Exceptional Impact: Lendable Recognises Outstanding Contributors
In recognition of their instrumental work at Lendable, we are excited to announce the promotions of: Rugile Gurrieri to Managing Director - Head of Risk, Suresh Samuel to Managing Director - Head of Fintech Investments, and Olivia Johnson to Director - Head of Analytics and Business Intelligence.
Congratulations to Rugile, Suresh and Olivia! 🙌 We are excited for their onward journey with Lendable, as we work toward creating a more #equitable and #sustainable world through #data and #finance.
Rugile Gurrieri
Rugile joined Lendable in August 2021 to lead the risk function, after 10 years at Credit Suisse as a TMT analyst, then progressing to the Loan Portfolio Management Group looking after a $6bn portfolio.
Rugile has revolutionized the Risk department at Lendable, playing a key role in more than doubling the firm's AUM since her joining to the present day. Under her leadership, Lendable has built out a structured Risk team as well as various Risk Management Policies, namely Valuation, Ratings, Fraud Risk assessment. This was instrumental in enabling Lendable's investment in 16 new FinTech companies as well as upsizing existing investments, and expanding our reach into additional geographies.
Suresh Samuel
Suresh joined Lendable in January 2020 as Head of Origination Africa, originally based in Nairobi. He was previously Head of Capital Markets for Tala and Managing Director at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (now DFC).
Suresh has demonstrated exceptional leadership as he manages a geographically diverse team of Investment Officers, originating deals in-market. Under his guidance, Lendable’s active portfolio has scaled to over 25 companies and accelerated disbursements, now totalling over $473 million, to our high-impact fintech partners. Suresh spearheaded Lendable’s entry into Latin America and MENA regions and directed its first transactions in the payments and embedded finance subsectors.
Olivia Johnson
Olivia joined Lendable in June 2022 to build out the Analytics and Business Intelligence function. She was previously Head of Analytics at Engie Energy Access, and Global Credit Strategy and Analytics Manager at Fenix International.
Olivia has introduced a paradigm shift in Lendable’s data analytics tools, integral to the underwriting and risk-monitoring of our emerging market fintech partners, and enabling our investors to capture a fuller, more nuanced understanding of the impact of their investments. Olivia provides invaluable macro-insights across the geographies Lendable invests in, and has set new standards in demonstrating the value of data in understanding unit economics, product construction and business models for both credit and impact.