Azhar’s competencies are in business process improvement through customer data management, data management protocol compliance, MARCOM, strategic & operational customer relations management (CRM), online and web management protocol.

 

Up till the end of 2009, Azhar was the Marketing Communications Director at Microsoft, responsible for the Asia Pacific markets. In that role, Azhar was tasked with delivering capabilities to the Asia Pacific subsidiaries that enable them to execute targeted, measurable, integrated communications using above and below-the-line channels. This ranges from data management and campaign governance to the introduction of social media monitoring capabilities.

 

Prior to joining Microsoft, Azhar spent about 5 years at IBM. He joined as part of the startup group for IBM Direct for ASEAN/South Asia, driving IBMs internal CRM and Direct Marketing initiative. Before that, he was Assistant General Manager for Corporate Circulation for the publishing business at Global Sources, a Media Company headquartered in Hong Kong.

 

A Data Architect by training and a Database Marketer by practice, Azhar has, over the past 25 years, held various positions in Marketing and Communications, CRM and Change Leadership, Data Management, Technology and Intelligence management,  in Government (Defence), Media and IT Industries.  Azhar currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Direct Marketing Association of Singapore and heads the special interest council for Web and Online Communities.

 

He is an active speaker/panelist at Marketing and CRM related conferences in South East Asia. He is also a course leader at the Strategic Technology Management Institute of the National University of Singapore, developing and delivering executive training in the areas of CRM, Business Analytics and Integrated Engagements.

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