Full Name
Farzanah Chowdhury
Job Title
MD & CEO
Company
Green Delta Insurance Company Ltd.
Speaker Bio
Farzanah Chowdhury, a distinguished Chartered Insurer, leads Green Delta Insurance PLC, Bangladesh’s leading non-life insurance company with a diverse portfolio covering BDT 3 trillion (US $35.7 billion) in assets and 1.2 million clients annually. Under her leadership, GDIC has maintained "AAA" credit rating for 11 years, earned Superbrands recognition since 2020, and received government acclaim for its exceptional claim settlement in 2023 and 2024. Being the first female Managing Director and CEO in Bangladesh's insurance sector, believes in creating value for both business and society. For over 25 years, she and her team have been working dedicatedly to close this gap by adopting transparent processes and ethical practices.
Prior to becoming the Managing Director and CEO of Green Delta Insurance PLC, she pioneered SME Banking as Head of SME Banking at BRAC Bank Ltd., where she led numerous innovative initiatives, extending financial services to marginalized communities. In 2016, she was recognized by the UN Global Compact as a Local SDG Pioneer for Women's Economic Security, for her work with Nibedita, a comprehensive insurance program for women. She also introduced micro-insurance services for rural citizens, garment workers, and migrant workers.
Since Farzanah Chowdhury took helm of Green Delta, the company has pioneered many products. Digitalizing the insurance buying process was one of the core initiatives that she spearheaded and thus digital insurance was introduced in Bangladesh by Green Delta in 2018 as the country's first non-life insurer. In continuation of that effort, the company introduced the first ever comprehensive mobile app in the non-life insurance sector of Bangladesh in 2020. With the same vision of taking digitalized insurance services to the doorstep of the customers, Green Delta expanded its efforts and introduced country’s first digital insurance ecosystem in 2023, enabling easier and convenient access to insurance services and hassle-free claim settlement.
With her direct supervision and guidance, Green Delta has also pioneered agriculture insurance in 2015 and livestock insurance in 2018. While the agriculture insurance started its journey with only 200 farmers, the number has grown exponentially over last 1 decade and a total of 1.4 million farmers are now enjoying the coverage of agriculture insurance as of 2025.
Under her charismatic and visionary leadership, Green Delta Insurance has supported various government initiatives, including the ‘Shashtha Suroksha Karmashuchi’ (SSK) project, which provides health insurance to the poor, benefiting over 200,000 households and offering universal healthcare to more than 7 million people living below the poverty line. Through her relentless efforts, she has transformed the insurance industry with the "Insurance for Everyone" initiative, expanding its reach to promote empowerment and enablement for all.
Green Delta Insurance has since become the leading financial conglomerate in the country, offering a wide range of services through its subsidiaries, including Green Delta Capital Limited and Green Delta Securities Limited. These subsidiaries provide investment banking, brokerage, and wealth management, while GD Assist focuses on healthcare services and global emergency medical evacuation.
Being an accomplished corporate leader, Farzanah has been recognized many times for the professional milestones she has achieved. Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) UK has recognized Ms. Chowdhury along with few leading global insurance personalities as the CII Goodwill Ambassador in Bangladesh. She also received the Senior Associate title by the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF). Ms. Chowdhury was one of 17 participants selected from 14 countries worldwide through a competitive process by the U.S. State Department. She joined the International Women Leaders Mentoring Partnership program, sponsored by the U.S. State Department and Fortune 500 companies, held in the U.S. from May 1 to 25, 2006, and was mentored by ING Financial Services.
Farzanah Chowdhury has received numerous national and international awards, including the "Best CEO of the Year" Award at the South Asian Business Excellence Award, Commonwealth Business Excellence Award and at the C-suite Award by Bangladesh Brand Forum. She also received the "Best CEO Award" in the non-life Insurance Category in RTV Bima Awards. Additionally, she made history as the first Bangladeshi woman to be honored with the "Woman Leader of the Year" award at the 23rd Asia Insurance Industry Awards. Furthermore, she was honored with the prestigious Public Trust Award by CII UK for Building Public Trust in Insurance – International at the CII President’s Dinner & Public Trust Awards.
Farzanah Chowdhury holds key positions across multiple organizations home and abroad, including Advisory Board Member of the New Champion Community at the World Economic Forum (WEF); Chair of UN Global Compact (UNGC) Bangladesh; G100 Global Chair of Healthcare, Wellness, Insurance & Risk Management; Member of Board of trustee and Advisory Board of CSR Centre and Private Sector Member of the General & Governing Body of the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) for 2024-2025. With extensive experience in insurance, banking, microfinance, and healthcare, Farzanah Chowdhury has recently been appointed as an Independent Director on the boards of DESCO, Bata Bangladesh, and Linde Bangladesh. Ms. Chowdhury has recently joined the North South University School of Business & Economics (NSU-SBE) Industry Advisory Board as a member, and also became an Advisor and Mentor at the Australian Bangladeshi Women in Leadership Incorporated (ABWLI). She also serves on the Board of TalentNomics India as an Advisor.
Ms. Chowdhury is also member of several esteemed business organizations and apex bodies, including the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce (BGCCI), Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce (BMCCI) and Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI).
Prior to becoming the Managing Director and CEO of Green Delta Insurance PLC, she pioneered SME Banking as Head of SME Banking at BRAC Bank Ltd., where she led numerous innovative initiatives, extending financial services to marginalized communities. In 2016, she was recognized by the UN Global Compact as a Local SDG Pioneer for Women's Economic Security, for her work with Nibedita, a comprehensive insurance program for women. She also introduced micro-insurance services for rural citizens, garment workers, and migrant workers.
Since Farzanah Chowdhury took helm of Green Delta, the company has pioneered many products. Digitalizing the insurance buying process was one of the core initiatives that she spearheaded and thus digital insurance was introduced in Bangladesh by Green Delta in 2018 as the country's first non-life insurer. In continuation of that effort, the company introduced the first ever comprehensive mobile app in the non-life insurance sector of Bangladesh in 2020. With the same vision of taking digitalized insurance services to the doorstep of the customers, Green Delta expanded its efforts and introduced country’s first digital insurance ecosystem in 2023, enabling easier and convenient access to insurance services and hassle-free claim settlement.
With her direct supervision and guidance, Green Delta has also pioneered agriculture insurance in 2015 and livestock insurance in 2018. While the agriculture insurance started its journey with only 200 farmers, the number has grown exponentially over last 1 decade and a total of 1.4 million farmers are now enjoying the coverage of agriculture insurance as of 2025.
Under her charismatic and visionary leadership, Green Delta Insurance has supported various government initiatives, including the ‘Shashtha Suroksha Karmashuchi’ (SSK) project, which provides health insurance to the poor, benefiting over 200,000 households and offering universal healthcare to more than 7 million people living below the poverty line. Through her relentless efforts, she has transformed the insurance industry with the "Insurance for Everyone" initiative, expanding its reach to promote empowerment and enablement for all.
Green Delta Insurance has since become the leading financial conglomerate in the country, offering a wide range of services through its subsidiaries, including Green Delta Capital Limited and Green Delta Securities Limited. These subsidiaries provide investment banking, brokerage, and wealth management, while GD Assist focuses on healthcare services and global emergency medical evacuation.
Being an accomplished corporate leader, Farzanah has been recognized many times for the professional milestones she has achieved. Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) UK has recognized Ms. Chowdhury along with few leading global insurance personalities as the CII Goodwill Ambassador in Bangladesh. She also received the Senior Associate title by the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF). Ms. Chowdhury was one of 17 participants selected from 14 countries worldwide through a competitive process by the U.S. State Department. She joined the International Women Leaders Mentoring Partnership program, sponsored by the U.S. State Department and Fortune 500 companies, held in the U.S. from May 1 to 25, 2006, and was mentored by ING Financial Services.
Farzanah Chowdhury has received numerous national and international awards, including the "Best CEO of the Year" Award at the South Asian Business Excellence Award, Commonwealth Business Excellence Award and at the C-suite Award by Bangladesh Brand Forum. She also received the "Best CEO Award" in the non-life Insurance Category in RTV Bima Awards. Additionally, she made history as the first Bangladeshi woman to be honored with the "Woman Leader of the Year" award at the 23rd Asia Insurance Industry Awards. Furthermore, she was honored with the prestigious Public Trust Award by CII UK for Building Public Trust in Insurance – International at the CII President’s Dinner & Public Trust Awards.
Farzanah Chowdhury holds key positions across multiple organizations home and abroad, including Advisory Board Member of the New Champion Community at the World Economic Forum (WEF); Chair of UN Global Compact (UNGC) Bangladesh; G100 Global Chair of Healthcare, Wellness, Insurance & Risk Management; Member of Board of trustee and Advisory Board of CSR Centre and Private Sector Member of the General & Governing Body of the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) for 2024-2025. With extensive experience in insurance, banking, microfinance, and healthcare, Farzanah Chowdhury has recently been appointed as an Independent Director on the boards of DESCO, Bata Bangladesh, and Linde Bangladesh. Ms. Chowdhury has recently joined the North South University School of Business & Economics (NSU-SBE) Industry Advisory Board as a member, and also became an Advisor and Mentor at the Australian Bangladeshi Women in Leadership Incorporated (ABWLI). She also serves on the Board of TalentNomics India as an Advisor.
Ms. Chowdhury is also member of several esteemed business organizations and apex bodies, including the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce (BGCCI), Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce (BMCCI) and Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI).
Speaking At
