Kinshasa, July 22, 2024 – The Rawbank Board of Directors, meeting on April 6, 2024, unanimously decided to appoint Isabelle Lessedjina as Chair of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. This decision comes at the end of the term of Mazhar Rawji, who has been appointed Chairman Emeritus of Rawbank, and following an approval process by the Central Bank of Congo, initiated in early 2024. According to the Rawbank Board of Directors, Isabelle Lessedjina’s candidacy meets all the qualities required to chair the Board of Directors.
Rawbank’s directors declare: “The Board of Directors is delighted with the selection of Isabelle Lessedjina, who has contributed significantly to the work of the Board and its committees since 2020. Her extensive experience within large international groups and her in-depth knowledge of corporate governance and ESG are solid assets for Rawbank, as the bank enters a new dynamic. Isabelle Lessedjina and Mustafa Rawji will form a perfectly complementary tandem, serving Rawbank’s development during a particularly favorable period for the bank.”
Isabelle Lessedjina declares: “I am delighted and honored to assume the role of Chair of the Board of Directors. On behalf of Rawbank, I express our deep gratitude to Mazhar Rawji for his exceptional leadership during his tenure as Chairman, who propelled the bank to unprecedented growth thanks to his visionary guidance. I also warmly thank our shareholders and the Board of Directors for their trust. I am particularly inspired by Rawbank’s mission and growth potential, as well as its continued commitment to financing the Congolese economy and improving the lives of the Congolese people. More than just a bank, Rawbank is dedicated to these overarching objectives. I look forward to collaborating with all Rawbankers to contribute to the bank’s sustainable development while respecting the highest standards of governance.”
Following this Meeting, the Board of Directors remains composed of 13 directors, including six independent directors.
Biography
Isabelle Lessedjina is an expert with over twenty years of experience in international finance. She holds an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from the IESE Business School in Spain. She also holds a Master’s degree in Financial Risk Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Management from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. She began her career as a trader at Puilateco Bank before becoming Treasurer of Virgin Express Airlines in Belgium. In 2003, she became Group Treasurer at Besins Healthcare Groupe, a private pharmaceutical company based in Monaco with offices in France, Thailand, Brazil, and Belgium. In 2009, she held the position of Associate Director at Standard Chartered Bank in Dubai.
In 2010, she was appointed Vice President of Sales and Marketing at GECAS (GE Capital Aviation Services) in Ireland and Ghana, and a member of the Executive Committee of GE Ghana, a position she held until 2015 when she was appointed Director of Consulting, Innovation, and Financing Solutions for the company and ESSA Ltd in Mauritius. She was then recruited by Philips Capital in the Netherlands as Director for France and Iberia, and Head of Structured Finance for Southern Europe and Africa. Since 2019, she has been Senior Vice President of The Currency Exchange Fund (TCX), an alternative development fund.
Isabelle Lessedjina has been an independent director of Rawbank since January 2020.
About Rawbank
For 22 years, with total assets of $5 billion, Rawbank has supported the development of the Congolese economy. The leading bank in the DRC for 12 years, Rawbank offers the most modern products and services to its 500,000+ corporate, SME, and individual clients through a network of more than 100 branches in 19 provinces across the country, a digital offering with Illicocash, online banking, and more than 250 ATMs.
Its work has been recognized by the 2022 and 2024 African Bankers Award for Best Regional Bank in Central Africa, a Moody’s CAA 1 rating, and ISO/IEC 20000 and ISO/IEC 27001 certifications. Partners who trust RAWBANK include: IFC, AfDB, TDB, BADEA, Shelter Africa, AGF, etc.
Partners who trust RAWBANK include: AfDB, AGF, IFC, BADEA, Shelter Africa, and TDB.
For more information, visit our website: www.rawbank.com
Press Contact
RAWBANK – Performance and Network Department
