Absa Bank (Mauritius) Limited
Absa Bank (Mauritius) Limited is part of Absa Group Limited which is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups. Absa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and insurance.
Absa Group owns majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Absa Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia and has insurance operations in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South-Africa and Zambia. Absa also has representative offices in Namibia, Nigeria and the United States, as well as securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States, along with technology support colleagues in the Czech Republic.
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Our Board
Iqbal Rajahbalee
Chairman of the Board since 1 July 2018
Member of the Remuneration and Governance CommitteeIqbal Rajahbalee is the managing partner of BLC Robert, a leading law firm in Mauritius. He has over 40 years of practice as barrister before the Mauritius courts, and has appeared as counsel in a number of high-profile commercial litigation cases.
He also advised on diverse cross-border finance transactions, including asset financing and investment funds, both for the public and private sector. He served for more than ten years at the Attorney General's Office, Ministry of Justice, rising to the position of Assistant Solicitor General. He is regarded as the founder of the Mauritius offshore industry, and was made the first executive director of its regulatory body.
He assisted in the setting up of the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius, the regulatory authority of the non-bank financial services industry, and subsequently was made to lead the institution as chief executive. Iqbal was also a director on the governing board of the central bank. He was chairman of the Mauritius Telecom just after its privatisation. He has been a director of both local and international private and public companies. In addition, Iqbal holds a master's degree in Law from the London School of Economics, and is a member of the Middle Temple Inns of Court.
Ravin Dajee
Managing Director and Executive Director of the Board
Member of the Remuneration and Governance CommitteeAs Managing Director since 2007, Ravin has positioned the bank as one of the major players in the Mauritian banking sector. Prior to joining the organisation, he held several leadership positions, including the role of General Manager of the State Trading Corporation from 2002 to 2004 and General Manager of the Central Electricity Board from 2004 to 2006. Ravin graduated from the University of Oxford with a postgraduate diploma in Strategy and Innovation. He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and holds a master's degree in Finance from the University of Leicester (UK). He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School (USA).
Franco Davis
Chief Enablement Officer and Finance Director
Executive Director of the Board and Member of the Digital CommitteeFranco is an accomplished finance professional spanning a 32-year career with the bank. After working in several areas, including Retail, Administration and Finance, he progressively moved up the hierarchy, taking over the role of Finance Director in 2009. Franco was also responsible for Absa Seychelles’ Finance department from 2009 to 2015. He embraced further responsibilities as Interim Chief Financial Officer of Absa Mozambique for a one-year period. Franco was appointed Executive Director of the Board in 2013, and Chief Enablement Officer and Finance Director in July 2022. Franco graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Financial Services from the University of Manchester and is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
Jacques Paul Rene de Chasteigner du Mee
Independent Non-executive Director of the Board since 1 January 2022
Chairperson of the Audit Committee
Member of the Risk Management CommitteeJacques is a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) with more than 25 years of experience. He has built his career spanning the profession and industry and gained experience in several countries. He was responsible for a large portfolio of clients comprising large local institutions and global business companies. Jacques started in 1982 at Coopers and Lybrand in the UK where he gained auditing and tax experience. In 1986, he moved to the then known as De Chazal Du Mée where he enhanced his tax experience. He was also involved in the audit of World Bank funded projects in Zaire and Rwanda. In 1990, Jacques had a brief spell at ESSO Mauritius Limited as Chief Accountant and Company Secretary. He later joined Kemp Chatteris, which was a Member Firm of Deloitte & Touche in Mauritius, as Tax Manager, a role he held for 2 years. He left the profession to join Mauritius Tuna Fishing and Canning Enterprises Ltd as Finance Manager and rose to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Thereafter, he moved to Australia where he occupied positions as Accountant and Financial Controller from 1999 to 2001. He returned to Mauritius and was appointed as Financial Controller at Ireland Blyth Limited Tourism Division. He renewed his ties with Deloitte Mauritius in 2002 as Partner in the Audit and Assurance service line. In 2012, Jacques took over the leadership of Deloitte Mauritius as Managing Partner until he retired in June 2021.
Preetee Jhamna
Independent Non-executive Director of the Board since 1 July 2019
Member of the Remuneration and Governance CommitteePreetee is the chief financial officer – Group Operations of IBL Ltd since April 2018. She was a partner in Transaction Advisory Services with a Big 4 firm in Mauritius from 2008 to 2016, advising clients across a variety of sectors in Mauritius and Africa. She holds a degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Clairette AH-HEN
Independent Non-executive Director of the Board since 9 September 2020.
Chairperson of the Risk Management Committee and member of the Audit Committee.Clairette is a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW, UK) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA, UK). She holds a BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance and a MPhil degree.
Clairette has worked for both the public and private sectors, including regulatory agencies, academia, financial institutions and multi-national corporations, in either an executive or advisory capacity. She was an Associate Professor at the University of Mauritius and Dean of the Faculty of Law and Management. She practised as a professional accountant in Mauritius, the UK and Sub-Saharan African countries with Big 4 firms. She is an advisor to Board of private family companies and a Board member of the listed company, Vivo Energy Mauritius Ltd since 21 July 2020.
She served as member or chairperson on boards and committees both in and outside Mauritius, contributing to the development of corporate governance and financial reporting landscape and the financial services sector of Mauritius. She was tasked with the setting up of the Mauritius Financial Reporting Council and led the Council as its first Chief Executive Officer. She was also the Chief Executive of the Financial Services Commission from 2011 to 2015.
She has served as member of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) Regional Consultative Group for Sub-Saharan Africa and of the Committee 1 (Committee on Issuer Accounting, Audit and Disclosure) of International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), and Vice-president of the Committee of Insurance, Securities and Non- Banking Financial Authorities (CISNA) of Southern African Development Community (SADC).
David Renwick
Non-executive Director of the Board since 1 March 2023
Member of the Risk Management Committee.David is the Head of Investment Banking Division at Absa Corporate & Investment Banking which includes the following areas of responsibility: advisory, capital raising and financing solutions to targeted Pan African corporates and government entities. He drives business with local, regional, and international investors supporting many of Africa’s high growth sectors including Renewable Energy, Technology Media Telecom, Natural Resources and Consumer. David was previously the Global Finance and Trade Head at Absa Group and focused on financing solutions and credit distribution across the regional footprint and to international investors. He graduated with a Bcom (Finance and Risk Management), and a Bcom (Hons), from the University of Witwatersrand.
Aruna Radhakeesoon
Independent Non-Executive Director of the Board since 27 April 2023
Chairperson of the Remuneration and Governance Committee and Member of the Digital CommitteeAruna is a practising Attorney-at-Law and a Solicitor of England & Wales. In 2023, she became a Green & Sustainable Finance Professional. She is also a seasoned senior corporate executive with 22 years’ experience in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Restructuring, Business Strategy, Risk Management, Change Management, Stock Market regulations, Board practices, Privacy Rights and Data Protection, Intellectual Property, Ethical Conduct and Framework, Regulatory Compliance and Corporate Governance. During her 22-year tenure with Rogers Group, a Mauritian listed conglomerate with offices in 12 countries, she held the positions of Chief Legal and Compliance Executive and Executive Director. Through her practice, Prakriti One Ltd, she currently offers independent legal, regulatory and compliance services.
Aruna has chaired the National Committee on Corporate Governance (NCCG) for six years now. Through the NCCG, she has influenced positive changes in corporate governance in Mauritius, including the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion space. Aruna chairs the Central Depository and Settlement Co. Ltd. She is an INED on the Board of The United Basalt Products Limited and a Credit Rating Committee member of Care Ratings (Mauritius) Ltd.
She holds a degree in Jurisprudence from Balliol College, Oxford University. She is a member of the Mauritius Law Society, The Law Society of England and Wales and a Fellow of the Mauritius Institute of Directors.
Gary Patterson
Independent Non-executive Director of the Board since 19 September 2023
Chairperson of the Digital Committee and Member of the Audit CommitteeGary Patterson is a banker with more than 45 years of international banking experience having worked in Hong Kong, London, Mauritius and South Africa.
His most recent assignments were as CEO of Sasfin Asia Limited, a trade finance provider based in Hong Kong. Prior to that he was CEO of SBM Nedbank International Limited, a Mauritian licensed bank. He retired in 2022.
He is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute and completed an Executive Development Program at Stellenbosch University.
He has extensive cross border financing, capital market and M&A experience and has successfully started and managed the foreign operations for South African incorporated banking groups..
Nafeez Mohit
Board Secretary
Nafeez is a Barrister-at-Law, qualified in Mauritius. Nafeez, who joined the bank in June 2011, was appointed as Company Secretary for the bank in April 2014. Nafeez holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of Mauritius and an LLM with specialisation in Commercial and Corporate Law from the University of London, in collaboration with University College London and Queen Mary.
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Our Executive Committee
Ravin Dajee
Managing Director
As Managing Director since 2007, Ravin has positioned the bank as one of the major players in the Mauritian banking sector. Prior to joining the organisation, he held several leadership positions, including the role of General Manager of the State Trading Corporation from 2002 to 2004 and General Manager of the Central Electricity Board from 2004 to 2006. Ravin graduated from the University of Oxford with a postgraduate diploma in Strategy and Innovation. He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and holds a master's degree in Finance from the University of Leicester (UK). He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School (USA).
Franco Davis
Chief Enablement Officer and Finance Director
Franco is an accomplished finance professional spanning a 32-year career with the bank. After working in several areas, including Retail, Administration and Finance, he progressively moved up the hierarchy, taking over the role of Finance Director in 2009. Franco was also responsible for Absa Seychelles’ Finance department from 2009 to 2015. He embraced further responsibilities as Interim Chief Financial Officer of Absa Mozambique for a one-year period. Franco was appointed Executive Director of the Board in 2013, and Chief Enablement Officer and Finance Director in July 2022. Franco graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Financial Services from the University of Manchester and is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
Ajay Beegun
Chief Operating Officer
Over the course of his 30-year career, Ajay has held several strategic positions in the banking sector. He started at the bank as Head of Information Technology in 2008 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in January 2015. Ajay was additionally responsible for Absa Seychelles’ operations during year 2015. He also held the role of Chief Operating Officer at Absa Mozambique’s during the year 2018. Ajay led various transformation projects over the years and was the Change Enablement Lead of the rebranding programme to Absa in Mauritius.
Ajay graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Business Information Technology from South Bank University (UK) and holds an MBA with specialisation in Information Management from Brunel University (UK).
Jennifer Johnson
Head of Marketing and Corporate Relations
Jennifer joined Barclays Mauritius as Head of Change in 2007. After holding the role of Head of Customer Service and three years of secondment to the Barclays Africa Regional Management, Chief Executive Office, she was appointed Head of Strategy, Marketing and Corporate Relations. Before joining Barclays, she held several senior roles in a large conglomerate, specifically in managing group change projects and developing and implementing the strategic IT plans of companies in different industries. She holds a Masters in Finance (Paris – Sorbonne), Masters in Business Administration (Massey University - New Zealand), Masters in Engineering (University of Technology - France), BSc (Hons) in Applied Science (France).
Vishal Joyram
Head of Global Markets
Vishal was appointed as Head of Global Markets in January 2015. He holds a Global Executive MBA from INSEAD and a Maîtrise in Applied Economics from the University of Paris Dauphine in France. He has also successfully completed the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Certification, the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) from the UK Society of Investment Professionals and the ACI Dealing Certificate. Prior to joining the bank in November 2013, Vishal worked in France, the United Kingdom and Mauritius in various segments of the financial sector including corporate finance, investment management and advisory, stockbroking and private banking/wealth management with firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and the State Bank of Mauritius.
Marie-Christine Liu
Head of Retail and SME Banking
Marie-Christine joined the bank in 2014 as Head of Customer Network and was appointed Head of Retail Banking in 2016. Over the course of her rich 30-year career, she occupied several senior roles in the banking industry. Marie-Christine holds a post-graduate diploma in Marketing from the UK Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Oumesh Mungroo
Interim Chief Business Officer
Oumesh joined the bank in 2002 and held various senior positions in Markets and Treasury before being appointed as Treasurer in 2007. He was thereafter given additional treasury responsibilities to include Absa entities in Mozambique and Seychelles. In May 2022, Oumesh was assigned the role of Interim Head of Business Banking to drive accelerated growth in this segment by revising the operating model. His responsibilities terminated in August 2023, Oumesh resumed his position as Treasurer. Prior to joining the bank, he worked at the central Bank of Mauritius for nearly 10 years. Oumesh graduated from the University of Oxford with an Executive MBA in 2014 and holds an MSc in Applied Economics with specialisation in banking and finance from the University of Mauritius. He is also a fellow member of The Chartered Association of Certified Accountants in the UK and also holds an ACI Diploma.
Mark Fink
Chief Risk Officer
Mark Fink is a well-accomplished risk professional with more than 30 years of experience in the banking sector. He joined the bank in January 2019, prior to which he held the position of Chief Risk Officer in Barclays Bank Ghana (now Absa Ghana). Over the years, he has occupied several senior management roles at Barclays Africa Group Limited (now renamed to Absa Group Limited) where he acquired extensive knowledge across Africa, Emerging Market and the UK in the risk and international business fields. Mark is a qualified Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) in the UK.
Yogen Soobarah
Head of People and Culture
Yogen began his journey with the bank in 2018 with over 25 years of experience across multiple sectors including retail trade, FMCG and telecommunications, both in Mauritius and Africa. His professional experience includes executive level management, strategic HR management, HR transformation, organisation development and employee relations. Yogen occupied several senior positions in Multinationals such as Reward Manager for Sun Saharan Africa (British American Tobacco), HR Director (Mauritius Telecoms/Orange) and HR Director (MIDC Lebanon). He is a chartered member of the CIPD (UK), holds an MSc in Human Resources Management from the University of Surrey (UK) and an Executive Education in HR Strategic Management from the Michigan Ross Business School (USA).
Sandeep Mohapatra
Head of Digital Transformation and Technology
Sandeep Mohapatra, serving as the Head of Digital Transformation and Technology since March 2019, has significantly impacted the banking sector with many industry-first innovations, many of which have earned international acclaim. He has played a pivotal role in enhancing customer acquisition, fostering loyalty, and expanding existing customer relationships. Currently spearheading business and product transformation through the integration of emerging technologies, Sandeep is a firm believer in envisioning ambitious goals, assuming ownership, and executing strategies to surpass conventional norms.
Before joining the bank, Sandeep held the position of National Head of Sales and Strategy for the B2C business at a leading stock broking firm in India. Over the course of his career, he held several other senior roles in the banking & financial services industry. Recognised for his expertise, Sandeep actively contributes to global and local forums focused on digital transformation and technology thought leadership. Sandeep Mohapatra holds an MBA degree from Xavier Institute of Management, India.
Shaun Edmeston
Head of Customer Experience
Shaun joined the organisation as Head of Customer Experience in 2020. He has a proven track record of engaging and reinvigorating businesses in view of enhancing efficiency and driving profitability. In 2021, he was entrusted with additional responsibilities, overseeing Absa Mauritius’ Business Banking segment. Over the course of his rich 20-year career, he held several senior management roles and worked for some of South Africa’s largest companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Prior to joining the bank, Shaun was Head of Private Education for First National Bank, one of South Africa’s leading banks.
Yoshinee Parasuraman
Head of Compliance
Yoshinee holds 16 years of experience in the financial services industry. She joined the bank as Money Laundering Reporting Officer in 2014. Since then, she has held various key positions such as the role of Deputy Head of Compliance, before being appointed as Head of Compliance in May 2022. Yoshinee holds a BSC (Hons) in Economics from the University of Mauritius and studied Master classes with the University of Stellenbosch Business School on Strategic Thinking and Coaching in Performance. She is also a Trained Ethics Ambassador with The Ethics Institute of South Africa as well as Chairperson of the Compliance Committee of the Mauritius Bankers Association.
Nathan Carr
Head of Legal and Sustainability
Nathan is an accomplished Legal and Risk professional, Change Manager, and Business Executive with extensive international experience in financial services, business advisory, and consulting. With a professional background spanning the UK, UAE, South Africa, and Mauritius, Nathan has demonstrated his versatility in diverse business environments.
In May 2023, Nathan joined the organisation as Head of Legal and Sustainability. Throughout his career, he has held several other senior leadership positions, including that of Barclays Africa Legal Counsel based in Dubai, Barclays Mauritius COO and, more recently, Group Head of Legal and Corporate Strategy at NVest Financial Holdings Limited in South Africa, where he served from 2015 until April 2023. Nathan’s experience includes leading various organisational transformation projects such as business incorporations, restructurings and acquisitions.
Nathan is a dual-qualified lawyer in England and Wales, and South Africa. He holds an MBA from Rhodes Investec Business School in South Africa and is a certified PRINCE2 Project Manager which further underscores his ability to oversee complex initiatives and deliver results efficiently. As a testament to his professional standing, Nathan is also a member of the Institute of Directors in South Africa.
Ravi Nundhoosing
Interim Head of Treasury and Head of Finance
Ravi is a well-rounded finance professional spanning a rich 20-year career in Mauritius and Africa. Since he joined in 2000, Ravi has been climbing the corporate ladder. From 2014 to 2018, he occupied the role of Chief Finance Officer for Retail and CIB at regional level. Coming back to Mauritius in 2018, Ravi took up the role of Deputy Head of Finance and also spearheaded strategic projects linked to the bank’s transformation journey. In November 2022, Ravi was appointed Head of Finance. In addition to his vast technical expertise, Ravi has a proven track record in leading big teams and driving the business sustainably. He holds an MBA with specialisation in Finance from Charles Sturt University (Australia), and is an Associate Chartered Management Accountant as well as a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
Aslam Taher
Head of Wholesale Banking
Aslam is a seasoned banker with more than 20 years’ experience. Over the course of his career, he held several senior positions with local and international banks, working with large domestic and international corporates, multinationals, financial institutions and non-banking financial institutions. Aslam joined the bank as Head of Domestic Corporate Banking in 2018 and thereafter occupied other leadership roles within the Corporate and Investment Banking division. His expertise spans from business development, strategic planning and portfolio management to credit and risk management. Aslam holds an MSc in Marketing Management and an MBA from the University of Wolverhampton - Business School (UK). He is also a Graduate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK).
Ashraf Burokur
Head of Strategy, Business Intelligence and Transformation
Ashraf joined Absa Mauritius in 2017. Over the course of his rich career, he spent nearly two decades working in strategic positions within the banking sector. At the onset, Ashraf occupied the role of Management Consultant at DCDM Research, where he led a number of strategic advisory projects for customers operating in Mauritius and mainland Africa. In this role, he worked across several industries, including Agriculture, Banking, Commerce, Distribution, Telecommunications, Logistics, Transportation and the Public Sector. Ashraf possesses strong business and financial acumen that support the development and execution of strategies, thereby contributing to bringing the company’s vision to life. Ashraf holds a degree in Economics from the University of Mauritius and a Higher Certificate in Statistics from the Royal Statistical Society (UK). He is also a member of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (USA) and of the International Institute of Business Analysis (USA).
A key contributor to socio-economic growth in Mauritius with several firsts to its name in the banking industry
- 1950 - employed a female workforce
- 1969 - set up a branch in the island of Rodrigues
- 1989 - obtained an offshore banking licence
- 2019 - registered a large corporate with the SWIFT network
- 2019 - provided Host-to-Host services to a large corporate
- 2020 - introduced an Al-powered Digital Personal Banker (Abby)
- 2020 - introduced WhatsApp Banking
- 2021 - introduced a digital retail account
- 2022 - enabled contactless and cardless ATM withdrawals powered by QR code
- 2022 - launched open banking
- 2023 - introduced a digital business account
We have set our aspiration to be a leading Pan-African bank. To drive outperformance, we are focusing on delivering against four strategic themes:
- A diversified franchise with deliberate, market-leading growth
We aim to be purposeful regarding where we compete, identifying attractive growth pockets by geography, segment and product. We aim to allocate our capital sustainably and manage risk appropriately.
- The primary partner for our clients
We aim to be the primary partner for our clients, truly understanding and satisfying their day-to-day needs, creating and delivering value across the entire client relationship and building a brand our people and clients can be proud of.
- A digitally powered business
We aim to be a digitally powered business, delivering a superior digital experience, using data as a strategic asset, continuously evolving our technology architecture, and improving trust and security while operating as a nimble organisation.
- A winning, talented and diverse team
We aim to build a winning team by developing a competitive advantage through our culture, attracting and retaining Africa’s leading talent, organising distributed leadership around our clients and supporting and enabling our people
