Last week, on July 1, 2026, the Pakistan Society for Training & Development (PSTD) officially expanded its Board of Governors. The organization appointed Umer Farid, the current Chief People Officer (CPO) at PTCL, to its leadership team. Consequently, PSTD brings one of Pakistan’s leading human resources professionals into its core decision-making body.
Farid brings over 20 years of extensive industry experience to the PSTD board. Throughout his career, he has successfully spearheaded human resources, organizational development, and leadership transformation initiatives. Moreover, his expertise spans across both the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and telecommunications sectors.
Umer Farid has held critical senior leadership roles at several major corporations. These include PTCL & Ufone, PepsiCo, British American Tobacco, Telenor Group, and Pakistan Tobacco Company. Furthermore, his career features a strong international footprint. Farid has successfully managed professional assignments across Pakistan, South Korea, Norway, and Bangladesh.
This strategic appointment arrives at a crucial time for corporate sectors. Currently, businesses are aggressively rethinking their workforce strategies. Companies must adapt to rapid digital transformation, the rise of artificial intelligence, and constantly shifting employee expectations. Therefore, industry experts increasingly view continuous learning and strong leadership development as absolute necessities to maintain competitiveness in today’s rapidly evolving economy.
As the CPO at PTCL, Umer Farid actively leads massive initiatives related to talent strategy and workplace culture. He also drives organizational effectiveness and leadership development across the telecom giant. Now, PSTD expects his vast operational experience to significantly strengthen collaboration between academia, corporate organizations, and the broader learning and development community.
