About
Kazi Mahboob Hassan is a Bangladeshi business leader who loves turning big ideas into practical digital products. Today he heads R Ventures PLC, the venture‑building arm of mobile operator Robi Axiata, where he backs and grows start‑ups in e‑commerce, health tech, and financial services. His public profile rose even farther when he joined the investor panel on Shark Tank Bangladesh, the country’s franchise of the popular entrepreneurship show.
Before stepping into the venture arena, Hassan steered the commercial engine of Grameenphone, Bangladesh’s largest telecom operator, first as Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer and later as Chief Business Officer. These roles placed him at the center of 4G rollout, digital payments partnerships, and the push to bring millions of customers online. His knack for strategy is underpinned by strong academics: a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka, and an MBA from the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School.
Before Fame
Hassan’s career began in classic corporate settings rather than start‑ups. After graduating from IBA, he joined BAT Bangladesh in brand marketing, sharpening skills in consumer insight and product positioning. A move to IBM UK followed, where he handled finance and commercial planning for enterprise clients.
Yearning for a bigger canvas, he moved into consulting at Deloitte UK. There he led large‑scale transformation programs in telecom, oil & gas, and financial services—experience later found to be highly useful when streamlining Grameenphone’s own processes back in Bangladesh. The Oxford MBA, which he took mid‑career, further equipped him with global networks and a strategic perspective. By 2016 he was settled back in Dhaka, joining international best practice with local opportunity and setting the stage for future digital ventures.
Trivia
- Transformation champion: Industry peers often cite him as “the guy who makes change stick,” a reputation earned while running Grameenphone’s large internal turnaround projects.
- Stage presence: Long before reality TV, he spoke at the IFC‑backed ScaleUp Bangladesh launch, encouraging founders to think beyond borders.
- Oxford rowing fan: Colleagues say he still follows the annual Boat Race with near‑religious zeal, a habit picked up during his Saïd Business School days.
- Early‑morning reader: He prefers dawn for business journals and investor decks, joking that “the world is quieter, so the numbers talk louder.”
- Bangla audiobook advocate: Hassan supports local creators who turn Bengali classics into audio format, believing it widens access for busy commuters.
Family Life
Despite a high‑visibility career, Hassan keeps his private sphere low‑key. Press coverage notes only that he is married and the father of three children; beyond that, he shields loved ones from media glare, saying their normal routines matter more than headlines. Friends describe a weekend routine of school runs, science‑fair projects, and the occasional countryside picnic—proof that even telecom executives juggle homework duty.
Associated With
Hassan’s professional circle spans telecom giants, investors, and policy shapers:
- Robi Axiata: As CEO of R Ventures, he partners with Robi’s core network teams to incubate products that can scale quickly on the operator’s platform.
- Grameenphone alumni: Former colleagues, including successor Dr Asif Naimur Rashid, credit his groundwork for smoother enterprise digitalization efforts that followed.
- Shark Tank Bangladesh co‑investors: On the show he trades insights with fellow “sharks” such as Sami Ahmed (Startup Bangladesh), Nazim Farhan Chowdhury (Adcomm), Golam Murshed (Majesto Ltd), Fahim Mashroor (Bdjobs), and Ahmed Ali (TISTA).
- Oxford business network: Alumni ties connect him to global finance and tech leaders, a bridge he uses to attract foreign mentorship for Bangladeshi founders.
- Policy forums: As an occasional advisor to digital‑economy task forces, he collaborates with regulators on issues like spectrum pricing and fintech interoperability.
