GoZayaan appoints Farooq Sobhan as first chairman for Bangladesh operations
Travel-tech platform GoZayaan has appointed former foreign secretary Farooq Sobhan as its first chairman for Bangladesh operations, adding decades of diplomatic, government and private-sector experience to its board.
According to a press release, Sobhan will provide strategic and governance oversight, advise on national policy engagement and support the company's expansion plans.
GoZayaan said the appointment marked a significant development in its governance structure as it continued to expand operations and build services for Bangladesh.
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Sobhan served as Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary from 1995 to 1997. His diplomatic career included postings representing Bangladesh in China, India, Malaysia and at the United Nations.
He subsequently served as Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Board of Investment and Special Envoy to the Prime Minister from 1997 to 1999.
Sobhan has also served as President and CEO of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), a private-sector think tank.
He currently chairs the governing bodies of SAJIDA Foundation and the CSR Centre, a corporate social responsibility advisory organisation. He is also Chairman of The Osiris Group, a private equity, advisory and consulting firm.
Commenting on his appointment, GoZayaan Chairman Farooq Sobhan said, "Over the past year, Mr Ridwan Hafiz has briefed me on GoZayaan's growth and plans to expand into Malaysia and the region."
"I'm impressed by his vision to serve our expatriates there, and I look forward to advising his team as they work to increase remittance flows to the country significantly," he added.
GoZayaan CEO and Founder Ridwan Hafiz said the appointment reflected the company's commitment to strengthening governance as it grew.
"Mr Farooq Sobhan has spent a career building the institutions that Bangladesh's private sector depends on. Having him chair GoZayaan is a statement about the standard of governance we are holding ourselves to as we grow," he said.
