OUR TEAM

Stella Okuzu is a distinguished financial services executive, consultant, and academic with over three decades of experience in driving transformation and innovation across African and UK markets.

As the Founder and Managing Director of EDD Finance & Consulting Limited, Stella specialises in crafting market entry strategies for African businesses aiming to expand into the United Kingdom, and for UK-based companies seeking to establish or grow their presence in Africa. 

Previously, she served as the Pioneer Head of Personal & Business Banking and Head of Marketing at FCMB Bank (UK) Limited, where she was instrumental in setting up and expanding the bank's retail banking division. Her leadership in this Bank of England-approved role significantly contributed to the bank's growth and diversification. 

Stella holds an MBA from IESE Business School in Spain and is a certified Master Coach from the International Institute of Coaches. She is also an alumnus of Stanford University's Executive Management programme and Oxford University's Fintech Programme, reflecting her commitment to continuous professional development. 

She serves on the Board of Directors of FastCredit Limited, a Nigerian non-bank financial institution focused on providing loans and payment solutions to consumers and SMEs, thereby promoting financial inclusion. She chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Board Credit & Fintech Committees. 

Her professional affiliations include being a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (MCSI), and a Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (HCIB).

Lora is a seasoned finance professional with close to three decades of experience in the industry. She started her career as a sell-side equity analyst before moving into the buy-side. 

She worked for top tier banks such as UBS, Lazard and Deutsche bank. There she followed sectors including renewables, healthcare and also retail and the luxury goods markets, covering Europe and the MENASA regions.

Thanks to her ability to navigate complex financial transactions, analytical skills, and deep understanding of market trends, she moved into the world of UHNW Family Offices. There, on top of using her talent for valuing investment opportunities, she worked in corporate finance activities managing their M&A and restructuring needs, looking after heritage luxury businesses to essential engineering companies during the pandemic. 

Currently, on top of leveraging her vast experience to provide strategic financial advice to start-ups and high-net-worth individuals, she enjoys teaching the next generation in the art of financial analysis. She has recently stepped down from her position as Chair of the Royal Female School of Art Foundation, a circa .200 year old charity which she led for 8 years and helped restructure into a more sustainable institution