Author: CIO Business Leaders

Folk Maritime Services Company (FOLK Maritime) envisions becoming the leading regional liner and short sea operator in the Middle East region, further strengthening the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s position as a global logistics hub. Mohamed Badawy is contributing to steering the company toward this vision in his role as COO. He is a seasoned maritime industry leader with a career spanning over 24 years in regional and global maritime operations. When he arrived FOLK Maritime in March 2024, he brought with him a wealth of experience in line shipping operation commercial, port, terminal, network and fleet management. It enabled him…

In a country where access to water, food, and energy marks the line between survival and progress, Nedbank, under the leadership of Poovi Pillay, is putting its capital where it matters most. Anchored by the Green Economy Strategy, the bank targets catalytic sectors, including Water & Sanitation, Waste & Recycling, Regenerative Agriculture, and Renewable Energy, not as charity but as engines of long-term resilience. From regenerative farms in Limpopo to off-grid energy hubs in the Eastern Cape, Nedbank backs scalable ecosystems with a sharp focus on women, youth, and people with disabilities. The Social Impact Unit is hardwired into the…

“In the digital era, success hinges on efficiently addressing security risks,” says Lucille Britz, Security Head for SEA Markets and Group CTIO Business Manager (Act) at MTN Group. She believes cybersecurity is not treated as a checklist or a siloed function, but rather as a diligent discipline ingrained into the organization’s operating code. Under her leadership, MTN employs Layers of Protection with Defense-in-Depth, where each mechanism contributes to a broader safety net. If one layer is compromised, others remain active to contain and deflect threats. A strict trust protocol reinforces this, requiring that every access request be verified, regardless of…

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” This quote from Mark Twain perfectly captures Ahmed Riesgo’s investment philosophy as the Chief Investment Officer at Insigneo, an international wealth management firm. He is confident but not overconfident, knowing that even the best investment strategies can be upended by unpredictable markets. “Prepare, not predict,” is his guiding principle. Innovation, along with his humility and resilience, enables him to maneuver through choppy investment waters and keep Insigneo ahead of the curve. At Insigneo, Ahmed oversees all the company’s research…

“I have always aspired to become a leader and make a positive impact on my generation,” notes B. Patrick Azania Kabre, with the calm authority of someone who’s earned his stripes. And today, he is doing just that, with steel in his spine and his sights set high. From unstable grids to underbuilt networks, Africa’s infrastructure future is still in the making, and thoughtful builders of consequence like him are helping construct it with strength, scale, and vision. In his current role as Managing Director of NETIS in Burkina Faso, he leads with action where others promise strategy. In a…

AI is transforming industries and economies across the world, and Africa does not want to be left behind. Although the continent is still lagging in AI adoption, strong momentum is building. This is driven by a surge in AI startups, rising investment, and empowering, visionary leaders. Grant McDonogh, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence at i60 Global, is a leading light in Africa’s AI space. Living by the mantra “The future is bright — run towards the light,” Grant’s vision and leadership are helping position Africa as an emerging force in the global AI landscape. Over the years, Grant has learned…

As federal challenges mount and public expectations for government services rise, few have succeeded in integrating innovation and service as effectively as John Binks. As Senior Director of Business Development at Titan Technologies LLC, John has become a respected figure in federal civilian contracting, recognized for his insightful foresight, talent for forging strategic partnerships, and relentless dedication to enhancing the public sector. He serves as an essential interpreter, aligning government requirements with the best available technology. Drawing on more than twenty years of federal experience, including critical roles at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) where he directed significant IT…

At the helm of the Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA), Yvonne Mothibi is more than a CEO; she’s a trailblazer redefining what it means to lead with integrity in a world of uncertainty. Fueled by a passion for empowering risk professionals and driving innovation, Yvonne sees risk not as a challenge but as an opportunity to build a more resilient and informed society. Her journey into the dynamic world of risk management was sparked by a deep appreciation for complexity, and today, she considers leading IRMSA not just a role but a true calling. A Career Built on…

ndondo , a technology partner of choice for many organizations in Africa, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026. When David Nkwanyana founded it in 2006, he had no business experience and no funding. Despite these handicaps, David built ndondo into Africa’s leading provider of Data solutions and services, known for its excellence and innovation. Today, as the CEO, he is steering it toward greater accomplishments and a listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Guided by the principle in Colossians 3:23, 24: “Work so hard as if you are doing it for God himself,” David believes that just as God would never…

Change rarely makes noise at first. Sometimes, it looks like a platform quietly reconciling cash flow. Or a founder sketching product flows at midnight while his team coordinates across multiple time zones. That’s the kind of change Anas Qudah is building. With over 20 years of experience in finance and executive roles, he has lived through bottlenecks, seen missed opportunities, and decided to build something better. That “something” is UPFRONT, a fintech company purpose-built to unburden SMBs in a high-pressure region by simplifying the messy, manual world of financial operations. And in doing so, he’s not just serving clients. He’s…