Leadership

ROSELYNE RENEL

Independent Chairperson (Appointed as Independent Director on 24.05.2021 and Chairperson on 01.01.2022)

Roselyne Renel is based in the UK and is currently the Group Chief Credit Officer of Lloyds Banking Group (LBG). Prior to LBG, Roselyne was employed by Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) as the Group Head, Enterprise Risk Management (Jan 2016 – Jan 2020) and Group Chief Credit Officer (Nov 2013 to Dec 2015). Before joining SCB, she spent two and half years at Standard Bank of South Africa as Chief Risk Officer for the Corporate & Investment Banking division and just over 16 years at Deutsche Bank, where she held various senior roles including Chief Credit Officer for Emerging Markets and the Investment Bank. Ms. Renel is also currently a Member of the Supervisory Board of Eurex Clearing AG (member of Deutsche Börse Group).

Roselyne followed a senior executive advanced management program at the University of Columbia, USA. She completed the Credit Risk Graduate program delivered by Manufacturers Hanover Trust (now JP Morgan Chase), and also holds an Accounting & Bookkeeping Advanced Certification from the London Chamber of Commerce.

MARK WATKINSON

Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director (Appointed on 01.04.20)

Mark Watkinson has been a career banker with the HSBC Group for 33 years, during which time he held senior leadership roles in 10 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In particular, Mark was CEO and Main Board Director for HSBC Bank Bermuda Limited (2015-2018), CEO and Main Board Director for HSBC Bank Malta Ltd (2011-2015), Executive Vice President Commercial Banking Canada and North America (2010-2011), President and CEO for HSBC Bank Philippines (2006-2010), Senior Vice President Commercial Banking HSBC Bank USA (2004-2006) and Senior Manager Commercial Banking HSBC Bank United Arab Emirates (2001-2004).

Mark holds a law degree and is a Barrister at Law in the United Kingdom, he is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, holds a MBA (with Distinctions) from the University of Warwick and is also a qualified Chartered Director from the Institute of Directors, United Kingdom. Mark was appointed as Independent Non-Executive Director of the Mauritius Institute of Directors (MIoD) in July 2020 and Deputy Chairman of the Mauritius Bankers Association (MBA) in August 2020.

GAURI AJAY GUPTA

Non-Executive Director (Appointed on 02.03.17)

Gauri Gupta heads I&M Group’s Corporate Advisory function. Under Corporate Finance, Gauri’s forte lies in M&A transactions including transaction structuring and negotiation of legal documentation. She holds a B.Com degree and is a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Her experience of over 25 years in Banking covers Credit, Risk Management, Product Development, Finance, and Strategic Planning.

Gauri has been instrumental in the enhancement of the corporate governance framework at I&M for over 15 years and oversees governance matters for I&M Group Plc, the parent entity for I&M Bank Group, listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

Gauri is a Director on the board for several companies under the I&M Bank Group including I&M Burbidge Capital Limited, an East African Corporate Advisory firm.

LEONARD CLEMENT MUSUSA

Independent Director (Appointed on 02.03.17)

Leonard Mususa is a Private Management Consultant with extensive experience in transaction services including due diligence and business valuations, business recovery and reconstruction services.

Leonard previously worked with PwC for 36 years and developed expertise in corporate governance, financial reporting, transaction services, financial risk management and control. He served as Country Senior Partner with PwC (Tanzania) for 14 years prior to his retirement. He also served in other roles including as Head of Assurance Risk and Quality in the PwC Africa Central region for three years and Head of Risk, Independence and Quality in the East Africa Market Area for a period of two years.

Leonard also holds directorships in diverse companies in Kenya and Tanzania in financial, consumer industry and media sectors. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and Fellow Certified Public Accountant (Tanzania).

IGNASI SERRAHIMA

Independent Director (Appointed on 16.04.19)

Ignasi Serrahima has been a freelance consultant since March 2014, advising various entities in Madrid, Barcelona, Dubai, Riyadh, Nairobi and Mumbai in areas of strategic development and human resources. Prior to launching his consultancy business, Ignasi occupied various M&A roles at Banco Popular Espanol, S.A (Madrid) and Bankinter, S.A. (Madrid) between September 2000 to March 2014. He holds a degree in Business Administration and an MBA at ESADE, Spain, as well as a Master in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, USA.

JEROME DE CHASTEAUNEUF

Non-Executive Director (Appointed on 25.08.2021)

Jérôme de Chasteauneuf currently serves as the Group Finance Director of CIEL Limited, one of the largest listed conglomerates in Mauritius. Since joining CIEL in 1993, Jérôme has been instrumental in the Group’s development and involved on multiple strategic IPOs, international expansion projects, merger and acquisitions and company restructuring.

In addition to overseeing the Groups’ financials, Jérôme is a Board member of most of the CIEL Group’s subsidiaries including listed entities Alteo Limited and Sun Limited. Jérôme de Chasteauneuf also sits as an Independent Director on the Board of the Stock Exchange of Mauritius and as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Harel Mallac & Co. Ltd.

Prior to joining CIEL, Jérôme de Chasteauneuf held senior positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Jersey and London. He is a Chartered Accountant of England and Wales and holds a BSc Honours in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK (1989).

Directorship in listed entities: Ciel Limited, Alteo Limited, Harel Mallac & Co. Limited, Sun Limited

LAKSHMAN BHEENICK

Non Executive Director (Appointed on 01.06.2021)

Lakshman Bheenick is currently the CEO at CIEL Finance Limited. Prior to joining CIEL Finance Limited, he was the CEO of Standard Bank (Mauritius) Limited from June 2010 to February 2021. Prior to that, he held the position of Head of Global Markets from June 2006 to May 2010. He started his career in 1996 with Barclays Bank Plc in Mauritius and left in June 2006 as Head of Market Making & Liquidity Management. Lakshman holds a BA (Econ) from the University of Manchester.

MARC ISRAEL

Independent Director (Appointed on 27.05.2022)

Mr. Israel Marc is an Entrepreneur, Thought Leader, Author and Public Speaker, with many years of success across Technology industries. After 17 years at Microsoft, serving as Chief Technology Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa, and leveraging extensive experience in technical leadership, Mr. Israel founded Aetheis, a company aimed at providing executive consultancy in the field of cognitive services, blockchain and digital transformation. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Mauritius Network Services and a lecturer at the University of Mascareignes.

Mr. Israel has a degree in Robotics and Engineering from École Superieure D’Ingénieurs en Électrotechnique et Électronique in Paris. He has completed INSEAD and Wharton Executive Education (with distinction) programs.

CYRIL WONG SUN THIONG

Independent Director (Appointed on 01.08.23)

Cyril Wong was non-executive director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of ABSA Bank (Mauritius) Ltd from August 2014 to July 2023. Prior to that he an executive director and vice chairman of the Board of the Barclays Bank (Mauritius) Ltd.  Before joining the board, Cyril held a number of senior management positions in Barclays Mauritius, including the roles of Finance Director and Chief Compliance and Risk Officer.

Before joining Barclays, Cyril held senior positions such as Head of Finance in multinational companies like ExxonMobil and British American Tobacco. He has an extensive experience in board leadership roles and acts as independent director on a number of companies. Cyril holds a First-Class Honours degree in Physics from the University of Manchester. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and is also a Fellow of the Mauritius Institute of Directors.

Directorship in listed entities: ABC Motors Co Ltd, MDIT, Sanlam Africa Core Real Estate Investment Ltd & Avanz Growth Markets Ltd.

KIHARA MAINA

Non-Executive Director (Appointed on 01.09.2023)

Mr. Maina is currently the Regional CEO at I&M Group since February 2023. He was the Chief Executive Officer of I&M Bank in Kenya from May 2016 to February 2023 and is a seasoned banker with experience spanning close to 30 years, mostly in senior executive leadership roles. Prior to joining I&M Bank, he was the Managing Director of Barclays Bank Tanzania (now Absa Bank Tanzania).

Mr. Maina holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the Moi University and an Executive Master of Business Administration in Finance from Chicago Booth School of Business.