Iqbal Hamzah is the chief executive of Agthia Group, an Abu Dhabi-based food and beverage company. The Pakistani, 53, took on the role last September after first joining the company as group chief financial officer in 2006. Mr Hamzah, who is married and has four daughters aged between two and 18, began his career in 1989 at The Gillette Company, where he held various key financial positions during his 17-year tenure.
What are your favourite things to do on the weekend?
I normally wake up late and have a nice brunch with my family, something I miss during weekdays. As a family, we go out for dinners regularly. Though my wife is an amazing cook, she also loves to eat out and try new foods. Our favourite types of food are Japanese, Chinese and Thai, although my favourite is dal. My teenage daughters love to shop, so sometimes I join them. We also go to the movies from time to time. On weekends my youngest daughter takes all my attention, she follows me wherever I go. I take her out for a walk, to the pool and we play a variety of different games. She recently started speaking; she is a chatterbox and it is absolutely fun listening to her. I now regret not spending as much time with my other three girls when they were kids because of work and travel; now that they are teenagers, they would rather be with their friends, so I’m doing my best to make up for it with my youngest.
What do you consider to be your favourite hobby?
I love walking and swimming – both great ways to de-stress. Also, one of the great advantages of living in a city like Abu Dhabi is that we are by the sea, which allows me to go fishing. We often hire a boat with family or friends and go out into the water. I also like reading management books. I’m particularly interested in case studies – examples of how others solved specific business issues that we all face in our professional life.
What can’t you live without?
My family. I am and always have been a family person. Back home in Karachi, I was always very close to my parents, brothers and sisters, but also to my uncles and aunts. I bring my mother to the UAE for five to six months a year to spend quality time with us. Not having my extended family around is something I miss. We always learn from interacting with and accepting people of different generations, with different mindsets. This is important in our era of globalisation and also provides us with a stronger sense of identity.
What do you consider the secret to your success?
My wife – without her support and understanding I wouldn’t have progressed to where I am today. I’ve worked hard for everything I have achieved in my career and personal life. I suppose one would describe me as a self-made man. My father couldn’t afford to send me abroad for higher studies so I stayed in Karachi for my bachelor’s degree, and then joined PwC, where I completed my Chartered Accountancy. I then joined Gillette in Karachi as a trainee. They appreciated my aptitude for finance and analysis and sent me to London and Malaysia on a training assignment. I was then immediately promoted to finance manager, a jump that would typically take around four to five years. After that, my progress through the company was smooth and quick.
What advice would you offer others starting out in your business?
Believe in yourself and stay true to your ethics and values. Go beyond your areas of responsibility.
How do you achieve a work-life balance?
This has always been a challenge and continues to be difficult because I’m handling multiple roles of CEO and CFO, while we find a new CFO. I try to follow one rule: once I’m out of the office, I don’t think about work. I never bring my laptop home with me.
How do you relax after the working day?
I relax more before the working day. I wake up early, say my prayers, and then walk for an hour. I spend some time in the gym – what really refreshes me is the steam bath. This ritual helps me prepare for the day ahead, giving me peace and clearing my head so I can handle issues effectively.
If you weren’t chief executive of this company, what else would you be doing?
I would probably have been the chief of some eastern European company, where I spent 12 years in various markets. Or I might have started my own business back home.
mkassem@thenational.ae
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