GLADNESS DEOGRATIAS
Dar Es Salaam
Summary
Experienced banking leader with a proven track record in spearheading financial innovation and sustainable investment in emerging markets. Recognized for excellence in leadership with awards such as Top 10 Women to Watch in Banking and Top 50 Women in Management Africa. Expert in developing strategic partnerships and investment programs that promote diversity, inclusion, and sustainable growth. Committed to leveraging extensive cross-cultural experience to drive impactful investment in Africa.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
HEAD GLOBAL MARKETS
NMB BANK PLC
01.2018 - Current
- Stakeholder engagement including Government, institutional investors and regulators
- Drove the growth of Assets Under Custody to TZS 1100 Billion, catering to both Institutional and Retail Investors
- Structured NMB Retail Bond Tranche 3 which had 333% subscription level - historic
- Successfully led the first M&A for the bank in acquiring Assets and Liabilities of China Commercial Bank
- Pioneered the NMB Sustainability Bond Framework, securing critical Second Party Opinion
- Arranged NMB Jasiri Bond - 1st Gender Bond in Sub-Sahara (US$ 32.5M) & cross-listed at Luxembourg Stock Exchange
- Departmental champion on the Bank's Medium-Term Plan 2025
- Advised the Government of Alternative Project Financing mechanism for the FYDP III
- Led the development of 10year Multi-currency Medium Term Note Program US$ 400M
- Co-Arranger for NMB Jamii Bond - the 1st Sustainability Bond in the East Africa region (US$ 200M) & working to cross-list at the London Stock Exchange
- Led the supervision and coordination of Securities, Transaction Advisory Services, and Foreign Exchange & Bond Trading
HEAD OF FX TRADING
NMB Bank PLC
05.2014 - 12.2017
- Led the growth of the trading income by 50% through strategic position management, as well as the introduction of new lines of businesses, including new currency offerings
- Collaborated on the overall bank's strategy based on an understanding of financial risk management strategies and tools
- Streamlined the FX trading process through paperless and straight-through processing of trades, as well as FX on mobile
- Grew the team from one trader to three for succession and continuity as the business expanded
- Worked with transactional banking to onboard Money Transfer Operators to tap into diaspora remittances
- Introduced swaps and forwards offering (turnover of US$100M) through relationship management of some key sectors: telecom, NGO, mining, manufacturing, and trade, as well as OMCs
HEAD OF TRADING
BancABC
Dar Es Salaam
02.2012 - 04.2014
- Contributed to the profitability of the bank through Forex trading revenues, including derivatives such as swaps and forwards
- Management of cost of funding and interest margin on the deposits collected from both inter-bank, corporate, and institutional sources
- Ensured the participation of Banc ABC in government securities auctions and secondary bond trading
- Participation the Asset and Liabilities Committee (ALCo), budget processes, and the 5-year Group Strategy (Vision 2015)
- Customer Relationship Management for executive clients in Treasury
TREASURY SALES DEALER
BancABC
Dar Es Salaam
02.2009 - 01.2012
- Conducted market intelligence to identify opportunities in the financial market for potential treasury-related business development and products
- Prepared research reports (Macroeconomic and Microeconomic) using market techniques and tools that were shared both internally and externally with customers
- Organize and drive the Treasury business development meeting
- Advise the Sales and Assets and Liability Management Team of market trends
GRADUATE TRAINEE
Lehman Brothers International Europe
London
08.2006 - 09.2008
- Structured Finance: Worked with Debt Capital Markets bankers in loan syndication for corporate
- Supported traders of collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) products traded behind the asset-backed securities (ABSs)
- Short Term Credit: Supported the trading desk in booking and settling Commercial Paper (CP) in both the Euro and US markets; Certificates of Deposit, Medium Term Notes, and Forex Swaps
- We had a record-breaking daily volume of CPs traded
- Facilitation of the European Pre-Issuance Message project for ISIN creation with IPA
- Primary Bond Market: Worked with the traders and sales team in the Bond Syndicate Desk from mandate to placement, and final settlement of the securities
- This included sovereign and corporate bonds with multiple tranches
Education
Master of Business Administration -
Oxford Brookes University
01.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Accounting, Finance & Management
University of Nottingham Business School
United Kingdom06.2006
Skills
- Strategic Oversight
- Leadership
- Policy Development
- Sustainable Investment
- Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
- Governance and Compliance
Training
- Women in Global Markets Committee (WIGMC) - ACI Financial Markets Association, Ongoing
- Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) for ISM Listing, Clifford Chance, 2024
- Deep Dive in Taxonomies, Climate Bonds Initiative, 2023
- Balance Sheet Management, Riskworx Academy, 2023
- Building Sustainable Organizations, Harvard Division of Continuing Education, 2022
- Responsible Finance in Digital Age, Global SME Forum by IFC, 2022
- Introduction to Corporate Governance, IFC, 2022
- Green, Social and Sustainability Bonds, Executive Training by ICMA & IFC, 2021
- Leading for Impact in Africa, Africa Leadership University Business School, 2019
- Euromoney Debt Capital Markets Course, 2018
- Global Banking Alliance for Women Master Class, EBRD, 2017
- Negotiation Perspectives, Said Business School, University of Oxford, 2017
- Asset & Liability Management Training, Euromoney, 2016
Awards
- Top 10 Women to Watch in Banking and Finance, Angaza Awards, 2023
- Top 20 Women in Management Africa, 2020/2021
- Nominated as Top 10 Women in Tanzania, Southern Africa Women in Leadership, 2021
Board Experience
- Investment Committee, ALCB Fund S.A.
- Board of Trustees, NMB Foundation.
- Board Director, Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company (TMRC)
Certification
- Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI) - Associate
- Institute of Directors UK - Certificate in Directorship
Timeline
HEAD GLOBAL MARKETS
NMB BANK PLC
01.2018 - Current
HEAD OF FX TRADING
NMB Bank PLC
05.2014 - 12.2017
HEAD OF TRADING
BancABC
02.2012 - 04.2014
TREASURY SALES DEALER
BancABC
02.2009 - 01.2012
GRADUATE TRAINEE
Lehman Brothers International Europe
08.2006 - 09.2008
Master of Business Administration -
Oxford Brookes University
Bachelor of Arts - Accounting, Finance & Management
University of Nottingham Business School