NICO Holdings Plc., seeks to engage a Deputy Group Managing Director. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to Group-wide strategic leadership, performance transformation, and long-term value creation within a leading financial services group. It is a newly created role that forms part of the succession plan for the post of Group Managing Director. However, the expected eventual appointment of the Deputy Group Managing Director to the position of Group Managing Director will depend on the Board’s assessment of the candidate’s aptitude, skills and performance during his or her tenure as Deputy Group Managing Director. The position is tenable in Blantyre, Malawi.

ABOUT NICO HOLDINGS PLC.

NICO Holdings Plc. (hereinafter referred to as “The NICO Group”, or the Group), is a diversified financial services group with operations in Malawi and Zambia, and a presence in Mozambique and Uganda through its associate relationship with Sanlam. NICO was the first company to be listed on the Malawi Stock Exchange in 1996 and has since listed two of its subsidiaries, NBS Bank Plc and ICON Properties Plc. The Group’s diversified portfolio includes business lines in: General Insurance; Life Insurance; Pension Administration; Banking; Asset Management; Property Solutions; and Information Technology.Malawi career insights

NICO Group is committed to building a high-performing, innovative, and values-driven organization anchored in its ONE NICO philosophy.

THE DEPUTY GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR

The Deputy Group Managing Director will work closely with the Group Managing Director and the Board in shaping and executing the strategic direction of the Group. The role is responsible for supporting enterprise-wide leadership, strengthening performance across the Group’s portfolio, driving strategic alignment across subsidiaries, and championing a high-performance culture.

The successful candidate will contribute at both strategic and operational levels, support Board-level engagement, and help position the Group for sustainable growth and long-term value creation in a dynamic financial services environment.

Responsibilities or duties

Strategic Mandate, Leadership and Execution

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Group Managing Director in advancing the long-term ambitions of the Group. The role will be expected to:
• Support the refinement of the Group’s strategic agenda, and drive execution of Group-wide initiatives that enhance growth, profitability, and long-term shareholder value.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear execution plans across the Group’s business units and subsidiaries.
• Provide leadership in identifying new opportunities for growth, and evaluation of emerging business opportunities.
• Promote collaboration across subsidiaries to unlock synergies and strengthen Group competitiveness.
• Manage strategic initiatives, and joint-venture partnerships.
• Promote organizational alignment and embed the ONE NICO philosophy across the Group.

Group Performance and Business Oversight

• Support oversight of business operations across the Group through the Executive Team and subsidiary leadership, to strengthen operational effectiveness and business performance, and alignment with overall strategic direction.
• Play a key role in development and use of robust key performance indicators, Group-wide performance dashboards; and facilitate business discussions and decisions using data-driven insights.
• Monitor performance against annual, mid, and long-term business plans.
• Strengthen performance, accountability and value creation across subsidiaries.
• Monitor customer satisfaction and proactively manage emerging trends and changing needs.

Leadership, Culture and Human Capital Development

• Support the development of a strong, cohesive and high-performing executive leadership culture across the Group.
• Champion the ONE NICO philosophy by promoting collaboration, shared values, and alignment across subsidiaries.
• Drive leadership development, accountability, succession depth, and performance management across the Group.

Governance, Risk and Stakeholder Management

• Support the Group Managing Director and the Board in maintaining high standards of governance, ethics, and corporate stewardship.
• Ensure that risk management and compliance practices are embedded across the Group in line with Board-approved frameworks.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regulators, shareholders, and other key stakeholders.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

A first degree from a recognized institution.

A relevant postgraduate degree in business administration, finance, management, or a related field, strongly preferred.

Relevant professional qualification in business administration, finance, management, or a related field.

Experience needed

At least 10–15 years’ relevant work experience, preferably within the financial services sector or a similarly complex corporate environment.

Proven track record in strategy development and execution, business transformation, and leadership of complex organizations.

Strong commercial acumen and understanding of corporate governance, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Strategic and commercial insight.
• Affable, firm but approachable; decisive/resolute; conviction to deliver on commitments.
• Strong execution discipline and results orientation.
• Strong leadership presence and sound judgment.
• High integrity and personal credibility.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building capability.
• Ability to lead change and influence across complex organizational settings.

THE NICO GROUP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

The NICO Group has a long-standing policy of providing equal opportunity in employment to all qualified persons without regard to race, colour, religion, national origin, sex, or disability.

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Group Managing Director in advancing the long-term ambitions of the Group.
• Support the refinement of the Group’s strategic agenda, and drive execution of Group-wide initiatives that enhance growth, profitability, and long-term shareholder value.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear execution plans across the Group’s business units and subsidiaries.
• Provide leadership in identifying new opportunities for growth, and evaluation of emerging business opportunities.
• Promote collaboration across subsidiaries to unlock synergies and strengthen Group competitiveness.
• Manage strategic initiatives, and joint-venture partnerships.
• Promote organizational alignment and embed the ONE NICO philosophy across the Group.
• Support oversight of business operations across the Group through the Executive Team and subsidiary leadership, to strengthen operational effectiveness and business performance, and alignment with overall strategic direction.
• Play a key role in development and use of robust key performance indicators, Group-wide performance dashboards; and facilitate business discussions and decisions using data-driven insights.
• Monitor performance against annual, mid, and long-term business plans.
• Strengthen performance, accountability and value creation across subsidiaries.
• Monitor customer satisfaction and proactively manage emerging trends and changing needs.
• Support the development of a strong, cohesive and high-performing executive leadership culture across the Group.
• Champion the ONE NICO philosophy by promoting collaboration, shared values, and alignment across subsidiaries.
• Drive leadership development, accountability, succession depth, and performance management across the Group.
• Support the Group Managing Director and the Board in maintaining high standards of governance, ethics, and corporate stewardship.
• Ensure that risk management and compliance practices are embedded across the Group in line with Board-approved frameworks.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regulators, shareholders, and other key stakeholders.

• Strategic and commercial insight.
• Affable, firm but approachable; decisive/resolute; conviction to deliver on commitments.
• Strong execution discipline and results orientation.
• Strong leadership presence and sound judgment.
• High integrity and personal credibility.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building capability.
• Ability to lead change and influence across complex organizational settings.
• Strategy development and execution.
• Business transformation.
• Leadership of complex organizations.
• Commercial acumen.
• Understanding of corporate governance, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.

• A first degree from a recognized institution.
• A relevant postgraduate degree in business administration, finance, management, or a related field, strongly preferred.
• Relevant professional qualification in business administration, finance, management, or a related field.