Board of Directors

Leonard Kitoka (Tanzanian) is the current Chairman of Victoria Finance Plc. He is also a founder and Managing Director of INNOVEX and also a founding member of ADC Rwanda and ADC Tanzania. With 28 years of work and life experience in Africa, Leonard specializes in Strategy, Governance and Public Financial Management (PFM).He played a pivotal role in promoting corporate governance in Tanzania especially in establishment of the Institute of Directors in Tanzania, where he is a shareholder and one of the first directors. Leonard serves on several boards in Tanzania, often in both public and private organizations. His career history includes positions with UNDP in Rwanda, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Afro Aid Development Consultants, Coopers and Lybrand, and the University of Dar es Salaam. Leonard is a CPA in Public Practice, an Accredited European Excellence Assessor,a Certified Project Manager. He holds an MBA and B.Com(Finance),Post Graduate Diploma in Poverty Analysis and Advanced Leadership Diploma in Project Management.

Rose Funja (Tanzanian) Rose Funja current the Vice Chairperson of the Board and Chairperson of Board Finance, Human Resource & Admin Committee. She is a distinguished entrepreneur and engineer with over 16 years of experience in digital technology. As the Founder and Managing Director of AltitudeX Limited, she specializes in utilizing drone and data technologies to provide decision support across the telecommunications, energy, and agriculture sectors. Her professional experience includes roles at Huawei International and Impact Hub. Rose holds a master's degree in communications and information systems, as well as a diploma in Artificial Intelligence. She has been recognized as a 2020/21 Tutu Fellow, a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow, and an IVLP-2019 alumna. Additionally, Rose serves on the boards of Victoria Finance PLC, the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO), and Advanced Air Mobility Liaison. She is also the author of the bestselling book "Drone Professional 3."

Patrick Malewo (Tanzanian) is currently serving as Secretary to the Board. He is the Advocate of High Court of Tanzania with practical experience in handling legal and corporate affairs. Patrick is a Legal Practitioner in corporate legal counselling. He spent more than twenty years in Banking serving as head of legal for Bank of Africa and Commercial Bank of Africa. Prior to joining the banking fraternity, Patrick was Head of Sales for New Africa Hotel. He is currently an Advocate with Jundu & Adadi Co. Advocates.

Ms. Farida Kangesa (Tanzanian) For the past 17 years, Ms. Farida Kangesa has been excelling as a dedicated and dependable business person. She is a Non-Executive Director at VFP and Victoria Insurance Brokers Limited and Promotion Branding, one of the leading promotion and branding companies in Tanzania. Her background (Masters in Business Administration (Finance), and BCom in Finance; both from the University of Dar-es-Salaam), and her training (Certificate of Risk & Internal Controls in Financial Institutions from the Mefmi Institute Lesotho, and Certificate in Directorship from the Institute of Directors Tanzania). Prior to founding Milestone International, she was a bank officer at the Bank of Tanzania. She is the current managing director at Milestone International, a major supplier of advertising, corporate gifts, and promotional items in Tanzania.

Abel Kaseko (Tanzanian) Abel is a Non-Executive Director of VFP and serves in Board Credit Committee and Board Audit & Risk Committee. He is currently the Head of Products and Sales at NBC Tanzania Limited. He is the business leader and Certified PRINCE 2 Practitioner with more than ten years’ experience. Abel specializes in E- Government, E- commerce, Mobile and SMS Banking, Information Technology, IT Risk, Analysis; Project planning, project management, systems analysis and software development. Academically Abel possess a Master’s of Science in Information and Technology Avinashilingam Deemed University (ADU, India) Bachelor of Science with Computer Science, majoring in Information Science, Economics and Statistics at University of DSM.

Robert Boniface Butambala (Tanzanian) is a Non-Executive Director of VFP and Chairman of the Board Audit and Risk Committee and member of Board Finance, Human Resources & Administration Committee. He has over 18 years of experience in a wide range of disciplines including management, accounting, quality management and leadership. Academically, he is an MBA, and B. Com Accounting graduate.

Dr Ibrahim Mwangalaba (Tanzanian) is a Non Executive Director. He is the immediate past Managing Director, Secretary & Executive Director at Maendeleo Bank PLC.He is also a Member of the Marketing Association at the University of Dar-Es-Salaam, a Member of The Tanzania Institute of Bankers, and a Member of the Institute of Directors in Tanzania Plc. Previously, he worked as a Marketing Officer & Stock Controller at Mbeya Cement Co., Ltd. and as the Head of Operations & Technology at KCB Tanzania Ltd. Board Membership include Maendeleo Bank and Dar Tumaini University . He holds Bcom (Marketing), MBA, Certificate in Directorship

Deusdedit Rutazaa (Tanzanian) is a Non Executive Director . He is a certified public accountant in practice, with over 30 years of working experience in the fields of strategic management, accounting, financial management, planning, investment, administration and international business. His immediate past roles include the Director of Operations (Growth & International Segment) and head of international business at SF Group of Companies. He worked in a number of companies and organizations including Bravo Logistic as Chief Finance Officer, Green Waste Pro Ltd and Imara Horizon Company Limited as the Managing Director, NHIF as Director of Finance, Planning & Investment, Zonal Director and Chief Accountant where he played a vital role during inception and growth of the Fund and at NSSF as Treasury Manager and Head of Pensions. His Board membership includes that of EFC Microfinance Bank, Bukoba Investment Group, Bukoba Microfinance Limited and DCB Commercial Bank. He holds Bcom (accounting), MBA (finance), CPA(T), Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management, Diploma in Projects Management and a Certified Directors with IoDT.

Sylvester Orao (Tanzanian) is a Non-Executive Director of Victoria Finance Plc and HakiElimu. He is a Partner at ABA Alliance, a Professional Firm in Tanzania offering Audit, Tax and Advisory Services. His career started at PricewaterhouseCooopers (1999 -2003); KPMG Tanzania (2003 – 2006); KPMG Channel Islands in United Kingdom (2006 – 2008); Ernst & Young Tanzania (2008 -2009) where he successfully rose through the ranks to Senior Manager Level before founding ABA Alliance. Sylvester holds BA (Hons) Degree from University of Dar es Salaam (1999). He is also an Associate Certified Public Accountant in Public Practice (ACPA-PP 1678) and Certified Information Systems Auditor - CISA (2002). He holds a Certificate of Directorship (2022) from the Institute of Directors in Tanzania (IoDT).