LFS Financial Systems

Philip Acton first worked for LFS in 2007 on a greenfield banking project in Southern Africa. Mr. Acton is Senior Consultant, and since April 2012, Chief Executive Officer of AccèsBanque in Madagascar. Before this, he worked in innovation for a clean energy company in the UK and, previously, in a number of countries in Africa and in India. He has worked with both micro finance organisations and commercial banks, such as Triodos Bank UK as well as for HSBC Bank in London, Hong Kong and Brunei. He has a degree in Economics and a Masters degree in International Relations. Mr. Acton speaks French, English and Irish.

Gastón Barazorda has been working for LFS since 1997. Mr. Barazorda is Senior Consultant. In that role, Mr. Barazorda worked in Team Leader positions in LFS projects in Colombia, Guatemala, Mozambique and Peru, and for Peruvian banks in senior management positions with responsibility for MSME finance. In the first 19 years of his professional career he worked with the Peruvian Banking Supervision Authority. Mr. Barazorda is an Economist, and speaks Spanish, English and Portuguese.

Michael Barleon has been working for LFS since 2004. Mr. Barleon is Senior Consultant, and currently Chief Executive Officer of AB Bank Zambia. Before he was 1.5 years Chief Executive Officer of AB Microfinance Nigeria and 1 year Credit Manager / Deputy General Manager of AccèsBanque in Madagascar. Prior to joining LFS, Mr. Barleon was 3 years Credit Manager and Branch Manager in MSME Banks in Albania and Romania. Mr. Barleon holds an M.A. in International Commerce and Development, and speaks German, English and French.
 

Julika Breyer has been working for LFS since 2008. Ms. Breyer is Senior Consultant and since January 2012 Chief Credit Officer of AB Bank Zambia. From 2009 to 2011 she has been part of the LFS Advisory Services Team at LFS Head Office in Berlin. Before, she was Credit Advisor in AB Microfinance Nigeria and AccessBank Tanzania. Prior to joining LFS, she worked 3 years as Technical Officer in the Social Finance Unit of the International Labour Organization in Geneva. Ms. Breyer is an Economist and speaks English, Spanish, French and German.

Roland Coulon joined LFS in 2010. Mr. Coulon is Senior Consultant, and since October 2011 Chief Executive Officer of  AccessBank Tanzania. Before he was for 1 year Business & Risk Manager in charge of SME loans and financial control at AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria. Prior to joining LFS, he worked 3 years as Senior Consultant with a French investment company specialised in greenfield microfinance, and 4 years as Senior Strategy Consultant with a major international consulting firm. Mr. Coulon is an Engineer, and speaks French, English and Spanish. 

Christoph Diehl has been working for LFS since 2000. Mr. Diehl is responsible for LFS projects in Africa and a member of the Management Board of AccessHolding, as well Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AB Bank Zambia and Director on the Supervisory Board of AccessBank Tanzania. He has 3 years professional experience as General Manager of a former LFS-managed Microfinance Bank in Mozambique, and 7 years experience in senior management positions in MSME and housing finance institution building projects in various countries. Mr. Diehl has an M.Sc. in Economics, and speaks German and English. 

Ralf Draeger has been working for LFS since 2002. Mr. Draeger is Head of LFS's Commercial Department. Before joining LFS he worked 16 years as controller in an international agrochemical firm, including management accounting functions and affiliate controlling, and about one year as bank controller. Mr. Draeger has an M.Sc. in Business Administration, and speaks German and English.

 

Karin Everding has been working for LFS since 2007. Ms. Everding is Senior Consultant, and currently Operations Manager of AB Bank Zambia. Before she worked 3 years as Senior Consultant for Credit, Retail and Operations with AccessBank in Azerbaijan and half a year with AccessBank Tanzania. Prior to joining LFS, she spent 13 years of her professional career with German commercial banks and 1.5 years with an MSME Bank in the Ukraine. Ms. Everding has an M.Sc. in Business Administration, and speaks German, English and Russian.

Dr. Mattias Grammling has been working for LFS since 2010. Mr. Grammling is Senior Consultant, and since March 2012 Chief Executive Officer of AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria. Before, Mr. Grammling worked as Chief Credit and Operations Officer, Branch Coordinator and Chief Banking Services Officer with AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria. Prior to joining LFS, he worked 7 years as Freelance MSME Finance Consultant all over the world, with particular focus on staff incentive schemes. Mr. Grammling has a PhD and a M.Sc. in Economics, and speaks German, English and Spanish.

Marijana Grujic has been working for LFS since 2010, and from 2007 to 2009. Ms. Grujic is Senior Consultant at LFS Head Office, and Senior Expert for Retail and Operations in the LFS Competency Centre. Before, she was 1 year Chief Operating Officer of AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria, and 1 year Banking Consultant working in various short-term assignments. Prior to joining LFS, Ms. Grujic worked 6 years in small business banks in Serbia and Africa. Ms. Grujic has a B.Sc. in English Language and Literature, and speaks Serbian, English, French and Spanish.

Marcus Hannappel has been working for LFS since 2007. Mr. Hannappel is Senior Banking Consultant at LFS Head Office, and Senior Expert for Credit in the LFS Competency Centre. He is Director on the Supervisory Boards of AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria and AccessBank Liberia. Before returning to LFS Head Office, 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.
 

Oliver Hesch has been working for LFS since 2011. Mr. Hesch is Senior Consultant, and since March 2011 General Manager of AccessBank Liberia. Prior to joining LFS, he worked many years in corporate banking, as Investment Director of CDC Participations, as an Investment Management Professional, and furthermore as a Deputy Managing Director (Finance & Organization) for a diversified Internet Access Provider and Technology Company. Mr. Hesch holds an International Master of Public Administration, a JD in International Public Law as well as an MBA in International Business. He speaks German, French, English and Spanish.

Corinna Heuer has been working for LFS since 2009. Ms. Heuer is Senior Consultant at LFS Head Office, and Business Analyst in the LFS Competency Centre. Before she was 1.5 years Banking Services Manager of AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria. Prior to joining LFS, she worked 2 years with the foundation of a German political party in Benin. Ms. Heuer has an M.A. in African Studies and Economics, and speaks German, English, French and Hausa.

Stephan Hödtke has been working for LFS since 2008. Mr. Hödtke is Manager IT Development in our IT Department. Prior to joining LFS, he worked as Software Developer and IT Manager in a private firm in Berlin. Mr. Hödtke has an M.Sc. in Mathematics and speaks German and English.

Norman Kruner has been working for LFS since 2007. Mr. Kruner is Manager IT Operations in our IT Department. Prior to joining LFS, he worked 16 years in Berlin with many private firms, starting as an insurance salesman and developing into an IT specialist, whose last position was Manager IT with a subsidiary of a German car manufacturer, before he worked 3 years as Freelance IT Consultant and Insurance Broker. Mr. Kruner is a trained Insurance Salesman, and speaks German and English.

Sergii Lebid has been working for LFS since 2009. Mr. Lebid is Senior Consultant, and since March 2011 Credit Manager of AccessBank Tajikistan. Before, Mr. Lebid was Credit Advisor in an MSME downscaling programme in the North Caucasus region of Russia, and then Branch Manager and Head of the SME Department of AccessBank Tajikistan. Prior to joining LFS, he worked for seven years with Ukrainian banks in the field of MSME lending. Mr. Lebid has a Master in Management and a Bachelor of Law. He speaks Ukrainian, Russian and English.

Johannes Mainhardt has been working for LFS since 2009. Mr. Mainhardt is Senior Consultant, and since January 2011 Financial & Operations Manager of AccessBank Tajikistan. Before, Mr. Mainhardt worked as Consultant with AccessBank in Azerbaijan, and as SME Advisor & Branch Manager with AccessBank Liberia. Prior to joining LFS, he did a three-year traineeship with a leading German bank, working in all fields of banking. Mr. Mainhardt as has a B.A. in Business Administration, specializing in banking and finance, and speaks German, English, French and Russian.

Gulnoz Makhmudova has been working for LFS since 2001. Ms. Makhmudova is Senior Regional Advisor in a Micro, SME and Mortgage Financing Programme in Uzbekistan. Bevor, she was Senior Retail and Banking Consultant in  AccessBank Tajikistan and in AccessBank in Azerbaijan and 5 years as Local Consultant and Internal Auditor in an MSE downscaling programme in Uzbekistan. Ms. Makhmudova is a Certified Auditor, and has a Diploma in International Economics. She speaks Uzbek, Russian and English.

Friederike Möllers has been working for LFS since 2009. Ms. Möllers is Senior Consultant, and since April 2011 Credit Manager / Deputy General Manager of AccèsBanque in Madagascar. Before, Ms. Möllers worked as Credit Advisor at AccessBank Tanzania and as Head of Micro Loans with AccessBank Liberia. Prior to joining LFS, she worked as Junior Consultant for Local Economic Development in Bolivia with the DED German Development Service. Ms. Möllers has an M.A. in Social Sciences, and speaks German, English, Spanish and French.

Claudia Müller has been working for LFS since 2005. Ms. Müller is Senior Consultant at LFS Head Office, and Senior Expert for Retail and Operations in the LFS Competency Centre. From 2005 to 2007 she was Operations Manager of AccessBank in Azerbaijan. Before joining LFS, she worked 2 years as Head of Retail Operations with an MSME Bank in Ukraine and 3 years in the telecommunications industry. Ms. Müller has an M.Sc. in Business Administration and Intercultural Management, and speaks German, English and Russian.

Cosmin Olteanu has been working for LFS since 2006 and is currently Senior Consultant at LFS Head Office, and Senior Expert for Credit in the LFS Competency Centre. From 2006 to 2009 Mr. Olteanu was Credit Advisor and later on Credit Manager / Deputy General Manager of AccèsBanque in Madagascar. From 2009 to 2010 he was Long-Term Advisor in an upgrading project with two Romanian MFIs. In 2010 Mr. Olteanu took a sabbatical year for the purpose of development studies with a microfinance focus in Switzerland and Peru. Prior to joining LFS, Mr. Olteanu worked for 4 years in MSME banks in Romania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr. Olteanu has a Diploma in Economics and a Master of Advanced Studies in Development. He speaks Romanian, English, French and Spanish.

Alexander Pinhammer-Zschocher joined LFS in 2010. Mr. Pinhammer is Senior Accountant at LFS Head Office. His primary responsiblity is establishing, consolidating and supervising the accounting function in AccessHolding network banks and AccessHolding itself. Prior to joining LFS, Mr. Pinhammer worked 6 years with a major international consulting and audit firm, last as Senior Associate. Mr. Pinhammer has an M.Sc. in Economics, and speaks German, English and French.
 

Dr. Andrew Pospielovsky has been working for LFS since 2006 and is Senior Consultant. Previously, he worked 6 years as Senior Consultant and Manager in MSME finance institution building projects in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Russia, Macedonia, Nepal, Kenya, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Dr. Pospielovsky holds a Ph.D. in Modern History and an M.A. in Area Studies Eastern Europe and Russia from the London School for Slavonic and Eastern European Studies. He speaks English and Russian.

Jürgen Rausch has been working for LFS since 2007. Mr. Rausch is Head of our IT Department. Prior to joining LFS, he worked 17 years as IT Expert in several subsidiaries of a major German automobile firm, last as Senior Manager in the IT Department of the financial services subsidiary. Mr. Rausch has a Degree in Business Information Technology, and speaks German and English.
 
 

Martin Rohler has been working for LFS since 2000. Mr. Rohler is Senior Consultant, Project Manager and Manager Advisory Services at LFS Head Office. From October 2004 to November 2006 he was Credit Manager / Deputy General Manager of a former LFS-managed Microfinance Bank in Mozambique. Previously, he worked as Senior Consultant at Head Office, and in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Mozambique and Tajikistan. Mr. Rohler holds  an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics, and speaks German, English, Portuguese and Spanish.

Katharina Schachtner has been working for LFS since 2003. Ms. Schachtner is Senior Consultant, and since September 2011 General Manager of AccessBank Tajikistan. Before, she was for 2 years Investment & Controlling Officer of AccessHolding, after working 5 years in senior management positions in MSE downscaling projects in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, last from 2006 to 2008 as Project Manager of the Tajikistan Micro and Small Enterprise Facility. Prior to joining LFS, Ms. Schachtner worked 10 years in two German commercial banks and in the advertising industry. Ms. Schachtner has an M.Sc. in Business Administration, and speaks German, English and Russian.

Patrick Schöneborn has been working for LFS since 2004. Mr. Schöneborn is Senior Consultant, and since November 2011 Senior Investment Officer of  AccessHolding. Before, he worked for 3 years with AccessBank Tanzania, in the first 1.5 years as Chief Credit Officer / Deputy CEO, and in the second 1.5 years as Chief Executive Officer.  Prior to the assignment in Tanzania, he was for 2 years Investment & Controlling Officer of AccessHolding, based at LFS Head Office, after serving as Regional Supervisor in a former LFS-managed Microfinance Bank in Mozambique. Mr. Schöneborn has an M.Sc. in Industrial Strategy, and speaks German, English, Spanish, Portuguese and French.

Hedvig Sundberg rejoined LFS in 2010 after having worked for LFS from 2007 to 2009. Ms. Sundberg is Senior Consultant, and since October 2011 Chief Credit Officer / Deputy CEO of AccessBank Tanzania, after working for 1 year as Chief Credit Officer of AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria. Before she was one year Operations Consultant with a Nigerian MFI and 1.5 years Credit Advisor with AccessBank Tanzania and AccèsBanque in Madagascar. Ms. Sundberg has an M.Sc. in Business Administration, and speaks Swedish, English and French.
 

Alexandra Weichesmiller has been working for LFS since 2008. Ms. Weichesmiller is Senior Consultant, and Head of the Internal Audit Department that supervises the internal audit functions of AccessHolding network banks and AccessHolding itself. Prior to joining LFS, she worked 2 years as Senior Auditor with a major international audit firm, and one year as Executive Advisor with a German commercial bank. Ms. Weichesmiller has a B.Sc. in Business Administration, and speaks German, English, French and Spanish.

Pawel Wodz has been working for LFS since 2009. Mr. Wodz is Senior Consultant and since January 2011 Credit Manager / Deputy General Manager of AccessBank Liberia. Before, Mr. Wodz worked first as Credit Advisor with AccessBank Tanzania and then with AccessBank Liberia as Branch Manager and SME Manager. Prior to joining LFS, he worked two years as Business Analyst with international strategic consultancies in Warsaw. Mr. Wodz has a Master in Finance and Banking and speaks Polish, English and German.

Christoph Ziegler has been working for LFS since 2001. Mr. Ziegler is Senior Consultant, and Project Supervisor for the TIP in our AccessBank in Azerbaijan. Before, he worked as International Resident Advisor in the Micro, SME and Mortgage Financing Programme in Uzbekistan, General Manager of AccessBank Tajikistan, Senior Banking Consultant at LFS Head Office, Credit Manager of AccessBank in Azerbaijan, Project Manager of an MSE downscaling programme in Tajikistan, and Deputy Project Manager of an MSE downscaling programme in Uzbekistan. Mr. Ziegler holds an M.A. in Economics and Eastern European Studies, and speaks German, English, Russian and Polish.