Financial Services Ethics and integrity Advisory Committee Set Up
By Irene Gaitirira
Published December 7, 2020
An organisation that promotes ethics and integrity in securities and investment profession through setting of examinations and offering qualifications to people working in or looking to establish a career in the financial planning, wealth management and capital markets profession, has launched a national advisory council in Kenya.
Known as Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), the not-for-profit professional body that says it has 45 000 members in 111 countries, has set up the Kenya National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by Christopher Morris (Director of Africa Advisory Partners) with Isaac Awuondo (Chairman of NCBA Bank Kenya PLC), Kenneth Kaniu (Chief Executive Officer of Britam Asset Managers), and Paul Njoki (Head of Wealth Management Kenya and East Africa at Standard Chartered Bank) as committee members.
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NAC, CISI says, has been established with the purposes of supporting CISI membership and guiding the CISI’s activities in Kenya in developing professional standards across the finance profession.
The London (UK)-based CISI that originated in the London Stock Exchange, says it has since 2012 been offering examinations and membership across Africa, with regulatory approval for its exams in more than 20 countries.
Over the last five years, CISI says, more than 2500 people in East Africa have sat CISI exams, with CISI opening its first African office in Kenya in June 2018 to service the region.
While Christopher Morris says he hopes to ‘benefit from our network and the deep understanding of the local market to strengthen the CISI’s ongoing commitment to upholding professionalism, integrity and ethics in the ever-changing landscape of the financial services profession’, Kevin Moore Chartered FCSI, Director of Global Business Development says, “We look forward to working with the Council to help grow both CISI membership and integrity in Kenya’s financial services sector, ensuring Kenyan practitioners are qualified above and beyond the standard competence requirements to meet the demands of both the local and global markets.”
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“I am delighted to be involved in shaping the Kenya Advisory Council programme for the year ahead, to ensure that the Kenya financial services sector has practitioners qualified above and beyond the standard competence requirements, supporting consumer confidence in the financial services market,” says Isaac Awuondo, Chairman of NCBA Bank Kenya PLC, the largest privately-held commercial bank in Kenya with a regional focus.
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On his part, Kenneth Kaniu, Chief Executive Officer of Britam Asset Managers (Kenya), says, “It is my privilege to join the CISI Advisory Council. Continuous professional development has always been close to my heart and I firmly believe that one can never stop learning in this dynamic profession. The CISI has done exemplary work in the field of promoting professionalism and I look forward to leveraging my experience to contribute to CISI’s mission.”
Paul Njoki, Head of Wealth Management Kenya and East Africa at Standard Chartered Bank says, “I look forward to nurturing the development and growth of CISI’s presence in Kenya. A primary focus will be driving the provision of continuous professional development opportunities for all members to assist with their career developments and strengthening their competencies in a highly competitive environment.”
