Nick Barigye Named Group CEO of Crystal Ventures: Architect of Kigali’s Financial Hub Returns to Private Sector Helm

In a major leadership transition at the heart of Rwanda’s economic landscape, Nick Barigye, the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC), has been appointed Group CEO of Crystal Ventures Limited (CVL), effective July 2025. The announcement marks a strategic homecoming for Barigye, who previously served in senior roles at CVL earlier in his career before leading the creation of one of Africa’s most promising financial centres.

Crystal Ventures, a long-term investment holding company with a diversified portfolio spanning technology, infrastructure, real estate, agriculture, manufacturing, and hospitality, described Barigye as a “seasoned leader with broad experience across multiple sectors, and a strong track record of driving operational excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth.”

The board noted that his return as an alumnus of CVL comes at a critical time in the company’s evolution, as it looks to deepen its local and regional impact. “We are confident that under his leadership, and with his valuable global and local perspective, CVL will continue to thrive and advance its strategic goals,” the company said in its official statement.

Nearly Six Years of Building Rwanda’s Global Financial Presence

Barigye brings to CVL a sterling legacy from KIFC, where he served as CEO for nearly six years, from October 2019 to July 2025. Under his leadership, Rwanda Finance Limited—the institution mandated to promote and manage the Centre—successfully positioned KIFC as a Pan-African financial hub, recognised in the Global Financial Centres Index as one of the top three international financial centres on the continent.

He was instrumental in launching investment-friendly tax frameworks, forging global partnerships with jurisdictions such as Luxembourg, Jersey, and Singapore, and anchoring Rwanda’s leadership in sustainable finance and fintech inclusion. His work contributed to the hosting of the Inclusive FinTech Forum in Kigali and the domiciliation of major investment vehicles like Virunga Africa Fund I and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund.

A Career Anchored in Strategy, Finance, and Operational Excellence

Barigye’s career spans both public and private sectors, with a strong background in strategic and operational leadership. Before KIFC, he served as a Partner and Director at Karisimbi Business Partners, and earlier, as CEO of Mount Meru Soyco Ltd, and Deputy General Manager of NPD Ltd. His earlier stints at CVL included roles such as Group Operations Officer, Senior Investment Analyst, and General Manager of Building Materials Investments Ltd. He also served as Finance and Administration Manager at Inyange Industries, a flagship CVL subsidiary.

In the public sector, Barigye worked at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning as a Fiscal Decentralisation Policy Analyst, providing him with a well-rounded perspective on economic planning and public-private linkages.

He holds an MBA in Finance from Strathmore Business School and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the National University of Rwanda.

What This Appointment Signals

Barigye’s appointment to Crystal Ventures is seen as a strong signal of the company’s ambitions to consolidate its leadership across sectors while injecting a bold, strategic vision shaped by global finance experience. His dual fluency in development policy and private enterprise makes him uniquely suited to oversee the next chapter of CVL’s expansion, particularly as Rwanda continues to attract investment, scale its industrial base, and champion homegrown prosperity.

Barigye’s move also marks a smooth leadership transition for KIFC, where Hortense Mudenge, his long-time deputy and Chief Strategy Officer, has stepped in as CEO, ensuring continuity and deep institutional memory.

As Barigye embarks on this new chapter, he does so with a legacy of institution-building behind him and a broader canvas ahead—one that blends economic transformation with enterprise, capital with community, and strategy with scale. For Crystal Ventures and Rwanda alike, his return promises to be both impactful and catalytic.