Group Head of Loan and Debt (L&D) Syndication and Distribution at Equity Bank

2.0 THE ROLE PURPOSE

• We are seeking a dynamic and highly skilled professional to join Treasury as the Group Head of Loan and Debt Syndication and Distribution.
• The role leads the origination, structuring, syndication, and distribution of complex financing solutions across our footprint for both internal and external clients.
• The mandate covers large corporates, financial institutions, sovereigns, and sub‑sovereigns (including Ministries of Finance), with a strong focus on infrastructure, strategic sectors, and transformational transactions.
• The role also acts as Lead Arranger and Co‑Lead Arranger on bond issuances, oversees end‑to‑end execution, and integrates risk‑hedging solutions (FX, rates, commodities, and loan‑related hedges) to deliver bankable outcomes across the Group and its clients.
• A key responsibility is to redistribute risk to the market, churning the balance sheet to enhance returns on capital and maintain minimal balance‑sheet holdings while leveraging the full Group network to distribute exposures efficiently.

3.0 the KEY responsibilities

Scope and Mandate

• Pan‑African coverage: Lead origination and distribution activities across all subsidiaries and branches, coordinating closely with Country CEOs, CFOs, Country Treasurers, and Commercial Directors to deliver integrated execution across the Group footprint.
• Products: Syndicated loans (Term, Capex, Acquisition, and Infrastructure finance), leveraged finance, structured credit, project finance, Development Finance Institution (DFI) facilities, Export Credit Agency (ECA)‑supported financing, liquidity lines, securitisations, and bond issuances (both local currency and hard currency).
• Distribution: Drive institutional investor placement across banks, DFIs, ECAs, asset managers, pension funds, insurers, private credit funds, and internal balance‑sheet allocation channels.
• Sectors: Energy, transport, water, ICT, manufacturing, agribusiness, financial services, and PPPs, aligned with Group Treasury strategy and ARRP.

Originating and Client Strategy

• Develop and manage a multi‑country pipeline of sovereign, quasi‑sovereign, corporate, and financial‑institution transactions aligned with the Group’s priority sectors and strategic focus areas.
• Engage and structure transactions for Ministries of Finance, sovereigns, multinationals, and DFIs, designing optimal capital structures, evaluating funding windows, and advising on execution strategy, market timing, and bankability.
• Build and anchor strategic relationships with DFIs, ECAs, multilateral agencies, and private‑credit investors to catalyse scale, crowd‑in capital, and support the Group’s mandate to redistribute and optimise risk across the network.

Structuring and Credit Design

• Lead the development of term sheets, covenant packages, inter‑creditor frameworks, collateral waterfalls, security structures, and all associated governance documentation to ensure robust credit protection and bankable transaction design.
• Optimise pricing, tenors, amortisation profiles, RAROC, and risk‑transfer mechanisms (including participations, hedging solutions, and credit insurance) to meet or exceed return thresholds in line with Group risk‑return matrices.
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• Oversee LMA/LSTA‑based loan documentation, ensuring high‑quality drafting and negotiation of conditions precedent, legal due diligence, and jurisdiction‑specific legal opinions for complex, multi‑country transactions.
• Work closely with Legal and Compliance teams to ensure full regulatory adherence, comprehensive due‑diligence execution, and enforceable documentation across all participating jurisdictions.

Syndication and book-running

• Set the distribution strategy, including hold sizes, target investor lists, and fee tiers to optimise market participation and balance‑sheet efficiency.
• Run RFP processes and manage the preparation and dissemination of Information Memoranda (IM) and data rooms to ensure transparent, well‑governed investor communication.
• Lead investor engagement, including roadshows, investor teach‑ins, Q&A sessions, allocation strategy, and active management of grey‑market dynamics during book‑building.
• Coordinate satisfaction of Conditional Precedent (CPs)/Conditional Subsequent (CSs), oversee agency setup, and ensure seamless end‑to‑end settlement across internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage prospectus drafting, investor education, pricing discussions, and syndicate coordination, ensuring strong book‑build quality, robust distribution outcomes, and sustainable aftermarket support.
• Partner with all relevant internal stakeholders, Legal, Compliance, Finance, Middle Office, Back Office, and others to ensure flawless execution and delivery of the mandate.

Strategic Leadership and Collaboration

• Engage proactively with all relevant stakeholders both internal and external to elevate the profile and strategic relevance of Global Markets across the bank and within the wider industry.
• Establish clear scorecards and mentoring structures to drive performance, capability development, and accountability across the team.
• Embed a culture of execution excellence, ethical conduct, client‑centricity, and cross‑border collaboration across Sales, Trading, Coverage, and all other key stakeholders, including regulators.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire desk heads and sales teams to consistently deliver high performance, innovation, and client value.
• Build and sustain a high‑performance culture grounded in accountability, innovation, ownership, and client‑centric behaviours.
• Contribute to Treasury’s overall strategy, ensuring alignment with regional growth priorities and the (ARRP).
• Collaborate closely with Product, Coverage, Operations, and all relevant stakeholder teams to deliver seamless, end‑to‑end client solutions across the Group.

Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements across all jurisdictions.
• Uphold strong market conduct, operational risk, and credit risk management practices.
• Partner with Risk & Compliance teams to identify, assess, and mitigate risks.
• Ensure adherence to governance frameworks including Product Notes, policies, limits, and ethical guidelines.

Governance

• Ensure compliance with all Group and treasury governance policies.
• Promote an environment where compliance with internal controls and external regulatory framework is honored and central focus area of the business across multiple markets.
• Engage with auditors when required to provide the required support.
• Display exemplary conduct values by living the Group’s values and Code of Conduct.
• Take personal responsibility by promoting the highest standard of ethics, including regulatory and business conduct across our footprint.
• Identify, escalate and resolve any risk, conduct and compliance matters working closely with the Treasury Risk & control Manager

Talent Management

• Build a strong talent pipeline transparently, in line with diversity & inclusion KPIs and other KPIs in general with specific performance metrics on the Group values, Code of Conduct.
• Lead, mentor, and develop sales teams across traditional and digital channels.
• Build a high‑performance culture focused on accountability, innovation, and client‑centricity.
• Drive succession planning and talent development across the region.
• Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in talent pipelines

4.0 CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES AND DELIVERABLES 

• Deliver a strong multi‑country pipeline of syndicated loans, leverage finance, structured credit, and bond transactions across sovereign, FIG and corporate segments.
• Lead end‑to‑end execution of complex financing transactions, including origination, structuring, documentation, syndication, distribution, and settlement.
• Produce transaction term sheets, pricing frameworks, financial models, IMs, investor presentations, and distribution strategies.
• Ensure flawless execution of CP/CS processes, agency setup, security perfection, legal due diligence, and documentation adherence to LMA/LSTA standards.
• Build and maintain deep institutional investor networks (DFIs, ECAs, banks, asset managers, private credit).
• Provide comprehensive market intelligence, sector insights, and risk recommendations to senior leadership.
• Drive RAROC aligned structuring, capital optimization, and balance sheet allocation for large transactions.
• Maintain governance compliance, ensuring all mandates align with Group policies, risk appetite, regulatory requirements, and treasury strategy (ARRP – Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan).
• Build capability within the structuring, origination, and distribution teams while ensuring a high‑performance culture.
• Deliver quarterly execution reviews, revenue reports, pipeline updates, and distribution performance dashboards.

5.0 KEY TECHNICAL SKILLS & leadership competencies

Behavioral Framework:

• Strong understanding of Treasury policies, controls, ethics, and regulatory expectations.
• Clear, persuasive communicator with excellent presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Highly effective working across diverse teams, multiple countries, and varied regulatory environments.
• Provides clear direction, exercises sound judgement, and makes timely, well‑informed decisions.
• Ethical leader who inspires, mentors, and builds a high‑performance, client‑centric culture.
• Consistently focused on delivering value to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Action‑oriented, resilient under pressure, and dependable in high‑stakes environments.

Technical Competencies:

• Advanced structuring expertise across senior, mezzanine, unitranche, bridge‑to‑bond, credit‑enhanced, and complex financing solutions.
• Strong command of LMA/LSTA documentation, intercreditor agreements, security structures, sovereign considerations, and pari passu frameworks.
• Deep understanding of rating‑agency methodologies and investor disclosure standards (S&P, Moody’s, Fitch).
• Strong ESG financing capability across green, social, sustainability, and KPI‑linked structures.
• Proven end‑to‑end leadership across origination, structuring, syndication, and distribution.
• Deep expertise in credit, market, liquidity, legal, and operational risk drivers.
• Extensive networks across African and emerging‑market investors (DFIs, ECAs, banks, private credit, asset managers).
• Strong capability in covenants, security waterfalls, investor requirements, and distribution strategies.
• Mastery of financial markets, pricing, modelling, valuation, and macro‑economic fundamentals.
• Strong leadership, people development, regulatory navigation, entrepreneurial mindset, and disciplined execution under pressure.

6.0 EXPERIENCE requirements  

• Minimum of 12–18 years of experience in capital markets, syndication lending, or leveraged finance, including at least 7 years in senior leadership, with a strong, demonstrable pan‑African execution track record.

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7.0 ACADEMIC qualifications and certifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Finance, Economics, Business, or Engineering.
• Master’s degree in Law is an added advantage.
• MBA preferred for strategic and managerial depth.
• Professional certifications such as CFA or ACCA are an added advantage