Christopher Garland

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Christopher Roy Garland
Born Plymouth, England, United Kingdom
Nationality British
Other names Chris Garland
Occupation Businessman and executive
Managing director of Fidelity Indemnity

Christopher Roy Garland (also known as Chris Garland[1]) is a financial executive based in Gaborone, Botswana. He is the principal and Managing Director of Fidelity Indemnity (Pty) Limited, an international financial planning and corporate advisory consultancy that serves clients throughout the 16-country Southern African Development Community (SADC).[2]

Over the course of his career, Garland has worked with a number of national governments and multinational projects in countries across Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[3]

Early life and education

Chris Garland was born and raised in Plymouth, England, United Kingdom.[4] He attended primary and secondary schooling near his childhood home in Plymouth, where he showed an aptitude for mathematics and business. He relocated to South Africa in 1970.[5]

Chris Garland obtained an Honours degree from the University of Free State (South Africa) in 1985 and has held a Certified Financial Planner designation ever since. He has been a member in good stead of the Financial Planning Institute of South Africa since 1985 as well.

Career

Christopher Roy Garland has served as the managing director of Fidelity Indemnity (Pty) Limited since 1991.[5] The company provides financial planning services for both individuals and corporations, centered on three main areas of expertise: international financial planning for high-net-worth individuals and associated business entities; business development within the SADC region; and corporate advisory services for firms investing in infrastructure and development projects in southern Africa.[6]

Garland also holds a number of non-executive directorships in the SADC region. He previously sat on the boards of the Botswana Export and Development Investment Authority (BEDIA) and the Botswana International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).[7] He was also a non-executive director of their successor organisation, the Botswana Investment & Trade Centre (BITC) until 2019.

Garland has been a project member or advisor for a number of major infrastructure projects in southern Africa, including the Ponta Techobanine Inter-Regional Heavy Haul Railway Line and Deep-Water Port Project and major coal bed methane gas extraction, road transport, and air transport projects in Botswana.[8]

Personal life and hobbies

Chris Garland lives in the Kgale Hill district of Gaborone, Botswana, with his wife of more than 40 years. The couple have two grown children and share a love of animals.

Garland is an accomplished aircraft pilot and a member in good standing of the United States Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) for more than two decades. Since 1997, he has maintained an FAA Qualified Commercial Multi-Engine Pilot license and Instrument rating.[9] He devotes considerable amounts of his limited free time to flying and aircraft maintenance.

Philanthropy

Christopher Roy Garland is active with several charities serving southern Africa. He is a proud supporter of SA Guide-Dogs and Equinox Trust.[10] He previously served as Chairman of the Board of Westwood International School, an English medium international school founded with support from the U.S. and U.K. governments in cooperation with the Botswana Ministry of Education.[11]

References

External links