Executive Committee
Rob Keijsers was appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer of ASA International, effective 1 April 2025. Rob Keijsers took on the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of ASA International Group plc on 1 November 2024 having been Chief Digital and Information Officer since July 2023. He originally joined as Chief Information Officer in May 2022. Other than leading the IT department, he was responsible for the overall digital transformation journey. Rob joined from ABN Amro Bank and over the past 15 years has gained experience in the cross section of business operations and IT in a multinational banking environment, specifically in large scale digital transformations, post-merger and agile integrations, and setting up green field operations.
Azim Hossain assumed the role of Chief of Operations ('CO') in July 2023, having served as the Group's Director of Investment, Treasury and Risk Management since 2005. Mr Hossain has over 34 years of experience in the microfinance industry, having worked for 20 years at ASA NGO Bangladesh, where he held various positions including Director of Finance & MIS and Senior Finance Professional. At ASA Bangladesh, Mr Hossain established the finance and MIS systems, was involved in the development and design of the AMMS, assisted in the establishment of risk management frameworks and was in charge of the NGO Partnership Programme, providing technical and financial assistance to microfinance institutions. He has also worked with the UNDP MicroStart programme in the Philippines and Nigeria, where he was responsible for development, products and services, financial management, performance analysis and business planning.
Tanwir Rahman has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Group since 2017. He has over 12 years of experience in the microfinance industry. Prior to his experience with the Group, he served as the Director of various microfinance companies within BRAC and has held several leadership positions including the Finance Director of BRAC and BRAC International, the Divisional Controller for HBG Constructors, the Assistant Controller for Mitchell Engineering and the Senior Accounting Manager for Bovis Lend Lease. He started his career in Accounting in the USA as an intern in Morrison Knudsen Corporation and climbed the ladder to a Senior Accountant. Mr Rahman is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Grace Thiongo is an experienced Audit, Risk, and Compliance leader with over 18 years of expertise across multi-sectoral and global organizations. She has a proven track record in leading audit and risk functions.
Her experience spans large financial services firms operating across multiple geographic locations. She has built strong partnerships with Board Members, Regulators, and industry leaders. A skilled leader and mentor, she provides direction to teams while ensuring organizations achieve strategic objectives through good governance.
Grace is a scholarship recipient of the Women In Leadership Program at the Melbourne Business School. She holds a Risk Management for Corporate Leaders Certification from Harvard Business School, an MBA from Melbourne Business School, and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from the University of Nairobi.
Martijn Bollen has served as the Group’s General Counsel since 2007 and is currently the Chief Legal Officer. From July 2023 to March 2025, he held the combined role of Chief Compliance, Legal and Risk Officer. Mr Bollen brings over 15 years of experience in the microfinance industry and also acts as General Counsel for Catalyst Microfinance Investors (CMI). He has been affiliated with Sequoia BV since 2005.
Earlier in his career, Mr Bollen worked as an Attorney-at-Law in the Banking and Finance department of Loyens & Loeff (2000–2004), followed by roles as in-house counsel and Attorney-at-Law from 2004 to 2005.
On March 21, 2024, Md Ezazul Islam joined the Group as the Head of Internal Audit. He has over 15 years of professional experience in FMCG, Pharmaceutical Company, NGOs, External Audit, Microfinance and Financial Service Industries. His career highlights include serving as the Head of Internal Audit and Compliance at IPDC Finance Limited and Head of Internal Audit at BRAC Bangladesh. Moreover, he has worked in various capacities at Sanofi Bangladesh Limited, Kallol Thai President Foods (BD) Limited and KPMG Bangladesh.
Mr. Islam is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Bangladesh (ICAB). He holds an MBA in Accounting and Information System from the University of Dhaka.