Chairman Dr. Bernd Zattler, founded LFS in 1997, and has since then been Managing Director and majority owner of the firm. He is also Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria, and Director on the Supervisory Boards of AccessHolding and AccèsBanque Madagascar. Before the foundation of LFS, Mr. Zattler worked for a multinational firm and in institutions engaged in development finance. Dr. Zattler holds a Ph.D. in Economics, and speaks German, English, French and Spanish.
MD/CEO Susanne Hierholzer, is a Senior Consultant and currently General Manager of AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria. Before this, she worked about 1.5 years in a Savings Bank in Germany as Executive Advisor to the Management Board and the Supervisory Board. Before this, she worked for the German Savings Bank Foundation for International Cooperation as a Senior Consultant with the Savings Bank of Madagascar for 20 months. Before going to Madagascar, she was for many years a Director of Market & “S 24 direkt”; and before this, a Director of Marketing at the Savings Bank Staufen-Breisach in Germany. Mrs Hierholzer holds a Degree in Advanced Studies of International Economics and Finance, and a Master of Science in Economics; she speaks German, French and English.
Director Loic De Canniere, has been the Managing Director of INCOFIN (a social investment company that invests in MFIs in developing countries) since 2001. He is also the Managing Director of Impulse Microfinance Investment Fund. Before this, he was the Business Development Manager at Dredging International, the second largest marine engineering company in the world. Before this also, he was the Chief of Staff of the Minister-President of the Government of Flanders from 1992 – 1995, and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Minister of Public Works from 1989 – 1992. Mr Canniere holds an M.A. in Economics, and speaks Dutch, French, English, German and Spanish.
Director Marcus Hannappel, has been working for LFS since 2007. Mr. Hannappel is Senior Consultant, and since 2010 Senior Banking Consultant at LFS Head Office. Before he was 1 year Chief Credit Officer / Deputy CEO of AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria and 2.5 years Credit Advisor and Branch Manager with this bank and AccèsBanque in Madagascar. Mr. Hannappel has an M.Sc. in Economics, and speaks German, English, French and Spanish.
Director Stefan W. Hirche, is an advisor on basic principles and political planning in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Until mid-2010, he worked for eight years at KfW Entwicklungsbank. In his last position, he worked on financial sector development in Sub-Saharan Africa, including branchless banking, deposit protection, structured finance, microfinance and microinsurance. Concurrently he also held two directorships in microfinance institutions. He was the Founding Chairperson of the first microfinance investment vehicle in Ghana. Earlier he worked in credit risk management and private equity fund management. Mr. Hirche holds an MBA and an M.A. in International Economic Policy, and speaks German, Englisch and French.
Director Mohammed Kahiyeh Kalif, has over 20 years of extensive risk management experience, including managing and supervising the activities of risk division; extensive experience in all aspects of credit policies and guidelines development. He was the unit head- Project Finance Mashrebank Dubai, Credit Manager-Riyad Bank, Saudi Arabia, Relationship Manager –Bright Bank Texas USA, Financial Analyst Lamberti & Associates. He has an MBA from University of Dallas, Texas, USA and a BA from University of Central Oklahoma. He has been working with the African Development Bank since 2002 where he is currently the Chief Credit Officer. Speaks English and Arabic.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
MD/CEO Susanne Hierholzer, is a Senior Consultant and currently General Manager of AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria. Before this, she worked about 1.5 years in a Savings Bank in Germany as Executive Advisor to the Management Board and the Supervisory Board. Before this, she worked for the German Savings Bank Foundation for International Cooperation as a Senior Consultant with the Savings Bank of Madagascar for 20 months. Before going to Madagascar, she was for many years a Director of Market & “S 24 direkt”; and before this, a Director of Marketing at the Savings Bank Staufen-Breisach in Germany. Mrs Hierholzer holds a Degree in Advanced Studies of International Economics and Finance, and a Master of Science in Economics; she speaks German, French and English.
Chief Operating Officer Mattias Grammling, joined LFS in February 2010 and worked briefly in Access Bank Liberia for two months. In late March 2010 he moved to Nigeria as a Branch Coordinator. Before joining LFS, he worked for 7 years as an independent consultant, mainly for the World Bank/CGAP, MicroSave, the MicroFinance Network and ProCredit. During this time, he advised almost 30 Microfinance Institutions in 16 countries on efficiency and productivity enhancement tools, such as staff incentive systems. He also worked as a trainer for the Boulder Microfinance Training and comparable programs. He has a Master’s level degree in economics from the German University of Trier and currently finalizes a PhD in business administration at the same institution.
