LAHORE: The Scoop Group has appointed seasoned journalist, communications professional and development-sector expert Syeda Shehrbano Kazim as its Managing Director, strengthening the group’s leadership and expanding its capabilities across media, communications, public relations, strategic advisory and business development.
Kazim brings more than two decades of professional experience spanning journalism, public relations, corporate communications, development finance, microfinance, poverty alleviation, e-commerce, project design and stakeholder engagement.
She will oversee the group’s strategic direction and contribute to the development of its growing portfolio of businesses, including The Scoop, Angoori PR and The Grand Table.
Commenting on the appointment, Hassan Naqvi, Founder & CEO of The Scoop Group, said:
I am delighted to welcome Syeda Shehrbano Kazim to The Scoop Group as our Managing Director. She brings an exceptional combination of journalism, communications, corporate engagement, development-sector experience and strategic management. Her understanding of media, business and institutional stakeholders will be extremely valuable as we enter the next phase of our growth.
The Scoop Group is being built as a diversified platform with media, communications, public relations and hospitality at its core. We want to build institutions that are professionally managed, commercially sustainable and capable of creating meaningful partnerships across sectors. Shehrbano’s experience and perspective will play an important role in helping us achieve that vision.
A graduate of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Kazim holds a BSc (Hons) in Social Sciences with Economics. She has also completed executive education at Harvard Kennedy School in Financial Institutions for Private Enterprise Development and participated in professional programmes focused on gender, sustainable livelihoods, human rights, peace, corporate governance, risk management and investment readiness.
Kazim has held senior positions across the private, development and communications sectors. She is currently Managing Director of Econnect Ventures, where she provides management consultancy to exporters and export-ready companies and has worked as a channel partner for Alibaba.com, supporting businesses in developing global B2B clientele.
She has also served as Chief of Staff at Cheetay Logistics, where she provided oversight of business verticals and shared functions and worked on product development and value-chain initiatives.
Prior to that, Kazim held senior positions at the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), including Senior General Manager for Resource Mobilisation and Donor Outreach and General Manager for Financial Inclusion. Her work involved engagement with international donors, financiers, corporates and government institutions, as well as the design and development of funding proposals, programmes, financial inclusion initiatives and capacity-building interventions.
Her professional experience also includes work with the Pakistan Microfinance Network, Asiatic Public Relations Network, PTCL and Daily Times. At the Pakistan Microfinance Network, she worked on communications and public relations, stakeholder engagement, training needs assessment, capacity building, media relations and the organisation of major events and industry forums.
Kazim has remained closely associated with journalism and writing throughout her career. She has contributed to English-language publications including Dawn and The Spokesman, covering development, the economy, connectivity and culture, while also writing extensively on art, literature, theatre and music.
She is Director at the School of International Law in Islamabad and serves as Editor-in-Chief of its in-house journal, Spectrum of International Law. She is also associated with the Damen Support Programme and the Jahanara Memorial Trust.
The appointment comes as The Scoop Group continues to develop its integrated business platform, bringing together media and journalism through The Scoop, strategic communications and public relations through Angoori PR, and hospitality through The Grand Table.
With Kazim joining as Managing Director, the group is expected to further strengthen its institutional partnerships, strategic communications, business development and cross-sector initiatives while building on its presence across media, corporate communications and entrepreneurial ventures.