Shaka Kariuki serves as Co-CEO of Kuramo Capital Management, LLC.
Previously, Shaka served in a number of leadership roles at the $9 billion Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators (DMBA), most recently as Head of Global Equity Markets across asset classes, Head of Fixed Income, and Portfolio Manager of Global Private Equity. Shaka also headed the investments of DMBA Affiliates in Developed and Emerging Markets (UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Samoa), including Africa. Prior to DMBA, Shaka was a Senior Member of the Global Finance team at Agilent Technologies where he managed finance teams in Asia, Europe, Japan and USA. Prior to Agilent, Shaka was an Associate in the Investment Banking Division of First Security Van Kasper. Shaka also worked at Choice Hotels International in the mergers & acquisitions department. He is the former Chairman of Deseret First Credit Union. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of NAS Foods in Ethiopia, and is on the Board of Leon Business Solutions in Zimbabwe, Solo in Nigeria, Sepfluor in South Africa and the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University.
Shaka holds a B.S. in Economics, an MBA with an emphasis in Finance from Brigham Young University, and a Masters in Government from Harvard University. He is a member of the CFA Institute.
Nganga Njiinu: Chief Executive Ofiicer
Nganga Njiinu, CFA Group CEO TransCentury
Nganga Njiinu has over 20 years’ experience in investments, strategy implementation and operations. Since joining TransCentury Group in 2008 Njiinu has held various leadership roles in corporate finance, portfolio management, business development as well as originating and developing opportunities in the infrastructure space. In addition, Njiinu has had deep experience in developing infrastructure projects in the areas of mining, energy, rail, and roads. Since taking up the CEO role in 2016, Njiinu has led the Group through an extensive restructure that has led to reduction of debt by USD55m and the restructure of USD 52m of debt, in addition to a Groupwide organisation redesign reflecting Group’s strategic direction. Under his leadership, the Group has attracted over USD50m of additional funds into the business and successfully exited infrastructure projects and portfolio investments.
Prior to joining TransCentury, Njiinu worked for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in the USA for 7 years, where he oversaw strategic initiatives, financial planning, and analysis as well as evaluation and integration of acquisitions.
Njiinu holds an MBA in Finance and Investment Management from the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas, and a Bachelor of Science in International Business from United States International University, he is also a CFA charter holder.
Anne Wanjiku Mutahi: Director
Anne Mutahi – Independent Director
Anne is specialist in SME Development and Related Financial Services. She has a wealth of experience in the financial services sector; having worked professionally in several regulated financial institutions in senior and high-level capacities. She has worked for Middle East Bank in Nairobi, ABN AMRO Bank and Citibank.
In January 2004, she left Citibank to become Chief Executive Officer of Jitegemee Trust Limited, a wholesale microfinance institution, where she served until December 2008 when she left to found Soko Letu Ltd which managed a trader market in Nairobi’s Central Business District and in mid-2010 she began negotiations to invest in Biashara Factory Ltd alongside other investors.
Anne is an Oversight Director of Biashara Factory Ltd which is a SME at Factor House. She holds an Executive MBA (EMBA) – University of Cape Town, South Africa and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh PA, USA.
She is the past Chairperson to the Board of the Standard Chartered Bank Kenya, and former Chair of Women Enterprise Fund and The Association of Micro Finance Institutions.
Anne has held a number of other positions including board membership in Old Mutual Life Assurance Company Limited. She also acts as a SME Advisor to the Executive Office of the President, Kenya.
Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Kuramo Capital Management.
Previously, Walé was Treasurer and CIO at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where he oversaw $850 million in endowment and pension assets. He led RPI’s increased investment in alternative investments, spearheading RPI’s investment effort in emerging frontier markets, including Africa. From 1999 to 2004, Wale was a Managing Director in the Investments Group of The MacArthur Foundation in Chicago. Walé served as former Chair of the Investment Advisory Committee for the $180 Billion New York State Common Retirement Fund. He also serves as President of the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF). Walé was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1995 and is a member of the CFA Institute. He was also appointed to President Obama’s Presidential Council on Doing Business in Africa.
Walé received his MBA from John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University in Saint Louis, MO with a concentration in Finance, and his BA in Economics and Business Administration from Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA.
Kamal Pallan: Director
Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Kuramo Capital Management
Previously, Kamal served in a number of different executive roles at JPMorgan, most recently as Managing Director for the Global Custody business in the Americas. He was also a Product Executive in JPMorgan’s ADR business where he led the issuance of GDRs and ADRs for companies from emerging and frontier markets. Prior to JPMorgan, Kamal was an Engagement Manager in the New York office of McKinsey & Company, serving global corporations in financial services, media, and entertainment. He has also worked in business development at GE Capital and as an investment analyst at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) where he focused on equity and debt investments in the Oil, Gas & Mining sector, including initiatives in Africa.
Kamal Pallan received his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BSE in Chemical Engineering summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania.
Njogu Ephraim Kariithi, H.S.C: Director
Njogu Kariithi has vast experience in management of public resources in the Kenyan economic environment and in consultancy and advisory activities. He sits in the board of LSG Sky Chefs Kenya Ltd the 2nd inflight Catering Company in Kenya as well as in the board of Old Mutual Investment Services. Between 2006 and 2012, Mr. Kariithi served as a director at the Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) now Communication Authority(CA), where he was also a member and Chair of the Finance Matters Committee for more than 4 years. In 2009, Mr Kariithi was appointed by the then Minister of Planning to serve as a member of National Governing Council for preparation of a second government review by African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) programme. Mr. Njogu is a founding member of TransCentury Group and also served as a honorary secretary, during the formative years.
He holds an M.Sc Degree in Management and Organizational Development from United States International University as well as An M.Sc Degree in human biology from Loughborough University of Technology in Leicestershire, England.
Wanjuki Muchemi: Director
Wanjuki Muchemi – Director
Mr. Muchemi is a senior legal practitioner with a wealth of experience in International Commercial Law, Arbitration, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Multilateral and Bilateral Finance negotiations. He is the currently serving as a non-Executive Director in the Boards of several listed including East African Cables and private companies.
Previously, Mr. Muchemi served as the Solicitor General of the Republic of Kenya and the Principal Assistant to the Attorney General. During his tenure, he was awarded the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) (First Class) by His Excellency the President Mwai Kibaki, for his dedicated service. In addition, he previously served as a Director in several State Corporations as well as at the Centre for Corporate Governance for 10 years.
He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B. Hons.) degree from University of Nairobi. He is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London, U.K. (FCI Arb.), Member of The Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya (CPS (K)) and Law Society of Kenya.