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 client relationships from the first sign-up onwards. The appointment matters because it reflects a wider shift in the industry. Brokers are no longer competing only on spreads, platforms and instruments. They are also competing on how well they guide clients through every stage of their relationship with the firm.
The appointment was first reported as an exclusive by FX News Group and covered by The FX Times on 21 October 2026. It 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.
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 before this | Marketing Automation Manager, CFI (around 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. The sections below therefore focus on what this type of job typically involves and on the publicly reported backgrounds of the people involved.
Who Is Junaid Daher?
Daher is a Dubai-based specialist in CRM (customer relationship management) and marketing automation. His reported experience spans brokerage, fintech and data, a useful combination for a role that sits where data, technology and client communication meet.
Career Snapshot
| Company | Role | Period |
|---|---|---|
| S&P | Earlier experience | Not specified |
| QisstPay | Earlier experience (buy-now-pay-later fintech) | Not specified |
| Fasset | Earlier experience (digital assets) | Not specified |
| MultiBank Group | CRM Manager | 2023 to 2024 |
| CFI | Marketing Automation Manager | Around 2 years |
| ThinkMarkets | Head of CRM and Lifecycle | From October 2026 |
The mix is notable. A financial data background, fintech experience in buy-now-pay-later and digital assets, and then CRM and automation roles at two multi-asset brokers suggest a profile built around data-driven client communication rather than traditional brand marketing. That is the skill set brokers look for when they want lifecycle messaging to be more relevant and less generic.
The Bigger Picture: ThinkMarkets' Growth Marketing Build-Out
Daher's arrival follows another senior marketing hire just weeks earlier. According to Finance Magnates, Will Burnham joined ThinkMarkets in September 2026 with a strong performance-marketing background:
- MultiBank Group: Chief Marketing Officer (November 2025 to July 2026)
- Capital.com: Global Head of Digital Marketing, then Marketing Director, Paid Growth, then Senior Director of Growth (2 years and 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." That statement, combined with Daher's appointment, points to a two-part approach: bring clients in efficiently, then keep them engaged.
How the Two Roles Fit Together
| Area | Growth Marketing (Burnham) | CRM and 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 and the other makes sure the people who enter it have a good experience and a reason to come back. Acquisition without retention is expensive, so the two functions are closely linked.
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, based on what the client actually needs at that point. The table below shows a simplified example of how this might look. It is illustrative, not a description of ThinkMarkets' own programme.
| 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 and 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 that clients learn to ignore. The difference lies in data, segmentation and automation, which are 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. Several factors explain why this has become a priority.
1. Acquiring Clients Is Expensive
Paid advertising in financial services is among the costliest of any industry. Keeping an existing client engaged is generally far cheaper than finding a new one, which makes retention a direct commercial priority.
2. Products Are Increasingly Similar
Many large brokers offer comparable markets, platforms and pricing structures. Experience, meaning how helpful, clear and timely a broker's communication is, becomes a meaningful differentiator. Traders comparing firms often look at this alongside regulation and costs, which is why our forex brokers comparison covers more than headline trading conditions.
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 a broker send the right message to the right client, with appropriate risk warnings and within local rules. Good compliance and good CRM work are therefore closely connected.
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. This is the main promise of lifecycle marketing, and also the main test of whether it works.
About ThinkMarkets
For readers less familiar with the broker, here is a quick profile based on its own published information:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Established | 2010 (originally as ThinkForex) |
| Operating company (Australia) | 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 and which company you open an account with. Always check the entity details in your agreement before opening an account. If you are still choosing a broker, our forex brokers review page is a useful starting point.
What Traders Might Notice
If the new CRM and lifecycle leadership delivers on its potential, ThinkMarkets clients could see:
- More relevant communication, tailored to experience level, region and the markets clients actually trade
- Better onboarding, with clearer guidance on verification, platforms and account choice
- More timely education, linked to market events and the products clients use
- Fewer generic messages, as smarter segmentation reduces "one size fits all" email
These are possibilities, not guarantees. The real test will be whether communication becomes more useful over time, and clients will be the best judge of that.
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 and choose what you want to receive.
- Treat promotions as information, not instructions. Trade only according to your own plan.
- If a broker promotes a bonus alongside its marketing, read the full terms and conditions on the broker's website first, including trading volume requirements and withdrawal rules. Our forex no deposit bonus guide explains what to look for.
- 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 through 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 is that brokers are investing in specialist leadership in compliance, growth and client experience as competition intensifies.
Key Takeaways
- ThinkMarkets has reportedly hired Junaid Daher as Head of CRM and Lifecycle, based in Dubai.
- Daher previously worked as Marketing Automation Manager at CFI and CRM Manager at MultiBank Group, 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 strengthening its marketing infrastructure across the client lifecycle, from acquisition to retention.
- For traders, the likely benefits of strong CRM are clearer onboarding, more relevant education and more useful communication.
Trading forex and CFDs on margin carries a high level of risk, and you can lose more than you deposit depending on your products and jurisdiction. Always make decisions based on your own research and risk tolerance.
FAQ
Who is Junaid Daher?
Junaid Daher is a Dubai-based CRM and marketing automation specialist who has been reported as ThinkMarkets' new Head of CRM and Lifecycle. His earlier roles include Marketing Automation Manager at CFI and CRM Manager at MultiBank Group.
What does a Head of CRM and Lifecycle do at a broker?
The role generally covers designing client communication across the whole relationship, from sign-up through to reactivation, using data, segmentation and automation. ThinkMarkets has not publicly detailed the specific responsibilities of this position.
Who is Will Burnham at ThinkMarkets?
According to Finance Magnates, Will Burnham joined ThinkMarkets in September 2026 as Executive Director of Growth Marketing. He previously served as Chief Marketing Officer at MultiBank Group.
Which regulator oversees ThinkMarkets?
ThinkMarkets lists several regulators, including ASIC, FCA, FSCA, CySEC and DFSA, among others. Which one applies depends on the company you contract with and your country of residence, so check the entity details before opening an account.
How can traders get the most from broker CRM emails?
Set your communication preferences, treat promotions as information rather than trading signals, and make use of educational content. Always verify that messages come from the official broker by logging in through its website or app.