LOCAL financial planner, Dr Pravin Thakur, was recently appointed to serve as the South African country chairman of the Million Dollar Round Table Association (MDRT). Dr Thakur was chosen by the association that is recognised internationally as the premier association of financial professionals.
The businessman and council member of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry said he welcomed the new position and vows to make the country proud. “To serve as country chairman of South Africa is the absolute highlight of my career in the financial services industry and I deem my appointment to be an honour and a privilege.
“My specific role-function would be to serve on the membership communications committee (MCC), which is a network of more than 400 MDRT volunteer members internationally, who are responsible for promoting the organisation and communicating information to current and aspiring members, companies, and other industry organisations,” he said.
His new job also includes reporting on the needs and concerns of members to the MDRT Executive Committee at the MDRT headquarters in Chicago. The MDRT is an independent body of more than 42 000 of the world’s leading financial planners drawn from more than 70 countries globally.
Dr Thakur holds seven university qualifications from five different tertiary institutes, has been a member of the MDRT club for 14 years and has served the organisation in various capacities, such as local chairman, company chairman, and area chairman, thus earning himself life and qualifying member status in the process.
The MDRT Chairman in South Africa, Kobus Kleyn of Johannesburg, congratulated Thakur on his qualification at the highest level of membership.
“This nomination is part of the MCC South Africa continuity and succession planning and Thakur has certainly justified the nomination with a sterling job as MCC KZN area chair during his 2014/15 term.
A crowning moment for Dr Thakur was at the New Orleans conference where he was the designated South African flag bearer, tasked with carrying the South African flag onto the stage in front of more than 10 000 attendees.
Dr Thakur’s first assignment is to attend theMDRT MCC Leadership and Induction Programme in Chicago, Illinois from 3 to 5 August in preparation for the commencement of his term of office due to take effect from 1 September.
