South Pacific Business Development

Our Team Greg Casagrande Founder and Chief Executive Officer Greg is a serial social entrepreneur and founded the SPBD Microfinance Network in 2000, launching its first entity in Samoa and further expanding to Tonga, Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.  Greg also founded MicroDreams, a microfinance acceleration fund, and Transformative Ventures LLC, a microfinance advisory [...]

Our Team Polly Kelekis Chief Operating Officer Polly brings more than 22 years of both corporate and non-profit experience to SPBD, including 13 years in the microfinance industry. Her work in microfinance has taken her to diverse markets, including Tanzania, Honduras, Haiti, Armenia and the South Pacific (Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu). [...]

Our Team Luapene Lefau General Manager – SPBD Samoa Luapene currently serves as the General Manager of SPBD Samoa and is the first Samoan to hold this top post.  She brings more than 30 years of professional experience to her role. Luapene has been with SPBD Samoa for the past 17 years, most recently serving [...]

Our Team Sandeep K. Lohani Chief Financial Officer Sandeep has more than 16 years of experience in financial inclusion, impact investing, general management, business planning and corporate strategy. He developed and managed several innovative businesses, designed and rolled out new products, and developed distribution channels across diverse geographies with robust system, processes and controls. Sandeep [...]

Our Team Raymond McCarthy General Manager – SPBD Solomon Islands Raymond's 13-year journey with SPBD Microfinance showcases a dedicated and progressive career within the organization. Starting as a Center Manager in 2010, he climbed the professional ladder by assuming various senior roles in SPBD Samoa. His career opportunities took him to the Solomon Islands in [...]

Our Team Elrico Munoz General Manager – SPBD Fiji Elrico has more than 25 years of diverse experience in the microfinance space, and he has been managing SPBD Fiji for 8 years.  While heading SPBD Fiji, Rico also served as Chairman of the Microfinance Working Group for Fiji for 3 years.  Rico also served as [...]

Our Team Asela Po'oi General Manager – SPBD Vanuatu Asela has more than 13 years of experience in financial inclusion. Prior to becoming the General Manager of SPBD Vanuatu, she served as the Finance and Administration Manager and was instrumental to launching and developing SPBD Vanuatu. Asela began her career with SPBD Tonga in 2010, [...]

Our Team Fine Tu’ipulotu General Manager – SPBD Tonga Fine is the General Manager of SPBD Tonga and is the first Tongan to serve in this top post. Fine brings more than 30 years of professional experience to her role. Prior to assuming the GM role, Fine served as the Finance and Administration Manager for [...]