Interviews

In another life, Kioo financial controller Dipen Patel might have played cricket for the Tanzanian national team. Despite his skill as a bowler, he decided to hang up his boots to pursue a different line of work.

BasiGo CFO Jonathan Green is a man on a mission to transform Nairobi’s transport system. He explains how his desire to use finance and technology to drive social impact led him to create a start-up with an ambitious vision for e-mobility in Africa.

Jubilee Health Insurance CFO Eugine Mutekhele has navigated an intriguing journey, changing careers with relative ease. He chronicles his path from humble beginnings in tech to the C-suite of one of the region's largest insurers.

From managing a leading telecoms finance department in Afghanistan to developing a financial turnaround strategy for MTN Rwanda, Dunstan Stober’s journey is a story of resilience, growth, and empowering those he leads.

Fifteen years ago, AAR Insurance Group CFO Hosea Kiprop won the US Green Card lottery. He went through all the stages of applying for permanent residency, but at the last minute, he changed his mind.

RSwitch CFO Godfrey Nduwayezu’s career began with a last-minute decision to study accounting in high school. This change of heart led him to a leadership role at a fintech company that is keen to fully transform Rwanda into a cashless economy.

For dfcu Bank CFO and executive director Kate Kabaingi Kiiza, success isn’t just about the numbers — it’s about the people. She offers a glimpse into the qualities and experiences that have made her one of the region's celebrated finance leaders.

In an ever-changing business landscape, CFOs play a key role in shaping a company’s future. EY Uganda managing partner Geoffrey Byamugisha therefore sees the firm’s decision to support the CFO community in East Africa as a commitment to shaping resilient economies.

If Dr Rachael Gitonga were not the CFO of ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company), she would run a cafe with a bookshop inside it. She would spend her days running and working out at the gym in the morning, swimming in the afternoon, and taking walks in the evening. That is how much she loves working out.

The first-time CFO considers himself a uniquely skilled finance professional who plays by the book but isn’t confined by it. He terms his recent appointment a “dream come true” and sees it as an opportunity to offer mentorship to rising finance professionals.

For months after Dr Karimi Ngeera witnessed the scale up of Hewa Tele, a social enterprise under the Centre for Public Health and Development (CPHD) in Kenya, she felt stuck. The expansion would have seen her return to commercial finance, which she had left behind two years earlier.

Philip ole Kamwaro considers his life a testament to the African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child". He charts his storied journey from “a simple Maasai boy from a village in Narok” to director of corporate services at KMPDC.

A surprising thing about Winnie Waweru, FD at Mastercard Foundation , is her passion for cars, especially Mercedes-Benz. She’s even visited the Daimler-Benz factory in Germany to witness car manufacturing firsthand. Her friends are often amazed at how she can easily explain mechanical problems.

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.

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.

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.

Mary Maina, the sub-Saharan Africa regional CFO of Ipsos, has had a remarkable career in finance and accounting, but it has not come without its share of challenging moments.

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.

As CFO of Tanzania’s number one bank by profit, Juma Kimori employs an open door policy. The idea that any member of staff can knock on his door and seek an audience with him has been something he has found motivates charges in every company he has worked for. Having patience has also propelled his career; remaining calm in the knowledge that everything happens for a reason. Looking at his journey, he has found there are times he has had to wait for things to happen rather than rushing.

Among the memorable highlights of group CFO of Bobmil Group Kenya Juzer Adamjee's long career was his promotion, in 2014, from divisional CFO to group CFO. The role involved managing the finance function of an organisation in Qatar, with over 20 diverse business units operating in the Middle East and Europe. At the time, the company’s annual revenue was in excess of US$2.4 billion.