Prior to joining the reinsurance industry, the professional career of Dr. KAREKEZI started in 1991 with the primary insurance industry where he served practically in all the financial, marketing, technical and reinsurance departments at senior management levels of the leading insurance companies in Burundi and Rwanda, up to the position of CEO of SONARWA, the then insurance leader of Rwanda.

He joined the reinsurance industry, first as a Board Director of Africa Re Group for 3 years, and he fully joined the Group in 2009 as its Deputy MD/COO for 2 years before he rose to the current position of Group MD/CEO. 

Dr. KAREKEZI holds various professional and academic certifications, diplomas, and degrees, awarded by prestigious institutions around the world, including a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, a Master’s Degree in Management, Postgraduate Diplomas in Business Administration, an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration, and an Earned Doctorate in Business Administration.

He speaks fluently English, French, Swahili, and some other African languages. 

Since 1996, he has contributed significantly to the development of the insurance and reinsurance industries in Africa through his involvement and leadership in various national, regional, and continental initiatives and organizations. He has participated actively, as speaker, in seminars, conferences, symposia and other fora across the world, particularly on issues of insurance development and reduction of insurance protection gap, risk management for development, InsurTech, and in general on issues of economic development and leadership.

Dr. KAREKEZI has served as chair and/or member of governing bodies of various financial institutions and foundations in Africa and at the global stage. He is currently the Chairman of Africa Re (South Africa) Limited, Chairman of Africa Retakaful Company (Egypt), Member of the Executive Committee of the African Insurance Organization (AIO) where he chairs the Finance Committee, Chairman of the AIO Foundation, Chairperson of the Governing Council of the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI), Member of the Executive Council of the International Insurance Society (IIS) and Member of the Steering Committee of the Insurance Development Fund (IDF).