“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” – Professor Warren Bennis, Pioneer in the Contemporary Field of Leadership

Every ship needs a captain to guide the crew through troubling waters. Likewise, every company needs a leader to ensure an effective and efficient  operation within the financial market. With most Companies, there is more than one leader. In fact, there is a chain of command.

So who makes the decisions that lead to such achievements? Who steers the ship known as Britam?

Board of Directors: Britam Insurance

Nicholas-Ashford Hodges leads the pack as the Company’s Non-executive Chairman.  He is the President of British American (UK) Limited. He is also Vice Chairman of the British-American Investment Company (Mtius) Limited, as well as Director for several other Boards and sub-committees within the Group. Ashford-Hodges is also Chairman at GlobalCapital PLC, a company listed under the Malta Stock Exchange.

Benson Wairegi is the Group’s Managing Director. He is Vice Chairman at Equity Bank Limited, one of the Director’s at Housing Finance and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Wairegi holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nairobi (UONBI).

Stephen Wandera is the Company’s Managing Director and Chairman of the Association of Kenya Insurers. He is also a Director at Feba Radio. The company’s online forum describes Wandera as one of the key players who will change the face of the insurance industry.

Peter Munga is one of the three Non-Executive Directors within the Insurance branch. He is the Chairman for several companies, including Equity Bank Ltd, the National Oil Corporation of Kenya, the Kenya Genetic Resource Centre, Micro-Enterprise Support Programme, KAGRC, Equatorial Nut Processors Ltd and Fresho International Ltd.

Jimnah Mbaru is also one of the Non-Executive Directors at Britam Insurance and Chairman at Dyer and Blair Investment Bank. He is also the Chairman at both the National Cereals and Produce Board and Jitegemee Trust.

Another integral part of Britam is Dr James Mwangi, yet another Non-Executive Director from the Britam Insurance branch. He is Equity Bank’s Chief Executive and Chairman of the Vision 2030 Delivery Board. Dr Mwangi currently holds the First Class Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear national decoration, the highest Presidential Award to ever be given to a civilian.

Joseph N. Muli is a Non-Executive and Independent Director. He is also Managing Director at the Kenya Railways Corporation.

Bocar E. Dia is the second Non-Executive and Independent Director. He is Chairperson for three Senegal-based Companies, including Network System Area. Mr Dia is also an International Consultant for the UNDP, UNICEF and UN Aid.

Saleem Beebeejaun is also a Non-Executive Director for the Company’s insurance branch. He is the former President and CEO of British American Investment Company (Mtius). Having retired from that position in 2011, Beebeejaun is currently an Honorary Consultant for the Mauritius Employer’s Federation.

Board of Directors: Britam Investment

Britam’s Investment arm is similar to its Insurance branch. The only difference is, the Investment arm also comprises of an Alternate Director, a Company Secretary and another Non-Executive Independent Director.

Nicholas Ashford Hodges is still Non-Executive Chairman for both Britam Investment and Britam Insurance. The same applies for the positions held by Benson Wairegi, Stephen Wandera, Peter Munga, Jimna Mbaru, Dr James Mwangi, Joseph Muli, Bocar Dia and Salim Beebeejaun. They all hold the same positions as they do in Britam’s Insurance arm of the Company.

Agnes Odhiambo is the Insurance arm’s Non-Executive and Independent Director. She is Controller of Budget for the Government of Kenya and a Member of the Association of Women Accountants of Kenya.

E. M. Swadek Taher, OSK is Alternate Director to Saeem Beebeejaun. He is President and CEO at Bramer Corporation Ltd. Mr Taher is also a Board member for several Britam subsidiaries in Mauritius.  In 2007, he received the ACCA Achievement award for contributions to the Accounting profession in Mauritius.

Mr Taher has since received several other awards, including the Order of the Star and Key (OSK) distinction which was given to him by the Republic of Mauritius in 2009.

Nancy Kiruki is the Company Secretary and an Advocate of the High Court. She is a Commissioner of Oaths, a Notary Public and a Certified Public Secretary. Mrs Kiruki is also the Director of Legal and Human Resources.

In case you don't like words you can see an infograph here.