Tanzania

As the demands of the finance function shift, leaders must stay up to date with the growing need for strategic insight. Heritage Insurance CFO Japhet Valerian, Deloitte Tanzania finance director Relief Mtenga, and Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company CFO Joseph Mrawa reveal how they stay relevant as technology and data reshape the role of finance leaders.

In recent years, the role of chief financial officer (CFO) has experienced significant transformation.

The AzamPesa CFO also serves on the fintech’s board regulatory compliance committee.

Dharmendra Agrawal, area director of finance at Hyatt Hotel Corporation, Gillian Lyimo, director of finance at Action for Democratic Governance, and Manish Ranjan, head of finance at ALAF Tanzania share the early career advice that continues to guide how they think and lead.

Tanzania Breweries board chairperson and former PwC Tanzania country senior partner Leonard Mususa has over three decades in assurance and board leadership. Ahead of the 2025 CFO Awards for East Africa, he unpacks why he sees the CFO as central to translating strategy into action.

Sotta Mining CFO Isaac Lupokela joins the running for the first-ever CFO Awards for East Africa.

Even for accomplished finance leaders, the desire to explore new disciplines never fades. For PowerUp head of finance Eva Zalwango, CRDB Bank CFO Frederick Nshekanabo, and IHS Towers FD Lilian Budandi, the skills they long to learn reflect personal interests they have carried quietly for years.

Mantrac Tanzania finance director Sudhir Khanna has spent over four decades building resilient finance teams across India and Africa, always leaving them stronger than he found them. He believes the future of finance will be shaped by technology and 'doing business the right way'.

Gabriel will lead the non-profit’s efforts in financial strategy, operational excellence, institutional resilience, and sustainability integration.

A year after the launch of its Dar es Salaam chapter, CFO East Africa returned to the financial hub of Tanzania with a renewed focus on leadership and resilience. The CFO Summit: Reflections and Aspirations saw finance leaders convene at the Dar es Salaam Serena hotel to share perspectives on the evolving role of CFOs.

In his keynote address at the CFO Summit: Reflections and Aspirations summit, Absa Bank Tanzania CEO Obedi Laiser noted that “the only certainty in the current business environment is uncertainty”.

Ahmed boasts over 15 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, having joined LaFargeHolcim Tanzania in April 2020 as the chief financial officer.

NMB Bank CFO Juma Kimori joins the running for the first-ever CFO Awards for East Africa.

Bayport Tanzania CFO Rehema Sanare has been nominated for the 2025 CFO Awards

Yas Tanzania CFO and executive director Innocent Rwetabura is the fourth finance leader to join the running for the inaugural CFO Awards for East Africa

Emmanuel Kyarwenda will take on the role of finance and strategy director at Diageo subsidiary Serengeti Breweries effective 1 April. He transitions into the role after four years at Coca-Cola Kwanza, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola, where he previously served as financial controller before assuming the position of finance director.

Effective 1 April, David Muriithi will take on the role of financial controller at Diageo North America in Bangalore after three years as finance and strategy director at Serengeti Breweries, a Diageo subsidiary.

Innocent Rwetabura finds joy in fostering success. For him, a fruitful career is about more than just making profit. He hopes to leave a lasting impact on his mentees and help them achieve their goals.

In the current economic landscape, where geopolitical and macroeconomic environments are constantly changing, the role of the CFO has become increasingly dynamic. ICPAR director of strategy Julian Ingabire, ICPAR vice president John Bugunya, and Exim Bank Tanzania founder Hanif Jaffer, who form part of the 2025 CFO Awards judges’ panel, offer their perspectives on the most pressing issues facing CFOs today.

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.