Dominic Wadongo is a seasoned risk management expert with over 17 years of experience in the financial services sector, specializing in both commercial banking and Fintech. He has built a reputation for skillfully leading risk management initiatives across Africa’s financial landscape.
Currently, Dominic serves as the Chief Risk Officer at SmartCash Payment Service Bank, Nigeria, a Fintech subsidiary of Airtel Nigeria, under the Airtel Africa Group, listed on the London Stock Exchange. With his extensive experience in risk governance, financial crime risk, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management across various markets, he plays a crucial role in driving financial inclusion in Nigeria by implementing robust mobile and agency banking strategies to ensure accessible payment services nationwide.
Previously, Dominic was the Group Head of Operational Risk at Equity Group Holdings, where he oversaw operational risk management across six African countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also led operational risk management in non-banking subsidiaries, including Equity Investment Bank, Equity Insurance, Equity Group Foundation, and Finserve. His scope of work encompassed the integrated management of operational risk, IT and cyber risk, business continuity, fraud risk, data privacy, and security.
Before joining Equity Group Holdings, Dominic was the Head of Enterprise Risk/CRO at the National Bank of Kenya, where he implemented a comprehensive risk management framework covering key risk areas. His career began at Standard Chartered Bank of Kenya (SCBK) in 2007, where he spent six years as a Senior Operational Risk Officer in the Global Shared Services Centre Africa.
Dominic holds an MBA from the University of Nairobi and a BSc degree from Moi University. Additionally, he has earned a Strategy Execution Certificate from Harvard Business School and a Global Leadership and Public Policy certificate from Harvard Kennedy School. He is also a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).