Mohamed Sheikh, Baron Sheikh
Encyclopedia
Mohamed Iltaf Sheikh, Baron Sheikh, formerly known as Richard Sheikh, is chairman of Macmillan Sheikh plc which is an insurance broking and underwriting agency organisation with offices in Westminster. He is also the chairman of Iqra Ethical plc and two property companies.
He was previously chairman and executive
of Camberford Law
, a firm established in 1958 providing insurance
broking and underwriting
services.
He was made a life peer
in 2006, and sits on the Conservative
benches in the House of Lords
. The life barony conferred upon Mohamed Iltaf Sheikh has been gazetted by the name, style and title of Baron Sheikh, of Cornhill in the City of London
.
and brought up in Uganda
. His parents originated from the subcontinent of India. Sheikh attended Government
schools in Mbale
(Uganda) where he attained the Cambridge Higher School Certificate
(the predecessor to an A-level). He is able to speak six languages, including several African and Asia
n languages.
, Sheikh started his insurance career by joining the Sun Alliance Insurance Company in London. He attended the City of London College and Holborn College
where he completed the Associateship of the Chartered Insurance Institute
and subsequently passed the Fellowship of the Chartered Insurance Institute. Later he also attained the Financial Planning Certificate.
Sheikh is now chairman of Macmillan Sheikh plc, Iqra Ethical plc and two property companies. As well as an honorary Executive Board Member of The Islamic Finance Council UK
He was previously the Chairman and Chief Executive of Camberford Law
plc. The company has offices in Bromley
as well as in The Royal Exchange in the City of London
and writes insurance business nationwide. Under his leadership, over a period of three years Camberford Law
plc were the winners, or highly commended, on 13 insurance awards, including three of the most prestigious awards in the Insurance Industry.
Sheikh has been the President
of the Insurance Institute of Croydon and a member of the National Council of the Chartered Insurance Institute. He was Regional Chairman of the British Insurance Brokers Association on two separate occasions and was a Director
of the main board of the Association for four years. He has also held senior positions in other financial and insurance organisations.
For a period of 12 years Sheikh was a visiting lecturer at various colleges and polytechnics and in addition to lecturing he has also written educational material. He belongs to three Livery
companies and is a Freeman
of the City of London
. He has written extensively on insurance subjects in various publications and he speaks at numerous meetings and conferences on business as well as leadership matters.
and also the Chairman of the Conservative Ethnic Diversity Council. He is actively involved in promoting the Conservative Party to ethnic minorities and also the building of harmonious relationships between various racial and religious groups.
Sheikh was appointed a life peer in 2006 after he was nominated by Michael Howard
MP, then Leader of the Conservative Party.
He was previously chairman and executive
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Camberford Law
Camberford Law
Camberford Law established in 1958 is a Lloyd's-listed broker, an independent financial adviser and underwriting agent. It has developed niche insurance expertise in the private security and cleaning industry sectors. Mohamed Iltaf Sheikh is Chairman of the company...
, a firm established in 1958 providing insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
broking and underwriting
Underwriting
Underwriting refers to the process that a large financial service provider uses to assess the eligibility of a customer to receive their products . The name derives from the Lloyd's of London insurance market...
services.
He was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in 2006, and sits on the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
benches in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. The life barony conferred upon Mohamed Iltaf Sheikh has been gazetted by the name, style and title of Baron Sheikh, of Cornhill in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.
Early life
Sheikh was born in KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and brought up in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. His parents originated from the subcontinent of India. Sheikh attended Government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
schools in Mbale
Mbale
Mbale is a city in Eastern Uganda. It is the main municiplal, administrative and commercial center of Mbale District and the surrounding sub-region. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
(Uganda) where he attained the Cambridge Higher School Certificate
Higher School Certificate (UK)
The Higher School Certificate was a United Kingdom educational attainment standard qualification, established in 1918 by the Secondary Schools Examination Council . The Higher School Certificate Examination was usually taken at age 18, or two years after the School Certificate. It was abolished...
(the predecessor to an A-level). He is able to speak six languages, including several African and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n languages.
Career
On arrival in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Sheikh started his insurance career by joining the Sun Alliance Insurance Company in London. He attended the City of London College and Holborn College
Holborn College
Holborn College is a college of higher education in London, England specialising in law and business. The college's degrees are accredited by the University of Wales, University of London and Liverpool John Moores University....
where he completed the Associateship of the Chartered Insurance Institute
Chartered Insurance Institute
The Chartered Insurance Institute is a United Kingdom based professional organisation for those working in the insurance and financial services industries....
and subsequently passed the Fellowship of the Chartered Insurance Institute. Later he also attained the Financial Planning Certificate.
Sheikh is now chairman of Macmillan Sheikh plc, Iqra Ethical plc and two property companies. As well as an honorary Executive Board Member of The Islamic Finance Council UK
He was previously the Chairman and Chief Executive of Camberford Law
Camberford Law
Camberford Law established in 1958 is a Lloyd's-listed broker, an independent financial adviser and underwriting agent. It has developed niche insurance expertise in the private security and cleaning industry sectors. Mohamed Iltaf Sheikh is Chairman of the company...
plc. The company has offices in Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
as well as in The Royal Exchange in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
and writes insurance business nationwide. Under his leadership, over a period of three years Camberford Law
Camberford Law
Camberford Law established in 1958 is a Lloyd's-listed broker, an independent financial adviser and underwriting agent. It has developed niche insurance expertise in the private security and cleaning industry sectors. Mohamed Iltaf Sheikh is Chairman of the company...
plc were the winners, or highly commended, on 13 insurance awards, including three of the most prestigious awards in the Insurance Industry.
Sheikh has been the President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Insurance Institute of Croydon and a member of the National Council of the Chartered Insurance Institute. He was Regional Chairman of the British Insurance Brokers Association on two separate occasions and was a Director
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the main board of the Association for four years. He has also held senior positions in other financial and insurance organisations.
For a period of 12 years Sheikh was a visiting lecturer at various colleges and polytechnics and in addition to lecturing he has also written educational material. He belongs to three Livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
companies and is a Freeman
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. He has written extensively on insurance subjects in various publications and he speaks at numerous meetings and conferences on business as well as leadership matters.
Charity
Lord Sheikh founded and funds a registered charity, the Sheikh Abdullah Foundation, in his father’s memory. The charity amongst other things recognizes and rewards the attainment of young people who are the rising stars and hopefully will be the future leaders. The charity also supports a number of deserving causes in the United Kingdom and overseas.Personal life
Lord Sheikh has been married to Shaida since 1986. She manages his Parliamentary office and often accompanies him to a number of events. She is his second wife, and he has a daughter from his first marriage.Conservative Party
Sheikh first joined the Conservative Party in 2004. Sheikh is currently Chairman of the Conservative Muslim ForumConservative Muslim Forum
The Conservative Muslim Forum is a group within the British Conservative Party. It aims to increase Conservative Party's knowledge and comprehension of issues and circumstances that have particular relevance to Muslim communities and develop suitable responses. It also seeks to increase support for...
and also the Chairman of the Conservative Ethnic Diversity Council. He is actively involved in promoting the Conservative Party to ethnic minorities and also the building of harmonious relationships between various racial and religious groups.
Sheikh was appointed a life peer in 2006 after he was nominated by Michael Howard
Michael Howard
Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne, CH, QC, PC is a British politician, who served as the Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from November 2003 to December 2005...
MP, then Leader of the Conservative Party.