Staff Writer 
AFREXINSURE, the wholly-owned speciality insurance subsidiary of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has appointed Lesley Ndlovu as chief executive, as the group moves to strengthen its capacity to underwrite trade and investment risks across Africa.
Ndlovu replaces Jonas Mushosho. His appointment comes at a critical point for AfrexInsure as it advances its mission to provide tailored speciality insurance solutions for trade and trade-related investments.
As the organisation builds momentum in its development, strong executive leadership is essential to guide governance, regulatory compliance, innovation, risk management, and market positioning.
Afreximbank said Ndlovu brings to AfrexInsure a distinguished career spanning some of the world’s leading insurance institutions, including AXA Specialty, African Risk Capacity (ARC), and AXIS Capital.
It added that his appointment introduces a unique blend of technical expertise, global market insight, and operational leadership precisely forged to support AfrexInsure’s transformation.
Throughout his career, Ndlovu has led multidisciplinary teams in high-stakes environments where robust governance and disciplined underwriting are fundamental to sustainable performance.
At AXA Specialty, he developed market-responsive products addressing complex specialty risk segments, an experience that will prove invaluable as AfrexInsure designs differentiated solutions for Africa’s evolving trade landscape.
This strategic leadership appointment marks a pivotal moment in the company’s evolution from its start-up phase into a dynamic scale-up stage, positioning it to deliver enhanced trade and investment risk mitigation solutions across Africa.
Trade flows across Africa continue to face constraints from limited risk capacity, high insurance costs, and reliance on offshore markets for underwriting and reinsurance.
This appointment reinforces AfrexInsure’s strategic role as a critical pillar within the broader Afreximbank Group ecosystem, complementing the array of Afreximbank’s product offerings.
Ndlovusaid he was honoured to assume the role of chief executive at AfrexInsure at this transformative juncture in the company’s journey.
“AfrexInsure represents far more than an insurance subsidiary; it embodies a strategic imperative to address one of Africa’s most persistent trade barriers: the scarcity of sophisticated, well-capitalised risk mitigation solutions anchored on the continent,” he said.
“I extend my gratitude to Afreximbank’s leadership and the AfrexInsure Board of Directors for their confidence in this appointment. Together, we will ensure that AfrexInsure becomes a cornerstone of Africa’s trade ecosystem, supporting the continent’s economic transformation one risk solution at a time,” he added.
Speaking on Ndlovu’s appointment, George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, stated:
“With a solid track record in speciality insurance and commitment to Africa’s economic transformation, we are confident that Lesley will advance the mandate of AfrexInsure – managing risks associated with trade through local capacity with an aim to retain premiums within the continent.”
Amid global uncertainty and as the continent moves towards processing/value addition and industrialisation, speciality insurance will play a critical role in de-risking strategic investments and attracting capital to sectors critical for Africa’s socio-economic development.
