InstinctBusiness CEO of the Week: Obedi Laiser, CEO/MD , Absa Bank Tanzania.

With over 20 years of progressive leadership in finance and banking, Obedi Laiser currently serves as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Absa Bank Tanzania. Based in Dar es Salaam, he is responsible for the bank’s overall strategy formulation and execution, steering the organization toward sustainable growth.

Laiser oversees key areas such as financial planning, budgeting, and analysis, while ensuring accurate financial reporting and regulatory compliance. Additionally, he leads the optimization of operational and capital expenditures, tax planning, and the enforcement of strong internal controls. As Deputy CEO and a vital member of the Country Management Committee, he provides strategic counsel on major decisions and plays a pivotal role in driving the bank’s risk management framework and long-term vision alongside the Board.

Prior to his current role, Laiser served as Executive Director of Finance at Absa Bank Tanzania. In this capacity, he managed the bank’s financial operations, delivering precise reporting and projections, and advising both the CEO and Board on financial strategy and compliance. His leadership in strengthening internal controls significantly contributed to the bank’s resilience and performance.

Beyond the banking sector, he was appointed as a Board Trustee of the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund (EAMCEF). In this role, he represents the business community and offers strategic governance oversight to support biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource use, and community development initiatives in Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains. He brings extensive board governance and administrative experience to advance the Trust Fund’s mission.

Laiser held the position of Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer at Barclays, also based in Dar es Salaam. He led financial strategy, reporting, and risk management, playing a critical role in strategic planning and cost optimization. He often stepped in as Deputy CEO and supported the Board with oversight responsibilities, contributing to regulatory compliance and organizational direction.

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Earlier in his career, Laiser worked at Millicom (Tigo) as Head of Finance and Risk – Mobile Financial Services. During his tenure, he earned the Global Millicommander Finance Award (2014) for exceptional contributions to finance and internal controls. He was instrumental in designing and rolling out the globally adopted Mobile Financial Services Risk and Control Matrix and developed core policies and procedures that enhanced risk assessment and fraud controls.

His professional journey began at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he held various roles over nearly a decade. He served as Audit and Assurance Manager in both Dar es Salaam and London, where he led audits for prominent financial institutions like Barclays Capital, Lloyds Bank, and CIT Group. Notably, he earned a two-year secondment to PwC London’s Banking and Capital Markets Group based on outstanding performance. His audit team was recognized by clients as “Audit Team of the Year” for exemplary service delivery.

Before this, he worked as Audit Manager and Senior Auditor, during which he conducted high-impact audits in sectors such as banking, manufacturing, and telecommunications. He was twice promoted within a year and became the youngest Audit Manager in PwC Tanzania’s history at the time. His career began as an Associate Auditor, focusing on auditing financial statements, fixed assets, payroll, and cash balances. He distinguished himself early by earning the ACCA certification in just 1.5 years—a rare feat in the profession.

InstinctBusiness Magazine’s recognition celebrates top-performing executives globally, honouring exceptional leadership, innovation, and transformative impact across diverse industries.