Offa boosts bridge team with two hires
Offa, an award-winning British Islamic property finance fintech firm, has increased the headcount of its bridging finance team with two new hires.
Tahir Ahmad joins Offa – the first company to provide halal bridge finance in the UK – as business development manager. He brings 20 years’ industry experience, having worked for UBL UK, Habib Bank Zurich Plc, Cynergy Bank, Punjab National International Bank Ltd, and Whitehall Capital Ltd.
Tahir has extensive knowledge, experience and skills in property finance within both commercial and residential banking. Commenting on his new role, he said: “What drew me to Offa was its unique combination of ethical, Sharia-compliant finance and a genuinely entrepreneurial approach to the market.
“Offa’s ability to structure practical solutions across bridging and buy-to-let aligns perfectly with my own experience and values. In my new role I will be focused on leveraging my network and market insight to strengthen broker relationships, originate high-quality business, and support clients in achieving their investment ambitions while contributing to the company’s continued growth.”
Hasan Ilyas joins Offa as business development support officer, having previously worked for Paragon on their buy-to-let team for three years, liaising with business development managers and brokers on end-to-end cases.
He said: “What really drew me to Offa was the chance to work somewhere where my professional life and personal values are in total sync. I’m excited to grow alongside a firm that’s proving you don’t have to compromise your beliefs to be a leader in the financial world.
“I see business support as the engine room of the office. By streamlining our internal processes, I want to create the space we need to scale and reach more people.”
Tahir and Hasan report to Naseer Ahmed, managing director of bridging & development finance. He said: “Hasan’s appointment strengthens Offa’s origination support capability as the business continues to scale, and he will play a key role in maintaining the high service standards our brokers and customers expect, ensuring efficient progression from enquiry to completion.
“Tahir brings extensive experience across both commercial and bridging finance together with a strong track record of building effective broker relationships. With his dedicated coverage across the Midlands and North regions he will play a key role in expanding Offa’s bridging presence and deepening relationships with strategic introducers.”