Omari Issa has extensive business experience in the public and private sectors, having worked in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. He currently chairs the Board of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco).

From March 2017 to December 2018, he served as the CEO of the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete

Foundation. Between May 2013 and April 2016, Omari Issa served as the Chief Executive Officer of the President’s Delivery Bureau, an institution established to oversee implementation of Tanzania’s Public Delivery Transformation Programme termed Big Results Now (BRN). Previously, as Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF), Mr. Issa was responsible for managing the ICF’s seven-year programme to improve Africa’s investment climate and remove barriers to growth.

He has first-hand experience of the realities of doing business in Africa, having previously worked as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Celtel International, where he played an instrumental role in managing Celtel’s growth and expansion across the continent. Prior to working at Celtel, Mr. Issa spent fourteen years with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and six years with the World Bank.

Omari is a member of the International Advisory Council of China Investment Corporation. Omari chaired the Amref Health Africa International Board for 6 years from September 2013 to December 2019. He served on the CTBC Board in Brazil, the Rwanda Development Board and served as an Independent Non-Executive Director at Millicom International Cellular SA. He chaired the Tanzania Telecommunications Board as well as Celtel Boards in Tanzania, Gabon, DRC. Mr. Issa holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from The Polytechnic of Central London, and an MBA from Columbia University, New York.