Non-Executive Director
Sideso, Chioma
Chioma is a senior corporate and financial services executive with more than 23 years’ experience of strategic leadership in the financial services sector. She has led a pan African company as CEO and is also an accomplished Non-Executive Director, with a strong track record of delivering change. Having been awarded the chartered directorship, the flagship qualification of the IoD UK held by a handful of women of minority descent, she has certified board skills for continued success as a modern board member. She currently sits on a number of boards in various industries notably logistics, insurance, asset management and financial services.
Drawing on broad technical skills, commercial acumen and a deep understanding of regulation and governance, Chioma drives transformation, enhances controls, reduces costs, updates infrastructure and leads key strategic projects that introduce efficiencies and maximise revenue.
Relationships are crucial to Chioma’s success. She inspires trust and builds high-performing teams by establishing an open culture, where every voice is significant. She is always seeking win-win solutions and is not afraid to confront inherited thinking with an independent point of view. As a leader, Chioma leads from the front, adopting a collegiate approach, combining an understanding of stakeholder drivers and regulatory imperatives while retaining a keen focus on the end goal. She impacts key decisions at Board level and implements robust frameworks.
Most recently, Chioma was the founding CEO of OMW, an oil and gas services firm, where she set up a lean business from scratch in a very regulatory onerous sector. She built an outstanding team which secured two contracts with major global firms and positioned the company for a successful sale which realised 2 x ROI in three years. This gave Chioma a detailed overview of some of the key regulatory, governance and finance issues in the industry, and of how to develop innovative solutions to rapidly scale a business in a very competitive sector.
From 2006 to 2018, Chioma led NSIA Insurance as CEO. She drove a pan-African expansion from eight to 52 offices and achieved a 1000% increase in sales. She was instrumental in signing Nigeria’s first ever bancassurance deal and introduced ground-breaking market segmentation techniques which contributed to a huge increase in the corporate client base. This period was a huge success for Chioma and for NSIA and she further developed a comprehensive global network in the insurance sector and a reputation as a market leader in Africa.
Previously, she was an Executive Director for the same firm from 2004 to 2006, having originally started her career in London in 1999.
Chioma is passionate about people. Recognising that performance relies on the whole team, mentoring colleagues has become a significant part of her role. She enjoys sharing her technical and commercial knowledge to raise performance and capabilities, often at times of transformation and change. She also works with young people and women across Africa to support their journeys towards financial independence.
Chioma brings thought leadership and energy to top management. She is dedicated to making a positive impact, reducing risk, strengthening efficiencies and facilitating multiple income streams.