Dr Ben Karenzi is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for Reinsurance Brokerage Solutions (R) Ltd (RBS), the first reinsurance broking services provider in Rwanda. Through strategic leadership, RBS has significantly contributed to the local market by increasing risk retention for insurers through viable reinsurance options. Strategic partnerships and accreditations, including Africa Trade and Investment Development Insurance Agency (ATIDI), Lloyd’s London market, the African Continental market, and the Middle Eastern markets, ensure that RBS is a credible reinsurance capacity provider for any risk from the market.
Prior to establishing RBS, Dr Ben Karenzi was the Founder and Managing Director of CUZO Insurance Brokers, a direct broking company. The company attracted foreign investors’ interest and successfully negotiated a majority share sale to OLEA, a French-based pan-African insurance broker.
In addition to managing his own business, he does Independent Consulting work on Business Strategy and Risk Management. Currently, he provides Advisory Services to the Technical Review Panel for the Global fund to fight HIV/Aids, TB, and Malaria. He advises on issues related to the Global Fund policy on sustainability, transitioning and co-financing. One of his core duties is to assess and advise on health financing and sustainability of Global Fund programs.
His academic and professional qualifications, including a master’s degree in business administration (MBA), a Master of Arts Degree (MA) in International Affairs and Diplomacy, and a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery (MD), demonstrate his diverse knowledge and expertise. Dr Ben Karenzi is a well-trained retired senior army officer (at rank of Colonel), a graduate of War College (Egypt) and Senior Staff and Command College (Ghana). He is a certified Company Director with the Commonwealth Association of Corporate Governance, and hold professional certificates in insurance, pandemic response, crisis and conflict management.
As a leader, he had the privilege of serving on the Boards of Directors for various esteemed organizations, including Rwanda Revenue Authority, RwandAir, Rwanda Privatization Committee, School of Finance and Banking, Rwanda Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (currently Board Chair for IPAR Consult) and World Health Organization (Alternate Board Member). He has also served as Rwanda’s ambassador to South Africa (5 years) and a Member of Parliament (2 years), and as Permanent Secretary in both the Ministries of Finance and Health (5 years).
As Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Finance/Secretary to the Treasury, Dr. Karenzi coordinated all financial sector activities, including policy and regulatory frameworks for the insurance industry, and oversaw all government-shareholding banking institutions.
Dr. Karenzi is results-oriented and a team player in terms of organizational performance, bringing extensive experience in strategic leadership, investment risk management, and networking with public and private sector stakeholders.
