Our Team
Your interests are aligned with ours. Azzad’s investment professionals are shareholders in the Funds they manage.
The Azzad Ethical Fund is managed by an investment team at Ziegler Lotsoff Capital Management (“ZLCM”) which serves as its Subadviser. The Fund is also managed by a team led by Mr. Jamal Elbarmil. Mr. Elbarmil and his team manage the Azzad Wise Capital Fund. The Funds are overseen by an investment committee that meets regularly to discuss their portfolio characteristics, performance and risk management. We are fellow shareholders and investors in the Funds (and other products) we offer.
AZZAD MUTUAL FUNDS
Dr. Donald Reid, Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager
Dr. Reid is responsible for quantitative stock analysis, and portfolio construction at ZLCM. He joined ZLCM in 1997 as Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager for their large and mid cap domestic equity strategies and has over 25 years of experience in the investment management industry. Prior to joining ZLCM, he served as Director of Quantitative Equity Research at Weiss, Peck & Greer and as Director of Research and Development for Eden Financial Corporation. He has authored several academic and trade publications including an article co-authored with Dr. Harry Markowitz (recipient of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Economics). Dr. Reid was an accountant with Ernst & Ernst (currently Ernst & Young) early in his career. He holds a B.S. from Auburn University, a M.S. from University of Georgia, and a Ph.D. from University of Kentucky with a concentration in Financial Economics.
Joseph N. Pappo, Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager
Mr. Pappo is responsible for stock selection, and operations at ZLCM. He joined ZLCM in 1997 as Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager for their large and mid cap domestic equity strategies. He has over 20 years of experience in the investment management industry. In 1988, Mr. Pappo founded Eden Financial Corporation which was later integrated into Weiss, Peck & Greer in 1991 as the new Quantitative Equity Division. Mr. Pappo holds a B.A. and a M.A. from Northwestern University.
Christian Grenier, CFA®, Portfolio Manager
Mr. Grenier provides fundamental research across all sectors and participates in the decision making process for stock selection. He has a substantial role in the quantitative research effort, contributing to the stock scoring model research. He has over ten years experience in the investment management industry. Prior to joining ZLCM, he held positions at Checkfree Investment Services and Northern Trust. He holds a B.S. in Finance from DePaul University, as well as an MBA from the University of Chicago. Mr. Grenier also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation, and is a member of the CFA® Society of Chicago.
Jamal Elbarmil – Vice President Azzad Asset Management & Portfolio Manager Azzad Mutual Funds
Jamal Elbarmil has served as the Vice President of Azzad Asset Management since 2000 and as portfolio manager for the Azzad Funds since 2008. He is responsible for the day to day management of the Azzad Funds’ portfolios aided by a team of equity analysts. He holds a Masters Degree in Information Systems from the American University in Washington DC and he is a PhD candidate at George Mason University in Virginia.
Ahsan Raheem, CFA, FRM – Equity Analyst
Ahsan Raheem joined Azzad in June 2008 as an equity analyst where he conducts extensive equity research, performs asset allocation, financial risk analysis and performance evaluations. Prior to joining Azzad, he worked as a senior consultant at Ernst & Young where he documented business plans, designed private placement memorandums, developed financial models and performed valuations. He holds a Master's degree in Finance from Johns Hopkins University and BSc honors in Economics from Lahore University of Management Sciences. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation (CFA) and is a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).
Haris Anwaar, CFA – Equity Analyst
Haris Anwaar works as an equity analyst at Azzad. He joined Azzad in March of 2010. Prior to joining Azzad, he worked as an analyst for Brown Gibbons Lang & Company and Deutsche Bank. He holds a Master's degree in Finance from University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) and BSc honors in Economics from Lahore University of Management Sciences. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation (CFA).
AZZAD ASSET MANAGEMENT
Bashar Qasem – CEO and Founder
Bashar Qasem is the founder and CEO of Azzad Asset Management, established in 1997. Mr. Qasem is one of the leaders and foremost experts on Islamic financing and socially responsible investing in the United States. Coverage of him and the Azzad Funds has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Reuters, Chicago Tribune, CBS News, Voice of America and many others. Mr. Qasem holds the designation of the Certified Shari’ah Auditor & Adviser (C.S.A.A.) from The Accounting & Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) in Bahrain and holds investment advisery license series 65. Mr. Qasem has served as the Funds’ chairman since their inception, and his institutional knowledge of the Funds is an important part of Board discussions.
Manal Fouz – Chief Compliance Officer and Operations Manager
Manal Fouz serves as the Chief Compliance Officer. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Communications specialized in journalism from George Mason University, 1996. She has served as Operations Manager for Azzad since 2003 and Chief Compliance Officer since 2007. She has attended and completed numerous compliance training seminars and conferences hosted by the SEC, Investment Company Institute (ICI) and others. Ms. Fouz is a member of the NSCP (National Society of Compliance Professionals).
THE INVESTMENT ADVISER
Azzad Asset Management is the investment adviser to the Azzad Funds. Azzad is an investment advisory firm established since 1997. The firm is committed to helping clients manage their money according to a disciplined, socially responsible investment philosophy based on faith-based values.
In addition to mutual funds, Azzad offers a wide variety of retirement plans, college savings, managed accounts for individuals and businesses and financial planning that includes charitable giving and estate planning. We are headquartered in the suburbs of Washington, DC.
The Azzad Ethical Fund’s Subadviser
As of November 2012, Ziegler Lotsoff Capital Management (“ZLCM”) serves as the Azzad Ethical Fund’s Subadviser. ZLCM has roots going back to 1902 through its parent company, The Ziegler Companies. Today, ZLCM is a registered investment adviser with the Securities & Exchange Commission and manages over $4 billion as of February 2012. They manage assets for institutional clients including mutual funds, corporations and government pension plans. ZLCM has managed other equity models for Azzad’s Ethical Wrap Program since 2004.