BSc (Hons), FCA
Mauritian, Executive Director
Cyril is an executive Director of a number of listed and non-listed companies. Cyril was a senior executive with Barclays Bank Mauritius Limited between 2004 and 2014. Before joining Barclays, Cyril was Head of Finance in Esso Mauritius Limited and British American Tobacco (Mauritius). Cyril graduated with First Class Honors in Physics from the University of Manchester and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in London.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a Fellow of the Mauritius Institute of Directors.
BA, MA
American, Chairperson and Non-Executive Director
Ms. Celaya is co-founder of Avanz Capital, established in 2010 to pursue private equity investing opportunities across emerging markets, focusing on middle market growth capital and buyout investments. As CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Avanz Capital, Ms. Celaya leads product development, portfolio construction and investor relations. Ms. Celaya serves on numerous Advisory Committees of Avanz portfolio funds. Ms. Celaya is an accomplished investment manager with over 40 years of emerging markets expertise, including as the head of IFC’s Private Equity and Investment Funds Group and Chairperson of its investment committee. She brings experience in debt and equity investments in sectors such as financial services, agribusiness, healthcare, education, manufacturing, and energy.
Ms. Celaya holds a BA from Georgetown University and a MA in Development Banking from The American University in Washington, D.C.
B.A. (Hons), MA, MBA
Canadian, Non-Executive Director
Mr. Assaad has had a long investment career of over 35 years in emerging markets, managing both fund investments as well as direct investments, including 12 years as co-founder and chief portfolio and risk officer of Avanz Capital Management and more than two decades at International Finance Corporation (IFC). Mr. Assaad is currently the non-executive chairperson of Avanz Capital Egypt, the Egyptian subsidiary of Avanz Capital Management, which was established to manage fund-of-funds and other specialist private capital funds investing in private equity and venture capital in emerging and growth markets.
Mr. Assaad was Chief Investment Officer for IFC’s sector-specific funds, such as sustainable energy, financial inclusion, infrastructure, and healthcare, and was responsible for fund investment programs across four regions. As co-founder of Avanz Capital, Mr. Assaad managed three funds with his colleagues, that invested in multiple Private Equity and Venture Capital funds and co-invested in companies across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as one fund in Egypt. Mr. Assaad is committed to sustainable investments and is a strong advocate of gender-lens investing. He’s committed to increasing the proportion of women in fund-management teams and investment committees.
Mr Assaad has extensive experience in training on private equity funds management, corporate governance and funds governance, environmental & social, and sustainability. Over the last 15 years, he designed, developed and delivered several training programs for investors, fund managers, MFI managers and other practitioners in private equity and venture capital, as well as in governance. He led the design and implementation of the AVCA Academy, a 23-module online training program for investors and fund managers. Mr. Assaad is leading the design and implementation of a large and comprehensive capacitybuilding program for Egypt’s Private Capital investors and fund managers, which incorporates several specialized masterclasses, coaching and mentoring programs and fund investments, and portfolio-management skill enhancement. Mr. Assaad is a graduate of Trinity College, University of Toronto (Honours BA and MA) and holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business in Canada.
Intercontinental Nominees Ltd holds 1,000 shares in AGM on behalf of Mr. Assaad.
MBA, CFA, PhD
Egyptian, Non-Executive Independent Director
Ms. Zaki has a Master of Business Administration, concentration in finance, economics, and international business from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business and a PhD in financial management from Swiss School of Business Research (SSBR) Switzerland. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst and has taken courses from Harvard University. She is presently a Managing Director at Dismatrix Group - which invests in PE and VC opportunities predominantly in the US and Europe, and was previously Chief Investment Officer at the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation where she managed a multi-asset class global portfolio. Prior to that, she spent 10 years within various senior roles across private equity, hedge funds, and other alternatives at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). By educational background pre-MBA, she studied medicine and engineering prior to her shift into finance. She is also a managing director at Gulf capital private equity which is focused in Africa, Middle East and Asia as of September 2021.
B.Sc (Hons), ACG, MBA
Mauritian, Non-Executive Director
A dedicated professional with more than 15 years of experience, Smitha currently spearheads Intercontinental Secretarial Services Ltd (“ISSL”), a corporate service provider in the industry since 30 years specializing in the setting up of domestic structures as well as providing company secretarial services to private, public and listed entities. ISSL also specializes as Registrar and Transfer Agent for bond and share registry services.
Before embarking her journey in ISSL as General Manager, she joined the Corporate Services Department of Intercontinental Trust Limited (“ITL”) for nearly 10 years prior to heading the Listing Department that oversees companies listed on the SEM, NSX, JSE and LSE.
She has headed various teams and constructively led the operations division such as incorporation of companies, advising on company structures, regulatory matters, corporate administration as well as corporate governance matters in the global business sector and the domestic sector. Additionally, she sits as director on the boards of several global business companies as well as boards of Listed Companies and Special Licensed Companies by the Financial Services Commission. Smitha also serves the role of Money Laundering Officer of various companies and is a member of the Mauritius Institute of Directors.
Having a Master’s degree in Innovation and Leadership from Ducere Global Business School and being an Associate member of the Corporate Governance Institute, she always bring valuable insights and innovative solutions to drive ISSL.
B.Sc (Hons), ACCA, MIPA
Mauritian, Non-Executive Director
Mrs. Lan Kung Wa worked for a leasing company in Mauritius before joining Intercontinental Trust Limited (“ITL”) in 2005. She is today the General Manager of the Private Office team. Over the years, she has acquired extensive experience in the day-to-day administration of global business companies as well as domestic companies. She is also an active member of various ITL’s internal committees. Mrs. Lan Kung Wa holds a BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance from the University of Mauritius. She is also a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and Member of the Mauritius Institute of Professional Accountants.