M.Sc., MBA
Chairman, IREAD Canada & IREAD USA

Zahir grew up in Uganda and emigrated to Canada in 1972, where he received a M.Sc. Pharmacology from University of Toronto and an MBA from McMaster University. In 1989, Zahir moved to the US to join Abbott, a Fortune 500 healthcare company. He held various senior management positions at Abbott including President, Abbott Japan; Vice President, Global Commercial Operations Diabetes Division before retiring in 2012 as Vice President, International Marketing and Corporate Officer.

Since retiring, Zahir has dedicated significant time and expertise mentoring healthcare startups. He is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Temple Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotechnology company and serves on the Steering Committee of the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Zahir was part of a medical mission to Tajikistan in 2019 to support the Aga Khan Medical Center and Regional Cardiology Center in Khorog.

Zahir is passionate about education and believes it to be the single greatest equalizer opening doors of opportunity. His work as a founding member of the Sonia Shah Organization, which built a school for girls in Kangra, Pakistan and his work with IREAD USA reflects that passion.

Zahir is blessed with two wonderful daughters, a son-in-law, and a beautiful granddaughter. He presently resides in Chicago, Illinois with his wife Rozmin.