The long-awaited appointment of a permanent Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Ignite National Technology Fund has been delayed once again, marking the second time the recruitment process has been halted. This critical position, which has remained vacant for the past 14 months, is now set to remain unfilled for an extended period as the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication has decided to initiate the recruitment process for the third time.
The decision to halt the appointment process was made following a crucial meeting of Ignite’s Board of Directors, which was chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, Zarar Hasham. Despite a rigorous selection process that included interviews conducted in August 2024, the board was unable to finalize the appointment of a permanent CEO. Sources revealed that none of the shortlisted candidates, who were interviewed during the selection process, were deemed suitable for the position. Disagreements among the board members prevented them from reaching a consensus on a single candidate, leading to further delays in the process.
As a result of this failure to appoint a CEO, the board has decided to re-advertise the position, effectively restarting the recruitment process. One notable change is that the upper age limit for the CEO role has now been raised from 50 to 60 years. This adjustment allows candidates who were previously disqualified due to age restrictions to reapply for the position. The advertisement for the post is expected to be published in the coming days, signaling the start of the third attempt to fill the role.
Since January 17, 2024, the position of CEO at Ignite has been vacant, with General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Adeel Ejaz Sheikh, serving as the acting CEO. Sheikh has held this position on an interim basis since January 18, 2024, but the prolonged vacancy has raised concerns about the leadership and direction of the organization. The recurring delays in the recruitment process have caused frustration among stakeholders, who are eager to see a permanent and stable leadership structure in place at the technology fund.
The persistent delays in the CEO appointment process have been attributed to the failure of the IT Secretary, Zarar Hasham, to convene board meetings in a timely manner. Hasham, who was appointed as the Secretary of IT in September of last year, did not call a meeting of the Ignite board until recently. The delay in convening the meeting became a point of contention, with some critics arguing that the lack of action from the IT Secretary had exacerbated the situation. The issue was only brought to the forefront after it was highlighted by ProPakistani, prompting the board to finally convene.
This ongoing delay has raised questions about the efficiency of the recruitment process and the decision-making procedures within Ignite. With the position of CEO at such a crucial organization still vacant, there is growing concern over the lack of leadership at the helm of Ignite, which is responsible for promoting technological advancements and fostering innovation in Pakistan’s tech ecosystem.
As the search for a permanent CEO continues, stakeholders are hoping that the third attempt will lead to a successful appointment and bring much-needed stability to the organization. The changes in the recruitment criteria, including the increase in the upper age limit, may open the door for new candidates to step forward and take on the challenging role. However, only time will tell if the third time is truly the charm for Ignite’s leadership search.