CAIRO, Mar 16 – AfrexInsure has appointed Lesley Ndlovu as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a leadership transition as the company moves into its next phase of development.
Ndlovu will assume the role in 2026, succeeding Jonas Mushosho.
AfrexInsure operates as the specialty insurance arm of African Export-Import Bank and focuses on providing insurance solutions designed to support trade and trade-related investments across Africa.
The leadership appointment comes at a time when the company is expanding its role in delivering risk mitigation tools for cross-border trade and investment across the continent.
Ndlovu, a Zimbabwean national, brings extensive experience from the global insurance industry, having previously held senior roles at institutions including AXA Specialty, African Risk Capacity and AXIS Capital.
During his career, he has led multidisciplinary teams focused on complex specialty risk segments, including the development of insurance products designed for high-risk and emerging markets.
His experience in underwriting governance, regulatory compliance and operational leadership is expected to support AfrexInsure as it transitions from its start-up phase into a scaling stage of growth.
The company aims to develop insurance solutions tailored to Africa’s evolving trade landscape, where businesses often face limited access to risk coverage and rely heavily on offshore markets for underwriting and reinsurance.
By strengthening local insurance capacity, AfrexInsure seeks to support trade transactions while retaining a greater share of insurance premiums within the continent.
Commenting on his appointment, Ndlovu said AfrexInsure plays a strategic role in addressing one of Africa’s persistent barriers to trade: the shortage of sophisticated and well-capitalised risk mitigation solutions anchored within the region.
He added that the company’s mission is to support Africa’s economic transformation by strengthening insurance frameworks that enable cross-border commerce and investment.
George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, said the appointment reflects the institution’s confidence in Ndlovu’s ability to advance AfrexInsure’s mandate.
Elombi noted that expanding local insurance capacity will help manage risks associated with trade while ensuring that insurance premiums generated by African transactions remain within the continent.
As African economies pursue industrialisation, value addition and deeper regional trade integration, specialty insurance is expected to play an increasingly important role in de-risking large-scale investments and attracting capital into strategic sectors.
