Richard Osei-Anim joins Ishmael Yamson & Associates as Senior Partner to lead AI Global Practice

Ishmael Yamson & Associates (IY&A) today announced the appointment of Richard Osei-Anim as Senior Partner, where he will lead the Firm's Organisational Transformation Advisory — AI Global Practice. The role marks a strategic investment in deepening IY&A's capabilities at a moment when artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping how African enterprises compete, operate, and create value.

For Richard, the appointment represents a natural evolution. Over the past decade, he has built a reputation as one of Africa's foremost architects of large-scale digital transformation — not through theory, but through execution.

A track record built on delivery

As Group CEO of Durham & Cheshunt Holdings and Coral Reef Innovation Africa, Richard has led the development of digital learning ecosystems that have reached approximately one million learners and teachers across the continent — equipping them with AI, STEM, and future-of-work skills at a scale few have achieved.

His flagship initiative, Ghana's National Digital Literacy Project, deployed 45,000 devices, established 700 Smart Labs nationwide, and trained 1,400 teachers — a programme that has become a reference point for national-scale digital education across Africa.

He also co-launched LearnAIrium, an AI-powered learning platform developed in partnership with Intel, MTN, ABSA, Coronation, and Old Mutual. Beyond education, Richard has mentored over 120 startups and helped mobilise nearly $50 million in seed capital — contributing directly to Africa's emerging innovation economy.

His advisory portfolio includes Ghana Cocobod, Newmont Ghana, UNESCO, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, Otumfuo Foundation ,Mastercard Foundation , GIZ, Oxfam MTN, the Ministry of Education, and the Ghana Education Service — institutions where strategic insight must translate into tangible, measurable outcomes.

The AI Imperative for African enterprise

Reflecting on his new role, Richard offered a clear-eyed assessment of what lies ahead: "Artificial intelligence is no longer optional — it is foundational to competitiveness, productivity, and long-term resilience. My focus at IY&A will be to help organisations move beyond AI conversations to structured implementation, governance, and measurable enterprise value creation. Africa must not just consume AI — we must strategically lead in how it is applied for sustainable growth.”

Scope of the new role

In his capacity as Senior Partner, Richard will advise clients across five interconnected areas:

• Enterprise AI strategy – Designing implementation roadmaps that translate ambition into measurable outcomes

• Organisational redesign – Restructuring operations, workflows, and teams for AI-enabled performance

• AI governance – Building ethical frameworks, risk protocols, and compliance structures fit for purpose

• Executive & board advisory – Preparing leadership teams to navigate the complexities of digital-era governance

• Workforce transformation – Developing capabilities and talent pipelines for an AI-augmented future

The appointment reinforces IY&A's commitment to helping clients not merely adapt to technological change, but to lead it.

Background and credentials

Richard holds an MBA from Durham Business School and is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII). He is a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach and Kirton Adaptor-Innovation Consultant.

A former lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the University of Greenwich, Richard brings a rare combination of academic rigour, entrepreneurial instinct, and boardroom credibility. He currently serves as a director of Wanderlust Ghana, an expedition initiative promoting global exploration and leadership development.