Senior Management Team

Meet the people who set AfrAsia’s strategy and run your bank day-to-day

Our senior management team consists of an Executive Committee and a Management Committee. The Executive Committee is responsible for setting AfrAsia Bank’s strategy, while the Management Committee is responsible for implementing it.

THIERRY VALLET

Interim CEO

Master of Business Administration - International Finance
HEC School of Management, Paris

Date joined AfrAsia: 20-Aug-07

Engineer by trade, Thierry brings 20 years of experience to the Banking and Finance Industry since he is specialised in International Finance during his MBA at the prestigious School HEC. Thierry joined AfrAsia Bank as Founding Executive and Head of Strategic Development in 2007 and has been instrumental in shaping the Bank from the ground up whilst contributing to a commendable performance that has earned AfrAsia Bank accolades in the private banking and innovation space over the years. Leveraging on regional and international roadshows, Thierry has actively promoted the Mauritian Private Banking jurisdiction with the aim to position the Island as one of repute and substance. In 2012, Thierry was promoted to General Manager and has been the acting CEO of AfrAsia Bank and AfrAsia Capital Management as and when required. Thierry is also a Director of AfrAsia Group subsidiaries. As a golf enthusiast, Thierry has been a key contributor in launching and making a success the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open since its inception.
NICOLAS FABIEN HARDY

Chief Technology and Operations Officer

Master of Business Administration
University of Cape Town

Bsc Mathematics
University of Natal

Date joined AfrAsia: 03-Jun-19

Nicolas brings over 15 years of technology, treasury and operations experience to AfrAsia Bank from Investec Bank (Mauritius) where he held various senior positions. Treasurer by trade, he has cumulated many responsibilities whilst directing the strategic operations and technical development, encompassing the online/digital banking system and the currency cards programme. Nicolas’ background includes serving in other leadership roles at Natwest Markets, Robert Fleming & Co, Rogers Group, Tomfin Asset Management and Digi-Strat.
PARIKSHAT TULSIDAS

Senior Executive – Treasury & Markets

ACI Dealing Certificate
ACI

Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and HR
Middlesex University London

Date joined AfrAsia: 21-Jan-13

Parik, a Mauritian national, has over 15 years’ experience in Financial Markets. He worked at the Standard Bank where he held the post of Head of Sales - Global Markets (Mauritius) for approximately 5 years. He then moved to Beijing as the General Manager, Global Markets Advisory (China) for the same company.
ROBIN BRYAN SMITHER

Senior Executive – Head Corporate Banking

Master of Business Administration
University of Witwatersrand (WITS) South Africa

Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management
University of Witwatersrand (WITS) South Africa

Degree in Social Science (PPE)
University of Cape Town

Date joined AfrAsia: 07-Jan-13

Robin has over 19 years' experience in Corporate and Investment banking with an extensive knowledge in global markets, investment banking and lending products. Robin was with Standard Bank for more than 11 years, spent 3 years in Mauritius as Head of Corporate Banking, followed by some time in South Africa as a senior banker to Standard Bank’s large global multinational clients where he developed an extensive knowledge of Africa related banking and business. Robin currently heads up the domestic and international corporate banking activities for the Bank. Robin also acts as a non-executive director on some of the AfrAsia Capital Management investment funds.
YOGESH GOKOOL

Senior Executive – Head Global Business

Member
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
International Tax Planning Association (ITPA)
Association of International Wealth Management (AIWM)
Mauritius Institute of Directors (MIoD)

Postgraduate certificate in the Mechanics of Private Equity
Middlesex University

Date joined AfrAsia: 03-Jul-08

Over 25 years of experience in financial management gained whilst working for International Financial Services Ltd (now Sanne
Mauritius), a leading local offshore management company, overseeing a portfolio of over 100 clients including mutual funds and private equity funds. Yogesh also worked for Deutsche Bank (Mauritius) where he headed the fiduciary services division. He sits on the Board of STEP Mauritius, which promotes private clients work and liaises with the Government of Mauritius on current issues and the implementation of fiduciary legislation.
JENNIFER JEAN-LOUIS

Chief Financial Officer

Fellow Member
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
Chartered Tax Advisor

Date joined AfrAsia: 30-Jul-07

A Chartered Accountant with 20 years plus of experience, having practised locally and internationally in auditing, taxation and advisory, Jennifer returned to Mauritius in 2007 and joined AfrAsia Bank at its very inception stage to build the foundation of the financial framework and structure of the Bank. Apart from the responsibilities of overseeing the accounting team and in charge of the financial affairs of the Bank, Jennifer has participated in numerous strategic initiatives, including capital raising, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) transitions.
SEVAMI MOONIEN

Head of Credit Risk

Qualifications in Management
University of Mauritius

Date joined AfrAsia: 28-Oct-2013

Sevami has an extensive career in the banking sector counting more than 20 years of experience. Prior to joining AfrAsia, Sevami held several senior positions within the field of credit risk at Standard Bank (Mauritius) Limited and Absa Bank (Mauritius) Limited (Formerly known as Barclays Bank PLC Mauritius). During her career, she has developed a broad knowledge of both local and international markets, providing leadership and guidance in all matters relating to credit risk management, credit approvals, monitoring and controlling the credit portfolio.
SUNEETA MOTALA

Chief Marketing Officer

Pre Associateship
Chartered Institute of Bankers

MSc in Marketing
Salford University

International Certificate for Financial Advisor
Chartered Insurance Institute

General Management Certificate
ESSEC Business School, France

Date joined AfrAsia: 01-Jul-07

Suneeta is an experienced marketer in the banking sector, with more than 25 years of experience. She started her career at HSBC in 1994 spearheading responsibilities in sales and marketing, credit and risk, credit risk management and branch operations. In July 2007, she joined AfrAsia, a Bank that she contributed to building since inception with a unified branding, marketing and communications strategy, reckoned today as a key financial services player. She is a member of CMO Club, the world’s most innovative and engaged member-based community of Chief Marketing Officers.
RAKESH SEESURN

Head of Risk

Member

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (UK)

Mauritius Institute of Directors (MIoD)

The Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA)

Date joined AfrAsia: 04-Sep-16

Rakesh was appointed Head of Risk in October 2018. He was previously Business Manager reporting to the Senior Executive – Corporate Banking and to the Chief Executive Officer. He currently oversees the Market Risk, Asset and Liability Management, Recovery, AML, Operational Risk and IFRS9 implementation divisions.

Prior to joining AfrAsia, Rakesh accumulated extensive experience through various senior roles driving change across the Audit & Finance divisions with Deloitte & Touche Qatar, Deutsche Bank and Standard Bank. He brings over 20 years of onshore and offshore expertise in key areas such as Risk Appetite, Budgeting, Strategic planning and other fundamental projects
MAUREEN TREANOR

Head of Human Resources and Change Management

Member
Mauritius Institute of Directors (MIoD)

Qualifications in Human Resources (ABE UK) and Project Management
University of Mauritius

Master of Business Administration
Edinburgh Business School

Date joined AfrAsia: 01-Jun-2010

Maureen started her career with Barclays Bank (UK) approximately 25 years ago. She joined AfrAsia as Head of Human Resources and Change Management in 2010 and has experience in the UK and African markets.
KRISTY BALLAH

Head of Internal Audit

Kristy Kumar Ballah is a fellow member (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and also holds a bachelor degree in Accounting & Finance from the University of Birmingham. He has many years of audit experience and was previously a Group Internal Audit Manager in MCB. Before joining MCB, Kristy worked in the assurance department of PwC for more than 7 years where he managed external audit and advisory assignments.

Kristy brings with him valuable knowledge and experience in the banking, Global Business, insurance, telecommunications and manufacturing sectors. He has a track record for managing assignments involving multi-disciplinary teams in several countries comprising amongst others Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mozambique and Seychelles.
DAVE DUSORUTH

Group Head of Operations

Dave Dusoruth joined AfrAsia Bank Limited as Head of Internal Audit in July 2015 and became Group Head of Operations in May 2017.

He has extensive experience in auditing having spent four years working as an external auditor at De Chazal Du Mee and 11 years in the Internal Audit Department at the Mauritius Commercial Bank.

Dave is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA). He is a recognised Professional Accountant of the Mauritius Institute of Professional Accountants (MIPA), a registered trainer (audit fields) with the Mauritius Qualifications Authority (MQA), a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA Mauritius) as well as the Mauritius Institute of Directors (MIOD).
LOTESWAR FANGOO

Group Head Compliance and MLRO

Loteswar Fangoo (Anil) has more than 30 years in banking including at senior management level, with a solid experience in legal, operations, recovery, compliance, financial crimes, and anti-money laundering amongst others.

He started his banking career in 1990 at SBI Mauritius and prior to joining AfrAsia Bank Ltd in 2009, Anil was heading the Legal and Compliance Department at SBI Mauritius.

He is currently the Group Head Compliance and MLRO and has been responsible for establishing a robust enterprise-wide compliance framework for the Bank. He ensures that the Bank adheres to all regulatory guidelines by continuously evaluating and improving the effectiveness of internal controls and governance processes. He is the primary point for regulatory and investigative authorities. As the MLRO he has also assisted management of the Bank in developing and maintaining an effective anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance culture.

Anil is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), a member of the Mauritius Institute of Directors (MIOD) and an associate member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).
COLIN GRIEVE

Chief Representative Officer - South Africa Representative Office

Colin Grieve has over 25 years' experience in local and international banks and financial markets.

He has held roles including Head of Treasury, Head of Corporate Banking and General Manager of investments and has acted as a mandated lead arranger in pan-African banking transactions throughout his career.

Colin is the author of a book on investment strategy and holds a Master’s of Commerce from one of South Africa's leading universities.
ATISH GUNGADUR

Head of ICT Security

Atish was appointed Head of IT Security in February 2020. He joined the Bank in 2008 as Systems Analyst and during his tenure with the Bank, he worked as IT Infrastructure Manager and IT Security Manager. Atish holds a BSc in Information System and has over 15 years' experience as an Information Technology (IT) professional with strong expertise in IT management, IT security management, and IT enterprise architecture.
SURUJ NAWOSAH

Head of ICT

Suruj joined AfrAsia Bank as Head of ICT in October 2019. His rich career comprises a diversity of roles within the Standard Bank Group in Mauritius, Botswana, Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia and Ivory Coast.

He has extensive experience in IT Application, Infrastructure operations as well as Core Banking systems and Business Process transformation projects. Suruj possesses a proven track record in driving IT strategy with a focus on innovation and strategic change.
DWEJENDRANATH RAMANAH

Head of Treasury

Jen’s banking career began at the Bank of Mauritius in 1980, where he eventually became a Senior Dealer in the Financial Markets Department.

Prior to joining AfrAsia Bank Limited in September 2007, he worked for the Mauritius Commercial Bank as the Chief Money Market Trader. Jen holds a BSc (Hons) Management and an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School.