Mr. Syed Manzur Elahi got his Master degree in Economics from Dhaka University. After serving for 7 years in a multinational company, he turned entrepreneur at the age of 30. He is today the Chairman of Syed Manzur Elahi Enterprise with interests in leather, footwear, insurance, advertising, banking and pharmaceuticals. This group is best known in Bangladesh as the pioneering and leading exporter of leather & leather footwear.

In addition to his position as Chairman of Apex Pharma Ltd, Mr. Elahi is also currently Chairman of Apex Tannery Ltd, Apex Footwear Ltd, Apex Enterprise Ltd, Apex Investments Ltd, Blue Ocean Footwear Ltd, Grey Advertising Bangladesh Ltd, Quantum Consumer Solutions Bangladesh Limited. Mr. Elahi was also founder Chairman of Mutual Trust Bank Ltd and presently a Board Member of Mutual Trust Bank Ltd, Pioneer Insurance Co., Ltd, and International Publications Ltd, owing company of the Financial Times.

Mr. Elahi has participated in many international workshops on private sector development, including University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, USA and at Harvard University, USA.

Mr. Elahi served twice as an Advisor in the Caretaker Governments in 1996 and 2001.

Mr. Elahi was President of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Bangladesh Employers Federation. He is also Founder President, and Treasurer of a leading Private University in Bangladesh. He was also elected President of Bangladesh Association of Banks and Bangladesh Association of Public Listed Companies (BAPLC). Presently, he is the President of Dhaka University Alumni Association.

He is a Trustee of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a leading think tank of Bangladesh and a Board Member of BIRDEM.

He is the Chairman of Freedom Foundation, successor to Ford Foundation of USA. Also, a Trustee of "Manusher Jonno" (DFID organization). Both the organizations fund NGOs, who resist woman and child oppression.