We are a start-up microfinance money lender in Uganda that aims to provide financial services to the underbanked and unbanked through the provision of lending facilities ranging from micro loans for individuals and micro businesses, to business loans for small and medium sized businesses.
John is the Founder & Executive Chairman of Azima Financial Services Limited.
John’s 30-years working experience spans Higher Education, Technology, Aviation, Telecoms, Financial Services and Electricity sectors in the UK, with stints in India, Spain and the USA.
John’s career started in 1993 at the University of Edinburgh Medical School, followed by stints at Mimtec Electronics, BT, Scottish & Southern Energy, Canada Life Financial Corporation and then for 17-years at ScottishPower. In January 2022, John joined the University of Stirling’s Division of Computing Science and Mathematics as a part-time academic before founding Azima Financial Services in April 2022.
John graduated from Brunel University in London in 1996 with a BSc. in Computer Science, and from University of Leicester in 2009 with a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Strategy & Finance) in 2009, and from the University of Stirling in 2020 with an MSc. in Financial Technology (FinTech) with Distinction and in 2021 with an MSc. in Artificial Intelligence (AI) also with Distinction.
Magdalene is the Managing Director of Azima Financial Services, in charge of day to day running of the company.
Magdalene's 20-years working experience spans commercial banking and customer service in Uganda and in the UK.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Management and Administration from Daystar University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Upon graduation, Magdalene joined Standard Chartered Bank (U) Ltd where she worked for 4-years, rising to become Head of Reconciliations ‘spearheading the reconciliations function’ to Chennai, India. She then worked for 3-years at Centenary Bank as the International Department’s Principal Reconciliations Officer.
From 2004 to 2010, Magdalene worked as a Customer Services Executive for several organisations in the UK.
In 2012 Magdalene joined Crane Bank as a Banking Officer, excelling to rise through the ranks to become a Branch Manager in 2016. Magdalene then joined DFCU Bank in 2017, getting recognition as one of the best performing Branch Managers in 2018 and 2019, before joining Azima Financial Services in November 2022.
Magdaline has trained in Line Management, Leadership and Customer Service through courses at the banks where she has worked.
Ritah is a Credit Analyst at Azima Financial Services Limited.
Ritah has 6-years of working experience in the Microfinance industry in Uganda.
Ritah previously worked for Deed Microfinance and Capital Solutions Financial Services before joining Azima Financial Services in September 2022.
Ritah graduated from Kyambogo University in Kampala, Uganda in 2015, with a BSc. in Procurement and Logistics Management.
Outside work, she loves watching movies.
Diana is a Credit Officer at Azima Financial Services Limited.
Diana has 8-years of working experience which has been spent in the Financial Services industry in Uganda.
Diana previously worked for the Mark Louise audit firm, ICEA, DFCU Bank, Kisenyi Vendors SACCO and True Africa before joining Azima Financial Services in September 2022.
Diana graduated from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda in 2014, with a BSc. in Economics.
Outside work, she loves spending time with her children.
Picky is the Office Manager at Azima Financial Services Limited.
Picky has 9-years of working experience spanning the Financial Services, Telecoms and the Third sector in Uganda.
Picky previously worked for the Airtel Uganda, Smile Communications Uganda, ABSA Bank Uganda and Show Mercy International before joining Azima Financial Services in September 2022.
Picky graduated from Uganda Christian University in Nkumba, Uganda in 2015 with a BSc. in Business Computing.
She is very passionate about her work and enjoys spending time with her family outside work.
Azima Financial Services aims to improve financial services accessibility in Uganda, by empowering the underbanked and unbanked, micro-businesses and small businesses through the provision of short-term financing to allow them to undertake utilitarian endeavours that are of importance to them.
We have ambitious plans to responsibly grow quickly and in the process create opportunities for our customers and opportunities for professional and personal growth for our forward thinking and like minded people with an entrepreneurial mindset.
