Mohamed Sheikh, Baron Sheikh

Mohamed Iltaf Sheikh, Baron Sheikh (born 13 June 1941), 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 was gazetted on 6 June 2006 by the name, style and title of Baron Sheikh, of Cornhill in the City of London.^[1]

Early life

Sheikh was born in Kenya and brought up in Uganda. His parents originated from Kashmir. 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 Asian languages.

Career

On arrival in the United Kingdom, 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.

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.^[2]

Conservative Party

Sheikh first joined the Conservative Party in 2004. Sheikh is the former Chairman of the Conservative Muslim Forum and also the Chairman of the Conservative Ethnic Diversity Council.^[3] 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.^[4]

Sheikh was appointed a life peer in 2006 after he was nominated by Michael Howard MP, then Leader of the Conservative Party.

Arms

Arms of Mohamed Sheikh, Baron Sheikh

Adopted 2007 Coronet Coronet of a Baron Crest A Peacock in its pride Azure beaked legged and crested Gules the tail eyed Or the wings displayed and each supporting a Quill Argent spined Or Escutcheon Argent four rows of Pallets couped the first and third alternately Gules and Azure the second and fourth Azure and Gules over all on a Pale Vert a Pale Or charged with three Crescents Vert Supporters On either side statant upon an Egg Or a Dove wings inverted and addorsed Argent beaked and legged Gules Motto IQRA Symbolism The rows of couped pallets represent rows of books; and writing is further reflected in the quills in both Crest and Badge. The peacock is a clear allusion to the origin of the grantee's family and the crescents to the Muslim faith. The dove Supporters with their eggs represent the two doves who nested in front of a cave where the prophet Mohammed was hiding from his enemies. The latter seeing the nesting doves assumed that the cave must be empty and so passed by allowing the prophet to remain undiscovered.

References

1. The London Gazette: no. 58006. p. 7933. 9 June 2006.
2. Lord Sheikh - About Lord Sheikh http://lordsheikh.com/?page_id=42
3. Resignation http://www.conservativemuslimforum.com/news~events/news-&-past-events/lord-sheikh-relinquishes-cmf-chairmanship/226
4. Conservative Muslim Forum - Objectives http://www.conservativemuslimforum.com/about-us/objectives

External links

• Lord Sheikh
• Macmillan Sheikh
• Conservative Muslim Forum
• Life Peer list 2006