Board of Directors

Charles was appointed Non-Executive Director and Chairman of ASA International on 4 June 2026. Charles is a highly experienced investment banker and business leader with over 40 years in commercial and financial roles across global markets. He served as Vice Chairman of J.P. Morgan Cazenove where he advised senior leaders in financial services, mining, media, and industrial sectors. His career includes leadership roles at Credit Suisse First Boston and BXR Partners. Charles is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Ninety One, the London and Cape Town based global investment manager. He is also active in the not-for-profit and education sectors including serving as the external Deputy Chair of Council at the University of Oxford and as a trustee of The Big Give.

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.

Hanny Kemna has been a Non-Executive Director since 2018 and was appointed as Senior Independent Director on 1 January 2021. She is the Chair of the board of Directors for Dutch pension provider and asset manager MN. Ms Kemna is also the Chair of the Audit Committee at insurer Vivat – Athora NL, at healthcare insurer Menzis and at the National ICT Institute for Healthcare in the Netherlands. Since 2020, she has served as a deputy member of the Board of the Dutch Court of Auditors. Ms Kemna has a broad experience in working with international financial and government institutions.

Guy Dawson became a Non-Executive Director of ASA International Holding in 2013 and became a Director of ASA International Group plc on 28 June 2018. He became Chairman of the Board on 6 June 2025 having previously served in the role from 1 January 2021 until 31 October 2024. From 1 November 2024 until 5 June 2025, Mr Dawson remained an Independent Non-Executive Director of ASA International Group plc. He chairs the Nomination Committee and the Independent Directors Committee. He is also currently a Non-Executive Director of Egerton Capital and Citywire Holdings.

Laurence de l’Escaille is an experienced board director with a strong background in strategy, corporate finance, and governance across regulated financial services, energy, and infrastructure sectors. She brings extensive emerging markets experience and has served on the boards of major listed and regulated institutions in Europe.

Laurence currently serves as an independent board member of BNP Paribas Fortis, where she is a member of the Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee, and Governance & Nomination Committee. She previously served as Chair of the Remuneration Committee at bpost bank during its integration into BNP Paribas Fortis. She was also an independent board member of Elia Group and Elia Transmission Belgium, where she served during a period of significant strategic expansion and capital raising.

In addition, Laurence is an independent member of the Belgian Commission for Nuclear Provisions, which oversees long term funding for nuclear decommissioning and spent fuel management in Belgium. Previously, Laurence was a Partner at McKinsey & Company, advising governments, financial institutions, and energy companies across Europe, the United States, and Africa for over eight years. She has also held roles at the International Monetary Fund and advised the Belgian federal government, where she led strategy for Belgium’s national COVID 19 vaccination rollout.

Laurence holds degrees from the University of Oxford and Johns Hopkins University, and postgraduate qualifications in economics, corporate finance, and psychology.

Laurence joined the Board on 28 April 2026 as an independent Non-Executive Director. She will become a member of the Nomination Committee, Audit and Risk Committee, the Remuneration Committee and Independent Directors’ Committee.

Sheila M'Mbijjewe joined the Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director on 18 December 2024. Sheila is a UK and Kenyan qualified Accountant. She retired in June 2023 as the first female Deputy Governor of The Central Bank of Kenya, following the completion of her second and final four-year term. As well as being a core part of the central bank leadership team overseeing the Kenyan financial system, Sheila was actively engaged in promoting pan-African financial stability and developed a wide knowledge and range of contacts across the continent. Prior to joining The Central Bank of Kenya, she worked for Standard Chartered Bank and rose to become Executive Director and Head of Consumer Banking, East Africa.

Mark Schwartz joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director on 17 December 2025. He is an accomplished business leader and board member with extensive experience across finance, healthcare, and consumer products. He currently co-manages KSHFO LLC, a multi-family office focused on diversified investments. Previously, Mark served as President and CEO of Specialty Merchandise Corporation for two decades. Earlier in his career, he worked in Goldman Sachs' Equity Division, advising high-net-worth clients and institutions. Mark has also held prominent board roles, including Board Chair at Direct Relief, where he helped the organization become one of the largest U.S. nonprofits and remains the Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee. He also served on the boards of BioIQ and Ovation Medical, and has advised innovative companies such as ParentSquare in his capacity as a Board Observer. Accordingly, Mark brings to ASA International and the Board extensive commercial, philanthropic and management experience.