The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho was a life-changing book for Ronald Businge, CFO at American Tower Uganda. Its themes of pursuing one’s dreams and the importance of the journey resonated deeply with him, inspiring him to take bold steps in his career and personal life on the road to success.

Alex Tito Mwangi is a seasoned finance professional with over two decades of experience in financial management and administration. Currently serving as the group finance and admin manager and director at HighChem Group,

Robert Muhia’s career trajectory is marked by significant roles in prominent financial institutions. Currently serving as the Group CFO at Zamara Group, he has been instrumental in directing financial operations and strategy across multiple countries.

The pulse rate of any organisation is felt through its working capital. Working capital translates strategy into action. It is the lifeline. It represents the reality of what a company can effectively demonstrate as its strength. This is precisely why cash is still considered king, while profits remain opinions, writes FD Michael Nzule, finance and strategy director at Mitchell Cotts Group.

Kinya Kimotho serves as the finance director for partner emerging markets at Diageo, overseeing approximately 42 markets in Africa where Diageo does not have a physical presence. These markets range from smaller regions like Burkina Faso and Niger to larger ones such as Ethiopia. Describing herself as a "serial FD", Kinya is in her fourth finance director role.

Nicholas Masaba, the CFO of C-Care Health Uganda, participated in the recent CFO East Africa Uganda Launch Summit, sharing his insights on the evolving role of CFOs and the broader strategic influence they must now wield.

As the chief finance officer (CFO) of CIB Kenya since January 2021, Hesham Abdelhay has transformed the bank’s financial landscape. With a robust background in finance and strategic planning, Hesham’s journey from Cairo to Nairobi is marked by significant achievements and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Losing her mother at the start of her career was one of the lowest moments for Catherine Ogol, CFO of Rea Vipingo Plantations, the largest sisal producer in Africa.

Veronica Magongo, head of finance at I&M Bank Tanzania, has experienced different organisational cultures during her rich career. She believes in aligning personal values with the culture of the organisation.

Edward Kerich is a partner at PwC in Kenya with responsibility for Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) advisory. He took time to speak to CFO East Africa about the ESG landscape in the region, including the challenges and opportunities of sustainable practices and reporting.

At a recent financial results briefing, David Abwoga, the director of finance of NCBA banking group, celebrated the contribution of the banking group’s subsidiaries outside of Kenya to the group’s profit after tax.

Lawrence Kimathi, the group FD of KCB, has described the banking group’s financial results for the year ended December 2023 as a mixed bag. Lawrence celebrated the growth in the balance sheet with both loans advanced and customer deposits showing marked increases. He however lamented the increase in non-performing loans (NPL) stock from Ksh 161 billion to Ksh 208 billion.