ThinkMarkets Hires Junaid Daher as Head of CRM and Lifecycle Why the Client Journey Is Brokers New Battleground
Global multi-asset broker ThinkMarkets has reportedly hired Junaid Daher as its Head of CRM and Lifecycle, a move that strengthens the firm's marketing leadership and its ability to manage relationships with clients from the first sign-up onwards.
The appointment, first reported as an exclusive by FX News Group and covered by The FX Times on 21 October 2026, comes only weeks after ThinkMarkets brought in Will Burnham as Executive Director of Growth Marketing. Taken together, the two hires show a broker investing seriously in the machinery of modern client engagement.
But what does a "Head of CRM and Lifecycle" actually do at a forex and CFD broker — and why are brokers competing so hard on it? Let's break it down.
The News at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company | ThinkMarkets |
| New hire | Junaid Daher |
| Role | Head of CRM and Lifecycle |
| Location | Dubai |
| Reported | 21 October 2026 (exclusive by FX News Group) |
| Most recent role | Marketing Automation Manager, CFI (~2 years) |
| Also joined recently | Will Burnham, Executive Director of Growth Marketing (September 2026) |
ThinkMarkets has not publicly detailed the specific responsibilities of the new role.
Who Is Junaid Daher?
Daher is a Dubai-based specialist in CRM (customer relationship management) and marketing automation, with experience that spans brokerage, fintech and data.
Career snapshot
| Company | Role | Period |
|---|---|---|
| S&P | Earlier experience | — |
| QisstPay | Earlier experience | — |
| Fasset | Earlier experience | — |
| MultiBank Group | CRM Manager | 2023 – 2024 |
| CFI | Marketing Automation Manager | ~2 years |
| ThinkMarkets | Head of CRM and Lifecycle | From October 2026 |
That mix — a financial data background, fintech experience in buy-now-pay-later (QisstPay) and digital assets (Fasset), then CRM and automation roles at two well-known multi-asset brokers — is a close fit for a role that sits where data, technology and client communication meet.
The Bigger Picture: ThinkMarkets' Growth Marketing Build-Out
Daher's arrival follows another senior marketing hire just weeks earlier.
Will Burnham, Executive Director of Growth Marketing
According to Finance Magnates, Burnham joined ThinkMarkets in September 2026, bringing a strong performance-marketing background:
- MultiBank Group — Chief Marketing Officer (Nov 2025 – Jul 2026)
- Capital.com — Global Head of Digital Marketing, then Marketing Director, Paid Growth, then Senior Director of Growth (2 years, 8 months in total)
- Miniclip — almost six years in digital marketing and user acquisition
Burnham said his initial priority was to "turbocharge paid growth and build a best-in-class setup and team."
How the two roles fit together
| Growth Marketing (Burnham) | CRM & Lifecycle (Daher) | |
|---|---|---|
| Main goal | Bring new clients in | Help clients get started and stay engaged |
| Typical tools | Paid media, performance campaigns, acquisition funnels | CRM systems, automated messaging, segmentation, data analysis |
| Stage of the journey | Before sign-up | From sign-up onwards |
In simple terms: one role fills the funnel, the other makes sure people who enter it have a good experience — and keep coming back.
What Is "Lifecycle Marketing" at a Broker?
A trading client's relationship with a broker moves through distinct stages. Lifecycle marketing means designing the right communication for each one.
| Stage | What the client needs | What a CRM team might do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sign-up | A smooth start | Welcome emails, clear verification steps |
| 2. Onboarding | Confidence to use the platform | Platform tutorials, guides to account types |
| 3. First deposit & trade | Reassurance and support | Help with funding methods, education on risk |
| 4. Active trading | Relevant, timely information | Market updates, product news, educational content |
| 5. Slowing down | A reason to re-engage | Personalised check-ins, new features, webinars |
| 6. Dormant | Reconnection | Reactivation campaigns |
Done well, this makes the experience feel personal and helpful. Done badly, it becomes a flood of generic emails and push notifications. The difference lies in data, segmentation and automation — exactly the skills Daher's background points to.
Why Brokers Are Competing on Engagement and Retention
As The FX Times notes, online brokers are increasingly competing on client engagement and retention, using more advanced marketing systems, data analysis and automated communication platforms. A few reasons why:
1. Acquiring clients is expensive
Paid advertising in financial services is among the most costly of any industry. Keeping an existing client engaged is usually far cheaper than finding a new one.
2. Products are increasingly similar
Most large brokers offer similar markets, platforms and pricing. Experience — how helpful, clear and timely a broker's communication is — becomes a key differentiator.
3. Regulation shapes how brokers communicate
In many jurisdictions, regulators set strict rules on how leveraged products can be marketed. A well-built CRM system helps brokers send the right message to the right client, with appropriate risk warnings and within local rules.
4. Data makes personalisation possible
Modern CRM platforms let brokers tailor communication by language, region, experience level and trading activity, rather than sending the same message to everyone.
About ThinkMarkets
For readers less familiar with the broker, here's a quick profile based on its own published information:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Established | 2010 (originally as ThinkForex) |
| Operating company (AU) | TF Global Markets (Aust) Pty Limited, Melbourne |
| Offices | Australia, Asia, Europe, the UK, the UAE and South Africa |
| Clients in | 165+ countries |
| Instruments | 4,000+ across global markets, including forex and CFDs |
| Platforms | ThinkTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView integration |
| Regulators listed | ASIC (Australia), FCA (UK), FSCA (South Africa), CySEC (Cyprus), DFSA (Dubai), FSA (Seychelles), FSC (Mauritius), CIMA (Cayman Islands), JFSA licence (Japan) |
Recent ThinkTrader additions reported by Finance Magnates include Guaranteed Stop Loss orders, round-the-clock gold and silver trading, and the ChelseaAI trading interface.
Which entity — and therefore which regulator — serves you depends on where you live. Always check before opening an account.
What Traders Might Notice
If the new CRM and lifecycle leadership delivers on its potential, ThinkMarkets clients could see:
- More relevant communication — tailored to their experience level, region and the markets they trade
- Better onboarding — clearer guidance for new clients on verification, platforms and account choice
- More timely education — content linked to market events and the products clients actually use
- Fewer generic messages — smarter segmentation means less "one size fits all" email
A tip for traders: stay in control of your inbox
Good broker communication can be genuinely useful. But a well-timed notification is never a reason to trade on its own. A few habits help:
- Set your communication preferences in your client area — choose what you want to receive.
- Treat promotions as information, not instructions. Trade only according to your own plan.
- Use educational content actively — webinars, market analysis and platform guides are often the most valuable messages a broker sends.
- Be alert to impersonation. Scammers sometimes copy broker branding. Check sender addresses and log in through the official website or app, never via unexpected links.
Industry Context: A Busy Week for Executive Moves
Daher's appointment is one of several leadership changes reported across the trading industry in the same week, including GTCFX naming Charbel Raffoul as CEO and XS.com appointing Mariana Higa as LATAM Regional Marketing Director. The common thread: brokers are investing in specialist leadership — in compliance, growth and client experience — as competition intensifies.
Key Takeaways
- ThinkMarkets has hired Junaid Daher as Head of CRM and Lifecycle, based in Dubai.
- Daher previously worked at CFI (Marketing Automation Manager) and MultiBank Group (CRM Manager), with earlier experience at Fasset, QisstPay and S&P.
- The hire follows Will Burnham's arrival as Executive Director of Growth Marketing in September 2026.
- Together, the appointments point to ThinkMarkets building a stronger marketing infrastructure across the entire client lifecycle — from acquisition to retention.
- For traders, the best results of good CRM are clearer onboarding, more relevant education and more useful communication.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available news reports and company information. It is for information only and does not constitute investment advice or an endorsement of any broker. Trading forex and CFDs on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors.