The award recognises Africa Re's significant strides in expanding its footprint across the continent and positioning itself as a global player in the reinsurance sector.
Organised by the Africa CEO Forum, the Pan-African Champion Award is presented to an African company that has most increased its presence across the continent while implementing a consistent and coherent regional growth strategy.
Eligible companies must operate in more than five African countries and record annual revenues of at least €50 million.
In 2024, the award was bestowed upon the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) for its instrumental role in developing infrastructure and industrial value chains throughout Africa.
In a statement following Africa Re's victory, Dr. Corneille Karekezi, Group Managing Director of the corporation, welcomed the recognition as a reflection of its achievements over the past year.
'I thank God for this continental recognition, which comes on top of an exceptional 2024 year in all performance metrics. We are the largest and most financially rated reinsurance company in Africa and the Middle East. With 31% of our 2024 turnover ($1.2 billion) coming from outside Africa, we export African excellence in overseas markets such as China, the Middle East, Brazil, Israel, and India," Dr. Karekezi said.
Africa Re's cross-border operations and growing share of business from international markets were key factors in its selection. The company's performance in 2024 and continued expansion have strengthened its position as a driver of African excellence in global financial services.
The Africa CEO Forum Awards, organised in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Forvis Mazars, celebrate leadership, innovation, and excellence within Africa's private sector.
In addition to Africa Re's recognition, this year's awards honoured several other standout performers. Danone received the Local Impact Champion award for its contributions to community development and sustainability, while Rawbank was named Family Business of the Year, reflecting its strong governance and generational leadership.
The Gender Leader award went to Schneider Electric, recognising its commitment to gender equity in the workplace. Nala, a fintech company driving digital disruption, earned a place in the Disrupters Club.
Finally, Idrissa Nassa, CEO of Coris Bank, was honoured as CEO of the Year for his transformative leadership in the banking sector.
The awards ceremony is a key feature of the Africa CEO Forum, which gathers more than 2,000 business leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss strategies for driving economic transformation across the continent.
The next edition of the annual Africa CEO Forum will be held in Kigali.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/business/article/africa-re-wins-pan-african-champion-award-2025
