Management Team & Board Members

We are a team of cross-sectoral specialists with over 100 years combined experience.

Management Team

Nick de Swardt

CEO Cicada Plantations

  • 21 years of experience, 10 of which with the Group

  • Previously worked for Moody’s in Structured Finance and PIMCO in the Structured Debt Advisory group in London

  • Several years of experience in managing commercial farming operations in Zimbabwe

  • Has an MSc in Financial Mathematics from University of Cape Town and a BSc Hons in Mathematics from the University of Edinburgh

  • Zimbabwean National

Lysius Karimanzira

CFO Cicada Plantations

  • 18 years of experience, 12 of which with the Group

  • Previously the CFO of Border Timbers, Zimbabwe's largest commercial forestry operation

  • Extensive experience in financial management of agricultural businesses in Africa

  • Has an BSc(Hons) in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes

  • Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Regsitered Public Accountant Zimbabwe (RPAcc)

  • Zimbabwean National

Jonathan Wood

Managing Director Cicada Solar

  • 30 years of experience, 9 of which with the Group

  • Previously worked for Standard Bank as head of Project Finance. Prior to that he held senior roles in Barclays Bank and Hambros Bank

  • Extensive experience in African capital markets

  • Has an MSc in Corporate and International Finance from Durham University, a B.Com Hons from University of Capetown, and a B. Econ from Rhodes University

  • Zimbabwean National

Karen Jiri

Commercial Director

  • 15 years experience, of which 8 years were previously with Takura Capital Group in various senior leadership roles.

  • Extensive experience in the Agriculture sector and related downstream agro-processing, FMCG manufacturing and retail sectors.

  • Holds a Masters in Business Leadership (MBL) from the UNISA School of Business Leadership.

  • Has a BCompt (Hons) degree in Accounting Science through UNISA and completed articles of clerkship with Deloitte Zimbabwe.

Jenna van Niekerk

ESG Systems Manager

  • 15 years of experience in the agricultural and environmental space, 10 of which are specifically in ESG, 1 of which with the Group

  • Previously worked for a Zimbabwean-based private equity fund, with extensive knowledge in E&S due diligence, formulation and implementation of ESG Management Systems, and experience with IFC Performance Standards

  • Holder of a BSocSc (Hons) in Environmental & Geographical Science from the University of Cape Town

Clare Griffiths

Group Ecologist

  • 30 years’ experience, 5 of which with the Group

  • Extensive experience in resource assessment and census, rural community-centred Non-Timber Forest Product initiatives, river restoration and inter-basement water transfer

  • Serves on the boards of three community focussed NGOs including, locally, Africa A.H.E.A.D.

  • Several years’ experience in community health, gender, and poverty

  • BSc (Hons) Zoology from the University of Cape Town

  • Zimbabwean National

Kudakwashe Pisirai

Human Resources Director

  • 28 years of experience, 12 of which with the Group

  • Previously held HR Management positions in forestry, timber processing, agriculture, food processing, retailing and insurance industries

  • Holder of MBA (UZ), BSc Economics (Hons)(UZ) and post graduate professional qualifications including: Higher Diploma in HR Management & Diploma in Training and Management

  • Full member of the Institute of People Management of Zimbabwe

  • Zimbabwean National

Stephen Mazambani

Internal Audit Director

  • 25 years of experience in accounting and internal auditing, 8 of which with the Group

  • Previously worked for listed and private companies in Zimbabwe

  • Holder of a Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons) degree, Masters in Business Administration and Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Accountancy (University of Zimbabwe).

  • Qualified as a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) by the Institute of Internal Auditors Global (USA)

  • Zimbabwean National 

  • 30 years of experience, 12 of which with the Group

  • Previously worked in private practice in Harare and the City of London

  • Has extensive experience in corporate and financial transactions in sub–Saharan Africa

  • Has a BA LLB from University of Cape Town

  • Admitted as a Legal Practitioner in Zimbabwe and a solicitor in England and Wales

  • Zimbabwean National

Andrew Mills

Group General Counsel

Board Members

Thomas Høegh

Chair of Cicada Holdings

  • Decades of experience founding and building companies globally including LoveFilm (acquired by Amazon) and Arts Alliance Media (acquired by Luxin Rio)

  • Founder and CEO of Arts Alliance Advisors, Chairman of Rift Valley and Director of Höegh Capital Partners

  • Holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and trained as a theatre director at Northwestern University

Paul West

Deputy Chair of Cicada Holdings

  • 29 years of experience, 11 of which with Rift Valley Corporation

  • Joined the group in 2011 as Group CFO

  • Extensive multinational experience. Previous positions include CFO at African Lakes Corporation and Commercial

  • Director at New Forests

  • BSc in Social Science from UCT and qualified accountant with Ernst & Young in the UK

  • Zimbabwean National

Ruvimbo Chipango

Chair of Cicada Plantations Zimbabwe

  • 20 years of experience, 10 of which with group companies

  • Extensive finance and management experience

  • Prior to joining the group she was Finance Director and Head of Strategy and Advisory Services for Nedbank Zimbabwe, and Deputy Chairperson of the Credit Committee

  • Prior to that, she was Senior Audit Manager with Ernst and Young Chartered Accountants Zimbabwe

  • Qualified Chartered Accountant, Holder of a Masters of Business Leadership from University of South Africa

  • Zimbabwean National

Carlo Ravizza

Investment Director at Höegh Capital Partners

  • 17 years experience across banking and consultancy, 12 years at Höegh Capital Partners

  • Serves on the Boards of several companies within the HCP portfolio including Rift Valley Corporation, Rift Valley Energy, Border Timbers, Cicada and HMLP

  • Previous experience at McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, JP Morgan, Alvarez & Marsal and AlixPartners

  • Holds an MBA from London Business School and a bachelor degree – summa cum laude – in Finance and Accounting from Turin University

David Allen

Non-Executive Director

  • 17 years of business experience in Jersey

  • Extensive London experience in the financial services industry and has operated logistics, carbon and energy businesses in countries within the SADC region of Africa

  • One of the founding shareholders of ICECAP

  • A qualified chartered accountant and a member of the South African and ICAEW institutes

  • Jersey resident

Martine Holter

Non-Executive Director

  • More than 30 years’ experience across banking and consultancy, 23 years within Höegh entities

  • 16 years’ experience as CEO of Höegh Capital Partners (‘HCP’) and on Boards including Höegh Autoliners, Höegh LNG, Rift Valley Corporation and Cicada

  • Previously worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company in London and in corporate finance and M&A at Goldman Sachs in New York and Hong Kong

  • Holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Joint Bachelor of Arts Honours in Economics and Political Science from Queen’s University, Canada

  • Born in Canada