Leadership
Irene Ndikumwenayo
Founder & Director
Irene is a Founder and Director at Spelman Estates. He is also a Founder and Managing Partner at NISK Capital Ltd, one of the leading corporate finance and investment advisory firms linking enterprises across East Africa with tailored Capital financing solutions from regional and foreign investors. Before founding NISK, he was the Chief Investment Officer at Ngali Holdings, a Rwandan investment holding company with interests in energy, IT, and healthcare sectors. He also worked for Centerview Partners, NY, covering IT, Healthcare, Media, and Retail, and for UBS, NY, in equities sales and trading.
Irene holds a Master of Science in Finance from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and a Bachelor of Science and Engineering in Operations Research and Financial Engineering from Princeton University, NJ.
Sheila Kyarisiima
Founder & Chairperson
Sheila is a Founder and Chairperson at Spelman Estates. She is also a Partner at NISK Capital. Additionally, she sits on the Board of CIB Kenya; a subsidiary of Egypt’s largest Private Bank, Britam Microinsurance Kenya and Britam Insurance Rwanda, subsidiaries of a large insurance and financial services company. She has previously worked as an Advisor to the CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, focused on attracting foreign direct investment to Rwanda, and for Goldman Sachs Investment Bank in NY within the Corporate Real Estate Division.
Sheila holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an M.P.A. in International Development from Harvard Kennedy School, and a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Brown University in the U.S.
Gary Pinkerton
Group CEO
Gary is currently the Group CEO of Spelman Estates. He is also a Partner at NISK Capital. Over a 20-year career, he has held various senior positions at several London-based financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Bankers Trust, NatWest Securities, IAF Capital, and Marshall Securities.
He has worked extensively on Energy Sector projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and has broad experience in public markets gained in London’s Main Market, having been involved in numerous flotations, rights issues and M&A activity. Gary is a qualified accountant (ICAEW) with Smith & Williamson.
Shadrack Nyobii
Group CFO
Shadrack is currently the Group CFO of Spelman Estates. He is also a Principal at NISK Capital and has over 12 years of experience spanning fund management, management consulting and investment banking. He also serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director at Etica Capital, a tech-driven fund manager based in Kenya.
Shadrack holds an MBA from Strathmore University and a BSc. in Actuarial Science from the University of Nairobi. He is a member of ACAA (UK) and currently pursuing his CFA qualification.