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GLADYS KARURI
CFO – ATIDI
In recent years, women have shattered glass ceilings in industries once dominated by men. Nowhere is this more evident than in the world of finance, where powerful female leaders are steering companies to new heights, driving innovation, and redefining leadership. These trailblazers are reshaping the corporate landscape by blending strategic acumen with human-centric leadership. One such figure is Gladys Muthoni Karuri, a distinguished name in the finance industry, whose journey is both inspiring and impactful.
Gladys currently serves as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Africa Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), a multilateral insurer that plays a critical role in enabling trade and investment across Africa. With capital exceeding USD 700 million and a gross exposure of $ 9.6 billion, her responsibilities are immense. She oversees financial controls, digital transformation strategies, and operational efficiency for an organisation that continues to deliver exceptional results. In 2023 alone, ATIDI recorded profits of $69 million.
In her role, Gladys directly supervises the heads of finance, IT, procurement, and administration, ensuring that the entire organisation runs like a well-oiled machine. Her oversight focuses on how technology and operational efficiency can be optimised to meet the ever-growing demands of the global trade landscape.
Before joining ATIDI, Gladys was a key figure at Britam Holdings PLC, one of East Africa’s largest financial services groups. As Principal Executive Director, her tenure was marked by consistent profit growth, operational excellence, and customer service innovations.
In her previous roles at Britam, she was responsible for strategy, finance, and operations, overseeing critical areas such as capital management, business reporting, brand development, and human resource (HR) management. Notably, she spearheaded the implementation of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that revolutionised the way Britam interacted with its clients, enabling cross-selling and up-selling opportunities. Her leadership in this area laid the groundwork for direct selling through mobile apps and customer portals, significantly enhancing the customer experience.
Gladys began her illustrious career in finance as a Senior Manager with the Assurance and Business Advisory division at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Over the course of nine years, she gained invaluable experience, spending seven years in Kenya before broadening her global perspective with two years in the UK. This foundational phase of her career at PwC equipped her with a deep understanding of financial assurance, strategic advisory, and the intricacies of the international financial landscape, setting the stage for her future leadership roles in the industry.
Gladys holds an Advanced Management Program (AMP) certification from Harvard Business School, where she honed her skills in leadership, innovation, and global business strategies. She also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Warwick Business School in the UK. Her academic background, combined with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Nairobi (UoN), and her qualification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), reflects her commitment to continuous learning and professional excellence.
In recognition of her achievements, Gladys was honoured as one of the Business Insurance Women to Watch (EMEA) 2018.
What sets Gladys apart is her people-centric approach to leadership. She is passionate about fostering innovation, empowering teams, and driving business transformation. At Britam, she led initiatives to develop a sustainable talent pipeline by introducing a graduate training program across all the company’s operational regions. Her focus on learning and career development through the Britam Learning and Innovation Center has left a lasting impact on the organisation’s culture.
Gladys’ leadership style is defined by her ability to balance operational excellence with a deep understanding of human capital. She has consistently demonstrated that strong financial performance and people development are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary pillars of long-term success.
Outside the corporate world, Gladys is a voracious reader and an avid traveller. These interests reflect her curiosity and openness to new ideas. Her global perspective, cultivated through her education and professional experiences in Kenya, the UK, and across Africa, equips her with the tools to navigate the complexities of today’s interconnected world.
As women continue to make strides in finance, leaders like Gladys Karuri remind us that the future of this industry is in capable and transformative hands.
