Board & Regulatory Strategy · IRDAI GRC

S M Y ATHAR

Director & Principal Officer · Mazel Insurance Brokers (BasketOption.Insure)

Certified Insurance Director with 30+ years in governance, risk, and compliance. Guiding regulatory strategy at the board level across life, health, and general insurance in the Greater Bengaluru area.

Explore Profile athar.smy@gmail.com

30+Years of professional experience

21+Years in the insurance industry

ID & AIIICertified Insurance Director & Associate

Sheik Mohammed Yesdani Athar · Greater Bengaluru Area

Profile

About

Known among colleagues as a walking encyclopedia of insurance knowledge, Sheik Mohammed Yesdani Athar (S M Y Athar) is a Certified Insurance Director with 30+ years in governance, risk, and compliance with IRDAI regulations. He serves as Director and Principal Officer at Mazel Insurance Brokers Pvt Ltd (BasketOption.Insure), guiding regulatory strategy and board-level governance.

His career spans entrepreneurship, quality management, sales leadership, training, and executive broking. He helps organisations navigate IRDAI regulations, with deep expertise in the health insurance sector, ethical client education, and long-term relationship building.

"Learning is a lifelong process."

He holds a PGD MBA (Marketing) from Tasmac, Associate (AIII) from the Insurance Institute of India, a Specialized Diploma in Health Insurance, and the Brokers Exam for Principal Officer from NIA Pune. Prior roles include National Head at Basket Option Insurance Brokers, leadership at Star Health, HDFC Standard Life, and Max New York Life.

Contact Email: athar.smy@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/atharsmy Location: Greater Bengaluru Area, India

Career

Professional Experience

Leadership across regulatory strategy, broking, quality management, and insurance distribution — with 23+ years of documented industry experience.

Current Role

Director & Principal Officer Mazel Insurance Brokers Pvt Ltd (BasketOption.Insure) · Nov 2017 – Present · Bengaluru

Insurance Leadership

National HeadBasket Option Insurance Brokers Pvt Ltd · Jul 2015 – Nov 2017
Sales ManagerStar Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd · Sep 2014 – Jul 2015
Head of Quality ManagementBasketoption Pvt Ltd · Sep 2007 – Aug 2014 · Business plan & sales strategy development
Sales Development ManagerHDFC Standard Life Insurance · Apr 2007 – Sep 2007 · Financial adviser appointments
Marketing ManagerBDM Networks · Jul 2005 – Mar 2007 · Business plan & sales strategy
Agent & AdviserMax New York Life Insurance · Aug 2002 – Jul 2005
Agent, Bajaj Allianz Life InsuranceDistribution and insurance sales leadership.
Agent, New India Assurance Company LimitedFoundational experience in general insurance practice.
Agent, Apollo Munich Insurance Company LimitedHealth insurance representation and client servicing.

Earlier Ventures & Teaching

Faculty, BDPSTeaching at Nellore.
Proprietor, Optical ParadiseIndependent business leadership.
Transport OperatorOperations and logistics experience.
Proprietor, YMS MedicalsHealthcare retail entrepreneurship.
Visiting FacultyStock Market Insurance.

Qualifications

Education & Credentials

Academic and professional qualifications that support insurance broking, health insurance specialization, and principal officer responsibilities.

Certified Insurance Director (ID)

Certified ID credential supporting board-level governance, risk advisory, and IRDAI regulatory management.

Associate (AIII), Insurance Institute of India

2012 – 2016 · Professional insurance qualification forming the foundation of industry expertise.

Specialized Diploma in Health Insurance

2011 – 2012 · Insurance Institute of India · Focused health insurance products and client education.

Brokers Exam, Principal Officer

2016 · NIA Pune · Qualifying examination for principal officer responsibilities in insurance broking.

PGD MBA, Marketing

2006 – 2007 · Tasmac · Post Graduate Diploma supporting executive decision-making and strategy.

YSSR Degree College

1981 – 1984 · Foundational academic qualification.

Endorsements

Recommendations

Professional recommendations from colleagues and clients on LinkedIn.

"Very professional and trust worthy finance adviser. Good to have you Mr Athar."

"Mr. Athar is a great leader. Highly disciplined, dedicated and a true professional. I admire him as a good human being and as a great professional."

Connect

Professional Network

Active across business forums and professional communities that support relationship building, referrals, and public engagement.

4,100+ followers · 500+ connections · Insurance GRC & regulatory insights.

Interests & Creative Pursuits

A blend of analytical interests and creative expression that reflects curiosity, communication skill, and personal passion.

Handwriting Analysis

Analytical interest in personality interpretation through handwriting patterns.

Body Language

Study of non-verbal communication and human behavior.

Acting in Short Films

Creative expression through performance and storytelling on screen.