistan.

General Manager HR, Strategy Development & Planning
Reporting to the MD, I am responsible for HR, Strategy and Planning in the Company. During my stay at Berger, I have achieved following:
• Working on strategic planning and various process improvement projects in the Company
• Designed HRMS, had it developed in-house and implemented in the Company
• Created and implemented employee Incentive Scheme and Variable Reward Scheme to enhance individual performance in critical areas to improve efficiencies
• Revamped policies and procedures to bring them at par with market practices
• Targeted low performers to help them improve their performance. Implemented PIP in the Company
• Revised recruitment strategies to meet the heavy requirement needs of the company
• Optimized salary structure to make it market competitive, significantly reducing attrition rate
• Commenced comprehensive new-joiner’s induction program to familiarize them with the work environment, company culture and policies
• Implemented a culture of learning. Enhanced the trainings to 2 man-days per person per year
• Initiated employee engagement activities which helped in producing conducive work environment

Etimaad Engineering is a young multinational EPC and project management company. It was established in 2007 and had operations in Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Head HR & Administration - Qatar & Pakistan (Nov 2007- Sep 2010 & Sep 2012 - Dec 2014)
Reporting to the General Manager and CEO of Etimaad Qatar LLC, I established HR function for the Company in Qatar. My Achievements during this period are:

Achievements:
• Established and managed HR function, created policies and procedures and implemented the same.
• Managed recruitment from 6 countries for this rapidly growing company. Being a young company, there were extreme conditions. Provided recruitment support and, in some cases, reduced the recruitment time from weeks to days.
• Implemented performance management system.
• Led the team to successful ISO audit and subsequent certifications.

Fatima Group is one of the largest enterprises of Pakistan. It comprises of three fertilizer plants (Pak Arab Fertilizer, Fatima Fertilizer and Fatimafert Ltd), multiple textile units, sugar plant, mining company, aviation Company and a power plant. It has over 8, 000 people working for 9 group companies.

Group Head of Recruitment
I joined Fatima as Group Head of Recruitment in September 2010 and was soon given additional charge of HR Operations. Reporting to the Group Head of HR, I was responsible for massive recruitment demand of all the Group Companies.
For a period of six months, I was given additional charge of Acting Head of HR.

Achievements:
• Established the Recruitment function in the company and smoothly administered it.
• Conducted recruitment drives and assessment centers in all A-Class universities of Pakistan and hired over 75 Graduate Trainee Engineers and Management Trainee Officers per year.
• Recruited over 200 middle and higher management employees for the group companies per year.
• Served as Acting Group Head of HR from April 2011 to September 2011.

Qatar Airways and its subsidiaries are growing at a phenomenal rate. I was hired at the corporate Head Office of the Airline as Senior Officer Recruitment but was promoted within two months to the position of Manager HR. In this position I was given the assignment to establish and run the HR department of subsidiaries of the Airline. My achievements included:
• Established and managed HR department for subsidiaries of Qatar Airways having manpower exceeding 5000 employees from 63 nationalities.
• Recruited 1200 people in one year time including management and non-management staff.
• Developed and implemented HR policies and procedures.
• Established contract in different countries for manpower recruitment. Major recruitment targets were achieved from China, Philippines, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Egypt, Syria, Oman, UAE, Qatar, KSA, USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Europe and Russian states.
• Developed and introduced performance appraisal system.

Business Manager - Doha, Qatar (June 2003 - April 2006)
During these two years I was deputed to Descon Engineering Doha office as Business Manager, Qatar Business Area.
Reporting to the Country Head, scope of responsibility included control of business-related activities and human resource development related issues in the business area. Being one of the pioneer members of Descon’s local venture, I was solely responsible for all the steps in the formation of new company in Qatar with a local partner. It included search for an appropriate partner, formation of all necessary documentation, registration of new company with ministries etc.

In charge HRD & Administration - Lahore, Pakistan (May 1997 - June 2003)
Scope of responsibilities included:
• Plan, develop and implement Human Resource Development policies.
• Manpower planning and subsequent Recruitment for different offices and projects of the company.
• Utilize information technology and develop efficient methods for retrieval, analysis, comparison and updating of employee related data.
• Develop and maintain a resource databank of competent manpower from the different sources.
• Identify training and development needs
• Propose incentives and other schemes that encourage enhanced performance.