By Prudence Minayo
Esther Masese Waititu was recently appointed by Safaricom as the chief financial services officer, effective 21st February 2023.
“Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, Esther will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight to Safaricom’s Financial Services Business. She will lead financial services tribes and teams, through the development of financial products, services and solutions for consumers and enterprises,” read a press statement by the giant telco.
Esther has over two decades of experience working in the banking industry.
Education
The Kenya High alumnae has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from University of Eastern Africa Baraton and a Master of Business Administration from University of Liverpool.
Career
The astute professional joined Commercial Bank of Africa in 2000 as a corporate Finance Analyst, then a corporate finance manager before being appointed a customer relationship manager.
In 2006, she joined Standard Chartered bank as a Senior Manager Customer Relationship Management, Corporate and Institutional Banking. Leaving the bank in 2007, she had risen to Product Head Transaction Banking, South Africa.
In February 2011, she joined Standard Bank Group where she went on to serve in various capacities for a decade. She served as:
*Head of product management, transactional products and services, East Africa
*Executive, regional head of transactional products and services, East Africa.
*Executive, strategy development corporate and investment bank, East Africa.
*Executive, head client coverage.
She joined Kenya Commercial Bank as the director of corporate banking in September 2021. Here, she has been in charge of overseeing the delivery of financial solutions to corporate clients thus facilitating development and growth in major sectors of the economy.
During her more than two decades experience working in the banking industry, she has worked on various mergers and acquisitions including the privatization of Chemelil Sugar Company. Additionally she has worked with local and international investors to negotiate appropriate financial structures in collaboration with govt regulatory authorities, such as, Capital Markets Authority.
Additionally, Masese has been at her elements in managing credit risks, steering product sales and developing structures for financial solutions. She has also provided support and training to sales teams.
Apart from being an accredited associate executive coach, she is a mentor, fellow of the Kenya Institute of Bankers, and a part of the African Alliance Unit and Sanlam Unit Trust Funds.
