JOB DESCRIPTION – CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Position: Chief Executive Officer

Reports to: Group Chief Executive Officer

Department: Management

Location: Blantyre

Company Overview

Swift Capital Growth Partners Ltd is a non-deposit-taking microfinance institution licensed to operate in Malawi. The Company is at an early stage of its institutional development, with a strategic focus on technology, inclusive lending, structured credit solutions, and partnerships that expand access to finance for individuals, SMEs, and emerging enterprises.

As a growing institution, Swift Capital is in the process of establishing and strengthening its governance frameworks, management structures, operating policies, and risk management systems to support sustainable growth and regulatory compliance.

The Company is entering a critical phase of build-out and expansion, requiring strong executive leadership to translate its vision into a fully functioning, well-governed financial institution.

Accordingly, the Board seeks to appoint an experienced and hands-on Chief Executive Officer to lead the institutional setup, develop the management team, implement robust governance and control frameworks, and drive the Company’s transition from an early-stage operation to a scalable and sustainable microfinance business.

Role Purpose

The Chief Executive Officer will provide overall strategic leadership, executive management, and hands-on operational oversight of Swift Capital Growth Partners Ltd. Reporting to the Group Managing Director and the Board, the CEO will be accountable for establishing and executing the Company’s strategic direction, leading the build-out of governance, management, and control frameworks, and driving the growth and sustainability of the business.

The CEO will play a pivotal role in institutionalising the organisation, strengthening risk management and compliance structures, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements, and developing a high-performing management team. This role requires a seasoned and entrepreneurial leader with deep experience in financial services and lending operations, capable of operating effectively in an early-stage environment while laying the foundation for long-term scale and performance.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Strategic Planning & Implementation

• Provide overall strategic leadership and direction for Swift Capital Growth Partners Ltd, ensuring alignment with the Board’s vision, approved strategy, and long-term sustainability objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, and pursue profitable business opportunities to drive institutional growth and shareholder value
• Lead the design, implementation, monitoring, and review of corporate strategies and business plans
• Provide strategic and operational advice to the Board on improving performance, efficiency, and competitiveness
• Develop, implement, and enforce sound operational policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Collaborate closely with departmental heads to ensure continuity, scalability, and sustainability of business operations
• Identify staffing requirements, assess skills gaps, and lead workforce planning and capacity development initiatives
• Source, structure, and grow core business capital to support lending activities and expansion plans
• Oversee effective resource planning, allocation, and utilization across the institution
• Lead the strategic expansion of branches and agent networks nationwide
• Champion technological innovation and digital transformation to enhance efficiency, outreach, and customer experience

Operational Management

• Provide executive oversight of day-to-day operations across all business units
• Monitor departmental performance to ensure compliance with approved policies, procedures, and service standards
• Lead, coach, mentor, and supervise senior management and staff to uphold professionalism and ethical conduct
• Foster high staff morale, accountability, and a performance-driven organizational culture
• Oversee budgeting, financial controls, and cost management to ensure prudence and profitability
• Develop and implement staff incentive and performance management frameworks
• Enforce operational discipline, effective time management, and adherence to the company code of conduct
• Ensure the preparation and submission of timely, accurate management and Board reports
• Coordinate Board and committee meetings and ensure adherence to approved governance calendars

Compliance, Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and supervisory requirements, including those of the Reserve Bank of Malawi
• Oversee the preparation and submission of statutory and regulatory reports to the Reserve Bank of Malawi and other relevant authorities
• Establish, strengthen, and continuously improve risk management frameworks and internal controls
• Develop and implement contingency and business continuity plans to mitigate operational, financial, and strategic risks
• Regularly review and improve operational processes to enhance efficiency and reduce exposure to risk
• Develop, review, update, and enforce company policies in line with regulatory and governance requirements

Business Growth & Institutional Development

• Oversee the establishment of new branches and expansion of agent networks in line with approved growth plans
• Drive strong brand visibility and market presence through effective marketing and stakeholder engagement initiatives
• Ensure sustainable profitability through effective revenue growth and cost management strategies
• Lead growth across all income-generating business units while maintaining asset quality
• Build and sustain a strong leadership pipeline within the institution
• Prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports, budgets, and forecasts to the Board of Directors

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a related field
• A Master’s degree or relevant professional qualification will be a strong advantage
• Minimum of 10 years’ senior management experience in financial services, microfinance, banking, or lending institutions
• Proven experience as a CEO, General Manager, or Senior Executive with full P&L responsibility
• Strong understanding of credit, lending products, portfolio management, and financial risk
• Demonstrated knowledge of regulatory requirements and supervisory expectations, including Reserve Bank of Malawi regulations
• Excellent leadership, strategic thinking, and stakeholder engagement skills
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment

Personal Attributes

• Strategic and results-oriented leader
• Strong commercial acumen and decision-making ability
• Resilient, ethical, and capable of leading in a fast-growing environment
• Effective communicator with the ability to engage at Board and executive level

• Provide overall strategic leadership and direction for Swift Capital Growth Partners Ltd, ensuring alignment with the Board’s vision, approved strategy, and long-term sustainability objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, and pursue profitable business opportunities to drive institutional growth and shareholder value
• Lead the design, implementation, monitoring, and review of corporate strategies and business plans
• Provide strategic and operational advice to the Board on improving performance, efficiency, and competitiveness
• Develop, implement, and enforce sound operational policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Collaborate closely with departmental heads to ensure continuity, scalability, and sustainability of business operations
• Identify staffing requirements, assess skills gaps, and lead workforce planning and capacity development initiatives
• Source, structure, and grow core business capital to support lending activities and expansion plans
• Oversee effective resource planning, allocation, and utilization across the institution
• Lead the strategic expansion of branches and agent networks nationwide
• Champion technological innovation and digital transformation to enhance efficiency, outreach, and customer experience
• Provide executive oversight of day-to-day operations across all business units
• Monitor departmental performance to ensure compliance with approved policies, procedures, and service standards
• Lead, coach, mentor, and supervise senior management and staff to uphold professionalism and ethical conduct
• Foster high staff morale, accountability, and a performance-driven organizational culture
• Oversee budgeting, financial controls, and cost management to ensure prudence and profitability
• Develop and implement staff incentive and performance management frameworks
• Enforce operational discipline, effective time management, and adherence to the company code of conduct
• Ensure the preparation and submission of timely, accurate management and Board reports
• Coordinate Board and committee meetings and ensure adherence to approved governance calendars
• Ensure full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and supervisory requirements, including those of the Reserve Bank of Malawi
• Oversee the preparation and submission of statutory and regulatory reports to the Reserve Bank of Malawi and other relevant authorities
• Establish, strengthen, and continuously improve risk management frameworks and internal controls
• Develop and implement contingency and business continuity plans to mitigate operational, financial, and strategic risks
• Regularly review and improve operational processes to enhance efficiency and reduce exposure to risk
• Develop, review, update, and enforce company policies in line with regulatory and governance requirements
• Oversee the establishment of new branches and expansion of agent networks in line with approved growth plans
• Drive strong brand visibility and market presence through effective marketing and stakeholder engagement initiatives
• Ensure sustainable profitability through effective revenue growth and cost management strategies
• Lead growth across all income-generating business units while maintaining asset quality
• Build and sustain a strong leadership pipeline within the institution
• Prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports, budgets, and forecasts to the Board of Directors

• Leadership
• Strategic thinking
• Stakeholder engagement
• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Sound judgment
• Commercial acumen
• Decision-making ability
• Resilience
• Ethical conduct
• Effective communication
• Financial services experience
• Lending operations experience
• Risk management
• Compliance
• Technological innovation
• Digital transformation

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a related field
• A Master’s degree or relevant professional qualification will be a strong advantage
• Minimum of 10 years’ senior management experience in financial services, microfinance, banking, or lending institutions
• Proven experience as a CEO, General Manager, or Senior Executive with full P&L responsibility
• Strong understanding of credit, lending products, portfolio management, and financial risk
• Demonstrated knowledge of regulatory requirements and supervisory expectations, including Reserve Bank of Malawi regulations