Head - Strategy and Planning

Scope & Authority

• Lead the formulation, refreshing, and execution of corporate strategy in alignment with shareholder and Axiata Group objectives
• Own the enterprise-wide annual business planning and rolling forecast processes
• Establish strategic planning, performance management, and governance frameworks across the organization
• Provide strategic insights, recommendations, and decision support to the CEO, Executive Committee, and Board
• Challenge assumptions, evaluate strategic options, and influence investment and resource allocation decisions
• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives, transformation programs, and special projects
• Represent the company in Group-level strategy, planning, and performance forums

Key Responsibilities

Strategy Formulation

• Lead the development of the organizations long-term corporate strategy, aligned with shareholder objectives and Axiata Group strategic priorities
• Conduct strategic analysis including market trends, competitive landscape, industry disruptions, and internal capabilities to inform strategic choices
• Facilitate strategic discussions with the SLT and Board, providing fact-based insights, scenarios, and strategic options
• Define strategic themes, priorities, and initiatives that support growth, profitability, and transformation
• Ensure strategic coherence across business units, functions, and investments

Strategic Planning

• Lead the annual and long-range business planning process, translating strategy into integrated financial and operational plans
• Drive alignment between strategic objectives, budgets, forecasts, and capital allocation
• Work closely with Finance to ensure consistency between strategy, financial planning, and performance targets
• Establish planning assumptions, guardrails, and performance benchmarks to ensure disciplined and realistic plans.
• Support business units and functional leaders in developing strategic initiatives, business cases, and investment proposals

Business Planning & Financial Modelling

• Lead the annual business planning cycle and rolling forecasts across all business units
• Review and challenge assumptions underlying business plans to ensure robustness and achievability
• Oversee development of financial models, feasibility studies, and investment appraisals
• Support strategic partnerships, M&A, and expansion initiatives from a planning and valuation perspective

Strategic Execution Monitoring

• Design and oversee the enterprise performance management framework, including KPIs, scorecards, and strategic dashboards
• Monitor strategy execution progress, identifying risks, gaps, and corrective actions required to achieve strategic outcomes
• Track delivery of strategic initiatives and transformation programs, ensuring benefits realization and value creation
• Embed a performance-driven culture focused on outcomes, execution discipline, and continuous improvement

Performance Management

• Monitor organizational performance against strategic objectives and business plans
• Drive performance reviews with senior leadership, identifying gaps, risks, and corrective actions
• Provide consolidated performance insights and recommendations to ExCo and Board

Stakeholder & Board Engagement

• Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leadership on strategic matters
• Engage with Axiata Group stakeholders on strategy, planning, and performance reporting
• Lead preparation of Board papers, dashboards, and strategic updates
• Communicate strategy clearly across the organization to build alignment and ownership

Person Specifications

• Bachelors degree in business, Economics, Finance, Engineering, or a related discipline
• Masters degree (MBA / MSc) is strongly preferred
• Professional qualifications (CIMA, CFA, ACCA or equivalent) are an advantage
• Minimum 10–12 years of progressive experience in strategy, corporate planning, consulting, or performance management
• Prior experience in large corporates, conglomerates, telecoms, or strategy consulting is highly desirable
• Proven exposure to Board-level engagement and executive decision support
• Strong understanding of corporate strategy frameworks, business planning, and performance management.
• Solid commercial and financial acumen, including valuation and investment analysis
• Understanding of market dynamics, competition, and regulatory environments
• Familiarity with enterprise performance tools, dashboards, and analytics
• Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Strong financial modeling and business case development capability
• Excellent communication, storytelling, and executive presentation skills
• High-impact stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Ability to manage complexity, ambiguity, and competing priorities
• Ability to translate vision into actionable strategies and execution plans
• Ability to challenge senior leaders constructively and influence outcomes
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution
• High integrity, credibility, and professional maturity
• Proactive, results-driven, and future-oriented mindset
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Strong ownership, accountability, and attention to quality