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RISPER ALARO
GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR – CENTUM INVESTMENT PLC
As Group Finance Director at Centum Investment PLC and a mother to two teenagers, Risper Alaro masterfully balances the responsibilities of her family with her role at East Africa’s leading investment firm. Her approach to leadership is rooted in empathy, which is evident not only in the way she navigates the corporate landscape but also in her dedication to mentoring and coaching others.
Centum’s diversified investment portfolio is currently valued at Ksh 48 billion. Risper’s role involves ensuring the financial health of the company, providing strategic oversight, and implementing financial controls to safeguard Centum’s portfolio. In this role, Risper leverages her exceptional skills in financial management and operations to ensure that the company remains a leader in the East African investment sector space.
One of Risper’s strengths is her ability to guide organisations through periods of growth and transformation. At Centum, she has successfully led the structuring of various debt and equity financing deals, including the issuance of a $49 million bond – the largest private placement in the history of Kenyan capital markets at the time, marking a significant achievement for both Centum and the broader financial community.
Before rising to her current role, Risper held various positions within Centum, building a reputation as a financial expert with a strong grasp of operational efficiency. For instance, as Managing Director (MD) of Centum Business Solutions, she played a key role in establishing and leading a subsidiary that offered integrated services such as financial management, tax, human capital, and technology solutions to Centum’s subsidiaries. She developed a team of 30 specialists and under her guidance, the subsidiary thrived, contributing to the operational efficiency of the Centum Group, reinforcing her status as a transformative leader.
Risper serves on the boards of various companies, which further cements her standing in the business world. As a Non-Executive director at the Bank of Kigali, she is a key player in the bank’s audit and governance functions. Her current roles at the NSE and as Vice Chairperson of Kenya Climate Ventures (KCV), along with her past position at Population Services Kenya (PSK), have allowed her to extend her leadership and financial expertise across diverse sectors. At KCV, she continues to focus on sustainability and innovative solutions with positive climate impact.
As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and a Certified Mentor Coach, Risper is passionate about helping business executives and entrepreneurs navigate critical inflection points in their personal and professional leadership journeys. This passion is an extension of her human-centric approach to leadership, where she values people as much as she values financial success.
Risper holds a Master’s degree in International Business Administration (MBA) from the United States International University – Africa (USIU-A) and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Moi University. Her professional qualifications include being a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and a Member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).
Risper’s professional journey is one of resilience, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Her journey, she says, is one that has been constantly under the guidance, cover and grace of God.
Away from work, Risper enjoys spending time with her family, which she describes as her grounding force. Her ability to balance her family life with a demanding career is a testament to her productivity. She is passionate about reading and continuous learning, always seeking new ways to enrich both her personal and professional life. She loves swimming, yoga and listening to music.
