As one of the leading groups in Mauritius, SBM Group comprises a team of high-calibre individuals who are responsible for the strategic direction of the Group and its long-term success in all the markets we serve.
Mr Raoul Gufflet
Background and experience
Mr Gufflet is a seasoned professional, who has spent nearly three decades in the banking and financial sector. Over the years, he has gathered an extensive knowledge of the banking sector and financial markets across a large variety of jurisdictions. He started his career as a strategic consultant in the field of restructuring and corporate advisory at PwC in France, Eastern Europe and Africa. He has been involved in several studies which were jointly conducted with the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on financial institutions, both in developed and transitional economies.
Prior to joining the SBM Group, he was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of a renowned bank in Mauritius and served as the Director of several of its entities across Africa and the Indian Ocean. He led the transformation of most of its business lines, aligning them with best international standards as well as with new digital, regulatory and compliance international trends. He has also been instrumental in developing that institution’s Corporate and Institutional Banking arm and led the creation of its franchise in the Structured Finance and Commodities spectrum on the African continent. As a firm believer in ESG principles for responsible banking and finance, he is committed to developing a sustainable banking and capital market philosophy, which is a prerequisite for unlocking shareholder value.
In addition to the above, Mr Gufflet acts as Director on several entities of the SBM Group.
Qualifications
• Advanced Management Programme – INSEAD, France
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) – Institute of Internal Auditors, USA
• Post Graduate Diploma International Finance – Université de Paris XIII, France
• Masters Degree in Economics (specialisation in Finance) - University of Paris (La Sorbonne), France
• BSc Economics – University of Paris (La Sorbonne), France
Directorship in other entities
Banque SBM Madagascar SA, SBM (Bank) Holdings Ltd, SBM Bank (India) Limited, SBM Bank (Kenya) Limited and SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd
Dr Roshan Boodhoo
Background and experience
Dr Boodhoo started his career in the finance and corporate credit departments of an international bank in Mauritius. During his career so far, he has occupied several high-profile positions. Prior to joining SBM Group, Dr Boodhoo was the Group Chief Executive Officer of a financial services company. Under his leadership, the company which was operating in Mauritius and Luxembourg, embarked on an expansion plan abroad and established operations in International Financial Centres of repute, namely in London, Dubai, Cape Town and Shanghai.
Dr Boodhoo has also served as Director for several entities in the financial and non-financial services sectors including Investment Banks, Life Insurance Companies, IT & Telecommunications firms. From 2016 to 2021, Dr Boodhoo was also a Director representing Africa on the EMEA Board of PrimeGlobal; one of the 5 largest financial associations in the world with a combined turnover in excess of USD 2.5 billion.
During his career, Dr Boodhoo has been a regular speaker and panelist in several international conferences. Dr Boodhoo has also published a number of research papers on finance and investment related topics. As a business-savvy individual, he has earned the reputation of being a fast thinker and a highly-motivated and focused leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment.
Qualifications
• Doctorate in Management (specialisation in Business Administration), Institute of Business Management, India
• Master of Arts in Finance and Investment, The University of Nottingham, UK
• Executive Master of Business Administration (Finance), Institute of Business Management, India
• BSc (Hons) Banking and International Finance, University of Technology, Mauritius
• Fellow of the International Compliance Association
• Fellow of the Institute of Management Specialists
• Fellow Chartered Financial Manager
Mr Anoop Kumar Nilamber
Background and experience
Mr Nilamber is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the banking, investment and corporate sectors, having worked in international reputed financial institutions, including HSBC France.
He was previously a member on the board of several key entities including MauBank Ltd, Airports of Mauritius Co. Ltd, the State Investment Corporation Ltd, SME Mauritius Ltd and the Mauritius Revenue Authority, among others.
His past experiences include those of Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, CEO at Mauritius Duty Free Paradise Ltd, Group Chief Executive Officer at Airports of Mauritius Co. Ltd and lecturer at the Université Panthéon-Assas Paris II, France.
Prior to this appointment, Mr Nilamber was the CEO of SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd since July 2021.
Qualifications
• Master's Degree in Banking and Finance – Université Panthéon - Assas - Paris II, France
• BSc (Licence) in Economics – Université Panthéon - Assas - Paris II, France
Mr Sivakrisna (Kovi) Goinden
Background and experience
Mr Goinden has 19 years’ experience in the finance and accounting sector including 15 years in the banking sector. He currently manages the finance and procurement functions of the Group as well as giving support to the different entities across SBM Group.
Over the years, Mr Goinden has contributed much to the SBM Group given his vast past experience in merger and acquisitions, Group restructuring and capital projects.
Mr Goinden acts as Director on several entities of the SBM Group and is a Councillor on the SBM Foundation, the CSR arm of the Group.
Qualifications
• Fellow of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK (FCCA)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, Herriot Watt University, UK
Directorship in other entities
Industrial Finance Corporation of Mauritius (Equity) Ltd (Previously known as “SME Equity Fund”)
Mr Ahmad Mazahir Koussa
Background and experience
Mr Koussa is responsible for helping to define, set and manage both financial and non-financial risks across the Group and ensuring the risk framework remains effective.
Before joining SBM Holdings Ltd, he served as Vice President of Group Risk Management at First Abu Dhabi Bank for their global Corporate and Investment Banking division. Prior to that, he oversaw the Risk Management function of the Wealth and Investment segment of Barclays DIFC in the UAE. His former appointments include working at senior management levels in the risk and governance areas of Standard Bank Group and Barclays Capital. He started his career with a Big 4 firm in London as an auditor.
Qualifications
• Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA, ICAEW)
• BA (Econ) Hons in Accounting and Finance – University of Manchester, UK
Mr Neelesh Sharma Sawoky
Background and experience
Mr Sawoky joined the SBM Group as Head of Internal Audit in February 2015. He is a seasoned professional with more than 24 years in the banking and financial sector, of which over 15 years of expertise in leading the Internal Audit function of various banks. He has led audits both locally and overseas. Over the years, he has also been instrumental in establishing high performing Internal Audit Teams within several banking institutions. Mr Sawoky is an avid supporter of data analytics and technology to support audit work and besides the internal audit function, he also oversees the Investigation Team of SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd and handles the responsibilities of the Internal Audit function of SBM Holdings Ltd simultaneously.
Qualifications
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA)
• Fellow of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK (FCCA)
• Master of Business Administration, University of Derby, UK
Mrs Rita-Devi Persand Gujadhur
Background and experience
Mrs Gujadhur is a seasoned banker with a long career spanning over 35 years at SBM. She joined the Trade Finance Department in 1988, where she spent 9 years and acquired a full insight of the trade finance operations. She has from then on assumed various positions of increasing responsibilities in the bank within the International Banking Division and as Head of Value-Based Performance Management, Head of Operations Centre & Trade Finance and also as Head of Strategy & Data Analytics. Mrs Gujadhur has been an active member in various key forums like Operational Risk Forum, Management Credit Forum, Portfolio Credit Forum, Asset and Liability Management Committee, Capital Allocation & Planning Committee and Group Executive Forum and she has also been involved in the implementation of major IT projects within the bank.
Qualifications
• MBA – Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh Business School, UK
• Diploma in Business Management – Surrey European Management School, University of Surrey, UK
Mr Jaswant Rao (Nuvin) Balloo
Background and experience
Mr Balloo is a seasoned professional with around 17 years of experience in the banking and financial services sector. After obtaining his Master of Economics from the University of Sydney, Australia, he worked as an Economic Advisor at KPMG Mauritius, where he participated in influential projects and studies for private and public sector clients operating locally and abroad. He then joined a leading banking and financial services player where he acted as the Deputy Head of the Strategy, Research and Development department as well as the Lead Economist. There, he took part in a wide range of high-profile projects and assignments that closely contributed to the sound and sustained growth of the organisation in Mauritius and across the African continent, alongside helping to strengthen its goodwill vis-à-vis stakeholders.
Qualifications
• Master of Economics – University of Sydney, Australia
• BSc Economics – University of Mauritius
MR AKSHAY FAUGOO
Background and experience
Mr Faugoo has over 20 years of experience in the banking and financial services, and technology sectors. Before joining SBM Holdings Ltd, he was the Head of Transformation at Bank One Ltd, where he led the bank’s transformation through an ambitious programme consisting of channels revamp, process digitalisation, data, fintech and innovation.
Prior to that, Mr Faugoo worked at MCB Ltd where he was instrumental in setting up the bank’s digital transformation programme and had the responsibility of customer journey transformation as part of their digital agenda.
He started his career and lived in Singapore for several years, where he worked as a consultant in the telecommunications and technology sectors with reputable organisations such as Siemens and Accenture.
Qualifications
• Master’s Degree in Strategy and Organisational Consulting – Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris, France
• Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology with Business – National University of Singapore
• Fintech Certificate – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA