ASAD ALI

Deputy Secretary General, Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI)

Asad Ali started his professional career in 1990 with Novelty Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd, and over the years he progressed up the corporate ladder and in 2002, was appointed Managing Director. Novelty Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd., the largest printing and publishing firm in the country, is now the parent company in a highly reputed group that includes subsidiaries in and outside of Maldives such as Novel Investments Pvt. Ltd., Novelty Overseas Pvt. Ltd, Seasplash Maldives Pvt. Ltd., FDI Station, Paper World and NPlus. The companies engage in a variety of industries that include printing, photography, hospitality, trading, paints, floorings, transport and more. As group MD he is responsible for establishing and implementing business strategies across each of the group’s entities.

He also serves on the board and is the Managing Director of Driftwood Maldives Pvt. Ltd, owners of the island resort Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa. In 2009, under his direction, the resort was constructed adapting innovative technologies to exceed the highest international environmental and ecological standards. Hadahaa became the first property in Maldives and one of the first in the world to receive the prestigious Earth Check Certification for Building, Design & Construct. In operations, it has received unique environmental recognition with most of the measurables being above Best Practice.

In the past he has served as a member of the Board of Directors of large semi-government organizations including the Maldives Airports Company Limited (2005-2008) and the Bank of Maldives PLC (2009-2011). He also served on the board of the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) (The Central Bank) representing the private sector, from September 2022 till November 2024. In these organizations he was actively involved in the development, implementation and management of policies and procedures; establishment of fiscal policies including budgetary & financial controls; supervision over corporate affairs and the establishment and implementation of strategic plans. Since 2012, he has been serving on the executive board of Maldives Association for Tourism and Industry, the largest industry NGO, and currently serving as Deputy Secretary General. He is also a founding member and serving on the board of Parley Maldives, working with Parley (New York) on the AIR strategy to save the oceans from plastic.

Asad is a Maldivian, (ID A046023), was born in 1968, received formal schooling and education in Maldives, Singapore and Canada. He subsequently graduated with Baccalaureate of Administration from University of Ottawa, Canada.