Meet the Team
Tomi
Director
Tomi is currently the Head of Innovation & Sustainability at Honeywell Group. Prior to joining Honeywell, Tomi was responsible for implementing integration activities for First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) across six African countries, setting up new structures and technology that has allowed the bank’s subsidiaries to successfully scale up. She has over 11 years’ experience in programme delivery, business consulting and investment management at IBM, Stanbic IBTC and FBN in the UK and Nigeria.
She is a fierce believer in the potential of African innovation and commerce and, she acts as a mentor and consultant for small businesses. Tomi believes truly successful businesses change lives and impact society.
She is a fierce believer in the potential of African innovation and commerce and, she acts as a mentor and consultant for small businesses. Tomi believes truly successful businesses change lives and impact society.
Charles
Adviser
Prior to joining Itanna as an adviser, Charles was the pioneer CEO of Verve International, Nigeria’s premier payment card brand, as well as a founding member of Interswitch. As Divisional CEO of Interswitch’s consumer business, he oversaw teams dealing with product development, handled partner negotiations, acquisition management and expansion into new markets. Before Interswitch, Charles worked with Accenture and PricewaterhouseCoopers in Nigeria, as well as American Express in the UK.
With over 15 years' experience, Charles is a tested and proven multi-disciplinary leader, entrepreneur and strategic innovator, having built and led teams towards achieving their technical and business goals; and is a revered key figure in Africa's burgeoning electronic and digital payments space.
He has a wide range of experience in international expansion, product development, solution design, application implementation, business process re-engineering as well as business strategy, which he hopes to channel into Itanna’s Cohorts. He believes that with the right mix of motivation, passion and dedication to continuous improvement, good things can come out of Africa.
With over 15 years' experience, Charles is a tested and proven multi-disciplinary leader, entrepreneur and strategic innovator, having built and led teams towards achieving their technical and business goals; and is a revered key figure in Africa's burgeoning electronic and digital payments space.
He has a wide range of experience in international expansion, product development, solution design, application implementation, business process re-engineering as well as business strategy, which he hopes to channel into Itanna’s Cohorts. He believes that with the right mix of motivation, passion and dedication to continuous improvement, good things can come out of Africa.
Francis
Senior Investment Analyst
Prior to joining Itanna, Francis worked as an analyst with Venture Garden Group, one of Nigeria’s leading tech companies. During this period, he worked as a business analyst on the implementation of the Government Enterprise Empowerment Program (GEEP)—a ₦114 billion social investment fund and the second largest microlending scheme in the world. His time there also saw him work as a risk and investment analyst. Francis has a background in accounting and finance, and he is very passionate about venture capital investing and its potential to transform the African economic landscape.