Africa is on the cusp of transformative economic growth. As Executive Vice President of the Global Trade Bank at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Haytham ElMaayergi leads a broad portfolio across Business Development, Advisory & Capital Markets, Trade Finance, Guarantees & Specialized Finance, Syndications & Risk Distribution, and Digital Banking and Transformation. His efforts drive initiatives that strengthen economic integration and expand trade and investment flows across the continent. Haytham has also been appointed as the Chairman of the PAPSSCARD Company. The PAPSSCARD Company is advancing Africa’s financial independence by enabling a unified, borderless domestic payment system that strengthens intra-African trade and economic sovereignty. Its mandate is to empower seamless trade, unlock digital innovation, and bring the continent closer through one trusted African payment platform.
With more than 33 years of diversified working experience, 28 of them in multinational and regional financial institutions such as Citibank, Standard Chartered, Société Générale, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank – UAE, and Arab African International Bank (AAIB). Haytham has built a career defined by leadership, innovation, and transformation. Prior to joining Afreximbank in 2023, he served as Assistant Managing Director and Group Chief Operating and Transformation Officer at AAIB, where he also chaired Sandah Microfinance Company. His management philosophy centers on execution, trust, and empowerment, with a focus on clear results and long-term impact.
Journey in Development Banking
From early in his career, Haytham observed the persistent gap between Africa’s vast potential and its limited access to finance. This inspired his commitment to building financial structures that enable sustainable growth.
“I see the purpose of development banking as transforming Africa’s immense natural resources into higher-value products that strengthen local industries and channel the resulting capital towards continental development,” he explains.
Having witnessed how access to trade finance can reshape communities, he believes that capital must be paired with practical knowledge, skilled people, and strong institutions. “Youth Education and vocational training are the engines of Africa’s transformation,” he notes. “They build the human capital needed to turn opportunity into enterprise.”
This philosophy continues to guide his leadership in designing solutions that link finance, capacity, and trade to generate sustainable development outcomes.
Significant Learning Curve
Across a career that spans Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, Haytham has led major banking divisions, mergers, and transformation programs. Yet joining Afreximbank introduced a new and meaningful learning curve.
“Working with people and organizations from more than 50 countries across Africa, with diverse cultures and management styles, reinforced my belief that leadership must be built on trust, adaptability, and respect for diversity,” he says.
Leading Initiatives at Afreximbank
Since joining the Bank, Haytham has spearheaded initiatives that expand Africa’s trade and investment flows. Among these is the development of a trade risk exchange platform designed to facilitate seamless risk-sharing among African financial institutions and enhance access to financing for essential imports and industrial projects.
He has also led the unification of Afreximbank’s digital ecosystem through the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), integrating ATEX for e-commerce, MANSA for KYC verification, PAPSS for local-currency payments, and TRADAR for market intelligence. Together, these platforms create a digital backbone that simplifies access to trade, financing, and settlement across Africa.
Overcoming Early Career Challenge: Leading a Seasoned Team
Early in his career, Haytham faced a defining challenge when tasked with leading a senior project team abroad shortly after graduation. Managing professionals with far more experience tested his resilience and leadership instincts. “It taught me that leadership is not about authority; it’s about trust, consistency, and adaptability,” he reflects. The experience shaped his belief that lasting influence is built through collaboration, not command.
Achievements: Bank Transformation Programs
Haytham’s career is marked by transformation programs that turned banks into agile, digitally led institutions and repositioned others with modern business and financial models.
Across various banks, he built digital factories, global transaction banking units, and retail banking divisions that doubled retail revenue within two years and integrated fintech partnerships that expanded inclusion and efficiency. His leadership in digital innovation earned regional recognition, including The Asian Banker’s “Best Transformation in the Middle East and Africa” and the “Global Finance Award for Best Global Islamic Trade Finance Bank.”
At Afreximbank, he continues to drive innovation through digital platforms, structured trade finance, and syndications that scale impact across the continent.
A Brief Introduction to Afreximbank
Afreximbank, the African Export–Import Bank, is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to stimulate a consistent expansion, diversification and development of African trade, while operating as a first class, profit-oriented, socially responsible financial institution and a center of excellence in African trade matters. Its vision is to transform the continent’s trade by enabling value addition, strengthening regional integration, and driving Africa’s economic self-reliance.
Haytham highlights the Bank’s diverse offerings, from trade and project finance to guarantees, advisory services, and capital markets, each tailored to support corporates, financial institutions, and sovereigns. The Bank also mobilizes significant external capital through syndications, often attracting five dollars for every dollar it invests.
The Bank’s guarantees and specialized finance instruments improve Africa’s risk profile, helping member states and corporates access capital while supporting industrial zones, sector clusters, and trade-enabling infrastructure and energy projects that anchor value addition. Afreximbank’s commitment to resilience is evident in its rapid response during crises such as COVID-19 and the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
In partnership with the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Bank has also introduced two flagship instruments: the Transit Guarantee and the Adjustment Fund, enabling seamless trade movement and helping countries adapt to tariff reforms under the free trade area.
Mentorship and Supporting Emerging Talent
A natural mentor, Haytham believes leadership begins with listening. “Empathy is the foundation of mentorship,” he says. “You can only guide effectively when you truly understand people’s needs.”
He fosters a culture of empowerment at Afreximbank by giving junior colleagues meaningful responsibility and direct access to senior leadership. “This open-door culture builds confidence, accelerates learning, and nurtures Africa’s next generation of leaders.”
Managing Complex, Cross-Border Operations
As Executive Vice President, Haytham oversees clients across Africa and around the world. He manages complex financing, syndication, and advisory operations that connect African opportunities with global capital.
“Clarity and focus are essential,” he says. “Our mission to advance Africa’s prosperity through trade and investment keeps us disciplined and purpose-driven.”
For Haytham, success is measured in real outcomes: every transaction that creates jobs, deepens local processing, builds value chains, and moves Africa closer to producing what it trades.
Future of Trade Finance in Africa and the Middle East
Haytham envisions a future where trade finance across Africa and the Middle East becomes fully digital, specialized, and interconnected. “Paperless trade will soon be the norm,” he says.
He notes that Afreximbank’s digital platforms, particularly the Africa Trade Gateway, are already transforming cross-border trade. PAPSS enables instant settlements in local currencies, MANSA strengthens transparency through verified KYC data, and ATEX simplifies regional e-commerce. Together, they form a connected ecosystem supporting Africa’s self-reliance and industrial competitiveness.
He also emphasizes the growing Africa–Middle East economic corridor across sectors such as renewable energy, agritech, re-export hubs, Islamic finance, and digital technology. “This corridor is redefining trade finance as a platform for co-investment and innovation rather than simple liquidity provision,” he explains.
Advice for Aspiring Leaders
“Focus intently on what you aim to deliver,” Haytham advises emerging leaders. “Guard your attention from distractions and build mastery through curiosity about the people and problems you serve.”
He encourages young professionals to seek diverse challenges and learn from every culture and context. “True leadership comes from exposure and a willingness to grow,” he says.
The Legacy: Lasting Impact
Haytham aims to leave a legacy of transformation that continues to drive Africa’s progress long after his tenure. Through initiatives like the Africa Trade Gateway and the African Trade Risk Exchange, he is helping to build institutional platforms that will outlast individuals.
“Above all,” he concludes, “the legacy I value most is the knowledge shared with the next generation, drawn from the diverse institutions, geographies, and cultures that have shaped my journey.”
