During the first-ever CFO East Africa Virtual Summit, titled CFO Ideas Worth Sharing, a breakout session on strategy brought together more than 50 finance executives. The conversation revealed that CFOs across East Africa are stepping into broader leadership roles. AGL Tanzania CFO Sekou Kaba reflects on a career that has taken him across Anglophone, Lusophone, and Francophone Africa. He reveals how he learnt to step back from doing everything himself and embrace leadership built on openness and trust. East Africa’s financial leaders are navigating a world where their roles are no longer confined to the balance sheet. Nearly 200 of the region’s finance leaders gathered for CFO East Africa’s first-ever virtual summit titled CFO Ideas Worth Sharing. Hundreds of leading CFOs from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda gathered online for CFO East Africa’s first Virtual Summit, titled CFO Ideas Worth Sharing.
CFO East Africa’s first-ever virtual summit titled CFO Ideas Worth Sharing convened nearly 200 of the region’s finance leaders for a powerful session that tackled topics that remain top-of-mind for CFOs. Over three hours, a series of speakers shared insights that touched on the realities of financial leadership today. Across East Africa, regulatory changes and funding disruptions are frequent occurrences. Mi Vida Homes CFO Solomon Nzomo, CRDB Bank CFO Frederick Nshekanabo and PSI Uganda CFO Christine Nakayenga explain how they lead their organisations through times of uncertainty without losing their focus. As younger employees enter the workforce, CFOs are learning to adjust not only their leadership styles but also their expectations. Sika head of finance Msonga Msigala, Frostan group FD Seleman Issa and Geminia Life Insurance head of finance Caxton Makau share how they are approaching a new generation of professionals. The deepest meaning of work often emerges when numbers meet real human lives. Yas Tanzania CFO Innocent Rwetabura, Finca Uganda CFO Robinah Siima, and Hewatele CFO Joan Andia reveal what gives their work a sense of purpose beyond the balance sheet. Manish Ranjan has built his career on navigating complex markets while strengthening compliance and developing people. As he steps into a group-level role at Mabati Rolling Mills, the outgoing ALAF Tanzania CFO reflects on the challenges and resilience that have defined his career in East Africa. Most companies keep their attention on familiar threats such as regulatory changes or the pressures of competition. But the real dangers often emerge from weaknesses that remain unaddressed. Jubilee Insurance Tanzania CFO Nickson Motta, Rwanda Fertiliser Company CFO Patrick Marara, and Bank of Kigali group head of finance Ntiranyibagirwa Ange reveal the blind spots that can threaten even the strongest organisations.
Until his appointment, he had served as the head of finance at ALAF Tanzania since August 2021. Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company (TMRC) CFO Joseph Mrawa has been chasing impact since he first started in finance. He sees leadership as a calling to invest in the growth of others and work for the common good. Across many organisations, the chief financial officer is still viewed through a narrow lens. Jubilee Insurance Tanzania CFO Nickson Motta and Tres Rwanda CFO Gordon Mugabi dispel common misconceptions about the role and explore how it has changed. At least once in a lifetime, leaders encounter lessons that shift how they lead. PostBank Uganda CFO Peter Ssenyange, Vodacom Tanzania FD Hilda Bujiku, and Silverback Tea CFO Rahul Bedi reflect on the moments that forced them to rethink what it means to be a leader. Relief Mtenga believes empathy is a necessity for every good leader. At Deloitte Consulting Tanzania, she leads her team with an intuitive understanding of what responsible finance truly means.
Hilda has over a decade of experience in leading finance functions and seeing teams through strategic and operational decision-making at market giants in Lesotho and Tanzania. CFOs are moving beyond compliance and reporting to shape business decisions and long-term growth. Jubilee Insurance group head of finance Paul Mungai and Umoja Coin CFO Bornmathew Nuru share how they are placing finance at the centre of strategy.
After beginning his career in India, Dharmendra Agrawal now leads finance for Hyatt Hotels across East Africa. He shares how he has steered the business through headwinds and tailwinds by staying close to operations and building capable teams.
When the pace of work accelerates and decisions carry weight, staying calm is a strategic advantage. For Helium One CFO Chris Eyre, AGL Tanzania FD Sekou Kaba, and WiA CFO Maneno Daudi, composure under pressure is a skill honed over time.
Kioo financial controller Dipen Patel has been nominated for the 2025 CFO AwardsCFO East Africa Virtual Summit: ‘Strategy is the job’
AGL Tanzania CFO Sekou Kaba leads with openness and trust
Finance leaders urged to spearhead resilience, sustainability
CFO East Africa virtual summit: Leaders never walk alone
CFOs redefine leadership in a time of uncertainty
How finance leaders keep steady when economies are shaky
CFOs reflect on managing Gen Z in the workplace
Top finance leaders find meaning beyond the numbers
Finance lead Manish Ranjan thrives on challenge and complexity
CFOs weigh in on the financial risks businesses tend to ignore
Manish Ranjan assumes new role at Mabati Rolling Mills
TMRC finance head Joseph Mrawa puts people and purpose first
CFOs debunk misconceptions about their role
Finance leaders share the lessons that changed how they lead
Deloitte Consulting’s finance head Relief Mtenga believes every dollar counts
Hilda Bujiku nominated for 2025 CFO Awards
CFOs must reclaim their seat at the strategy table
Hyatt Hotels area director of finance Dharmendra Agrawal builds trust through routine and precision
CFOs share how they stay calm when things get hectic
Dipen Patel joins list of 2025 CFO Awards nominees
Tanzania
Principal Partners






Associate Partners





![]()


Contact
Contact: KC Rottok Chesaina
CFO East Africa community manager
kcrottok@cfo-ea.com




