Structure
Herjola Spahiu
Chief Executive OfficerOver 17 years of proven experience in strategic planning, retail, operations and projects, organizational development and change management in the banking and financial sector.
After in depth banking experience, in April 2014 Ms. Herjola Spahiu took over the lead of the company as the Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Steering Council, focused on the fulfillment of the long-term objectives of NOA, building a strong senior managers' team able to collectively drive the business and achieve high results, ensuring the company is in full compliance with the legal and regulatory framework, Code of Conduct and acting at all times as the guardian of company’s values.
In the spirit of advocating and promoting the role of the microfinance sector in the Albanian economy, Ms. Spahiu held the position of Chairwoman of the Albanian Microfinance Association in the period 2015-2016.
2011-2014 2011-2014 In the position of Head of Retail Banking, she led successfully the transformation project under way for the smooth transitioning from Emporiki Group to Credit Agricole Group, ensuring alignment of the network with the new Group strategy and Compliance objectives.
2009 – 2011 Promoted as Chief Operations Officer, besides IT and Operations, Finance, Treasury and Administration she led successfully simultaneously the Project for the implementation of New Core Banking System (FlexCube) and the development of Retail Collection strategy, which resulted in the establishment of a dedicated structure in pursuit of non-performing loans, as well as in building specialized products for restructured loans.
2002 – 2009 After starting her early career in 2002 at Tirana Bank, she joined Credit Agricole in July 2003, being promoted in several job positions, following the bank’s expansion and focus during the period. In April 2006, she took over the responsibility to establish the Retail and Marketing Bank Division, reaching high scores and achieving a network expansion from 3 to 20 branches in main cities of the country. During this period, she successfully led the important project of: “Application of New Business Model” in the network of branches, a new philosophy of customer service with high quality and performance driven.
Ms. Herjola Spahiu graduated in Business Administration/Marketing at the Faculty of Economics in Vlora, in 2002, later attending postgraduate studies in Banking Management and Promotion of Banking Products, at the University of Athens. She holds an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) Degree from the International Hellenic University in Thessaloniki. Recently, she has been awarded with a certificate in “Strategic Leadership in Inclusive Finance” from the Harvard Business University.
Akil Kraja
Projects & Business Development DirectorOver 10 years of provenexperience in project management,locally and internationally, policy and strategy development relatingto small businesses and agricultural funding.
He was promoted in February 2020 as Business Projects and Development Director, mainly focused in business development support through building the alternative sales channels, management of institutional brand promotional activities and overall leading of major NOA’sbusiness projects in order to meet institutional objectives.
Mr. Kraja joined NOA in December 2018 in the position ofCEO Adviser, focused on developing institutional communication and marketing strategies, promoting the institution towards national and international organizations,draftingand coordinating business projects.
2015 - 2018 Mr. Kraja has served as the General Secretary of the Albanian Microfinance Association where he oversaw the sectorial promotion in the country.
2012 - 2013 He has been engaged at the Albanian Investment Development Agencyas Director for SME & Exports supporting the promotion of Albanian Public Grant Schemes.
2008 – 2012 He has been involved in several international initiatives, including at the European Commission and French public institutions.
Mr. Kraja graduated in International Public Management, at Sciences Po Paris, in 2009. He also holds a master’s degree in Economics and Management of Public Administration and International Institutions issued by Bocconi University, Milano, Italy, as well as a master’s degree in public administration issued on 2011 from the Ecole Nationaled’Administration based in Strasbourg, France.
Ariola Cela
Finance DirectorOver 13 years of proven experience in finance, financial audit, advisory projects, risk management and strategic planning, in external audit and financial sector. Ms. Çela was promoted as Finance Director in April 2018 after 3 successful years as Group Accounting and Reporting Manager and Risk Management Director, with focus on delivering a comprehensive accounting and financial service, ensuring that all financial actions within the organization are performed in accordance with financial regulations.
2015 – 2018 She joined NOA in January 2015 as Group Accounting and Reporting Manager, after 10 years of experience in external audit, financial audits and advisory projects, seamless group accounting, consolidation and reporting function which allowed effective analysis of the business. Simultaneously she held the position of Corporate Secretary of the Steering Committee and Member of the Internal Audit Committee of NOA.
2006 – 2014 She started her early career at Deloitte Albania as an audit assistant being promoted over the years to several senior positions. She successfully performed financial audits and advisory projects focusing on internal controls and IFRS compliance for many local and international companies operating both in Albania and Kosovo becoming a business partner for those businesses. She also managed successfully to assess internal controls and procedures and internal audit function in banking industry as well as in other financial institutions. She was promoted as Senior Supervisor, Audit Department in 2011. During this period, she has facilitated trainings in relation to best practices in following audit framework and methodology; documentation; ethics standards, governance, identification of fraud.
Ms. Çela graduated in “Finance and Accounting” at Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana, in 2005. Membership Certificate at Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK – ACCA.
Elda Toro
Internal Audit DirectorOver 20 years of experience in Financial Audit, Management and Control in the financial sector, provision of services to both international and local clients including audit of IFRS/IAS financial statements, due diligence and consulting mainly in public utilities, construction, retails as well as banking and telecommunications.
After 20 years of in depth financial and audit experience Ms. Toro joined NOA as Internal Audit Director, in January 2019, with main focus on providing an independent and coordinated operational inspection service to all areas of the business, highlighting and reporting on all areas of non-compliance and exposure, and making recommendations for change. Managing external partners and co-ordinate external audit.
2012 - 2018 Ms. Toro joined "Final", a microfinance institution in the role of the Finance Director, where she developed the finance department for over 6 years, ensuring compliance with the requirements of regulators and auditors focusing on setting up all the policies and procedures needed to manage risks and financial controls.
1999 - 2011 She started her early career at Deloitte Albania as an audit assistant and continued later at PricewaterhouseCoopers Albania. Over the years she has been promoted to several senior positions, Advisory and Audit Manager, in both companies.
Ms. Toro graduated in "Finance and Banking" from the University of Tirana, in 1999. Membership Certificate at Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK – ACCA.
Klodi Berberi
Business Processes DirectorOver 19 years of experience in the banking system focused on operations and especially in information technology, supporting banking operations based on technological solutions.
Mr. Berberi joined NOA in September 2018 as Business Processes Director, after 19 years of experience at Tirana Bank, focused on ensuring that all processes and systems within the Company maximize NOA’s ability to deliver the business plan and give excellent service to our customers.
2005 – 2015 In June 2015 he was promoted at the position of Information and Organization Director. Throughout this time, besides taking care of the operations, the retention and data processing, he successfully participated as a leader and co-leader in many important projects successfully delivered for Tirana Bank. During this period, he managed to align IT and Operations Strategy to Bank’s Strategy by providing best and most qualitative support services for the Bank.
1999 - 2005 He started his early career at Tirana Bank in the position of Computer Systems and Information Systems Administrator, to be promoted to further as Information Technology Manager in July 2005.
During these years, he has experienced teaching in several IT fields and built IT infrastructure architecture for several companies as a freelance consultant.
Mr. Klodi Berberi graduated in Informatics from Faculty of Natural Sciences, in Tirana in 1999. He also holds a master’s degree in Business Management and Technology from University of Sheffield.
Blerina Krantja
Human Resources DirectorOver 11 years of experience in human resources, organizational development and change management in the banking and financial sector. Provision of services and programs which maximize the people resource to ensure organization can meet its goals for growth.
Since May 2019 Member of Labor and Ethics Committee – American Chamber of Commerce in Albania, aiming to deal with issues related to HR management, compliance with working regulations and legislation, Labor Code, Code of Ethics, Anticorruption practices, and more.
Ms. Krantja was promoted as Human Resources Director in May 2017 after 3 successful years as Compensation and Benefits Manager in NOA. Implementation of new human resources policies to optimize the organizational structure, human resources development, talent management, recruitment strategies, employer branding, retention tools, training, team management etc.
2014 – 2017 She joined NOA in November 2014 as the Compensation and Benefits Manager, after 6 years of experience in Central Bank of Albania in the Human Resources area. Over the course of three years, she built a strong and sustainable Compensation and Benefits Unit, integrating payroll and bonuses related processes in HR and leading automation of all human resource processes through HR Software Project. She has managed to design and implement effective communication strategies regarding total compensation and benefits and bring concrete proposals for improving the Health insurance benefit program and other incentive schemes.
2008 – 2014 She started her early career at Bank of Albania as a human resources specialist, mainly focused on compensation and benefits area, design and implementation of social policies and staff benefits. Over the years she dealt successfully with health and insurance benefits program, incentive schemes but also training coordination, performance management oversight and coordination, relationship with third parties etc. during these six years she acquired further skills and competencies in all the Human Resources functions.
Ms. Krantja graduated in “Finance & Banking” at Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca, Romania in 2006 . She holds also a master’s degree in “Banking & Capital Markets”, issued by the same institution in 2007 .
Albana Pelinku
Risk Management DirectorOver 13 years of proven experience in collection, recoveries, legal and compliance and risk management in banking sector and financial institutions.
Upon return in NOA in January 2018 as Legal and Recovery Director, Ms. Pelinku was further promoted in August 2018 as Risk Management Director focused in ensuring that all company’s risks are minimized by delivering robust risk policies, procedures and on-going analysis, delivering a comprehensive risk assessment service which aligns with the business plan and financial regulations.
2015 – 2017 Ms. Pelinku joined NOA for the first time in May 2015 as the Legal and Recovery Director, after 11 years of experience in banking sector at Credit Agricole and Raiffeisen Bank. For 2 years she successfully managed legal and contractual risks and ensured that processes and procedures are fully compliant with the Albanian Regulation through provision of legal advisory services. She also defined successful strategies to effectively recover written off loans.
2010 – 2015 She joined Credit Agricole Bank, initially in the position of Head of Distress Asset Management to be further promoted as Head of Business Control and Network Support, making an impact in implementing appropriate levels of control in the Bank's branch network, in terms of legal requirements for compliance and operational risk requirements.
2004 – 2010 She started her early career in Raiffeisen Bank where along the years she experienced several positions starting as customer service for businesses to be further promoted to Senior Investigation Specialist, Head of Investigation Unit and Head of Collection Unit. She gave substantial contribution in implementation of operational risk controls and investigations, collection strategies, drawing and management of restructuring loans processes etc.
Ms. Pelinku graduated in Law at the Faculty of Law in Shkodra, in 2003. She also holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Tirana and is also a Certified Expert in Risk Management from Frankfurt School.
Ennis Koçi
Drejtor i Dep. të MIS & Zhvillimit të ProjekteveZnj.Ennis Koçi, e diplomuar në Fakultetin e Shkencave të Natyrës për Informatikë në vitin 2002 dhe Master niveli i II-të në 2011, e angazhuar si Pedagoge e Jashtme në këtë Fakultet që nga viti 2003, pas një eksperience 6-vjeçare në Administratën Shtetërore, si Specialist i IT-së në Këshillin e Qarkut Tiranë dhe Ministrinë e Drejtësisë, i është bashkuar NOA-s në vitin 2008 në pozicionin e Specialistit të Sigurisë së Informacionit.
Ajo ka dhënë kontributin e saj në krijimin e Politikave dhe Procedurave për Sigurinë e Teknologjisë së Informacionit, ngritjes së kontrolleve, përpilimin e planit të vazhdimësisë së biznesit (BCP) dhe ndërtimin e qendrës së rekuperimit të të dhënave (DRC).
Znj. Ennis Koçi është promovuar në vitin 2011 si IT Administrator dhe në vitin 2012 ka marrë përsipër drejtimin e Njësisë së Menaxhimit të Sistemeve të Informacionit (MIS), pozicion në të cilin realizoi automatizimin e shumë proceseve të biznesit, duke kontribuar në rritjen e efiçencës në kompani dhe menaxhimin e duhur të informacionit për matjen e performancës së saj. Ennis ka luajtur një rol të rëndësishëm në implementimin e sistemit të mbledhjes së kredive (Collection), CRM, Loan Origination, Burimeve Njerëzore dhe shumë sisteme të tjera lokale. Në vitin 2015, ajo arriti me sukses brenda një afati të shkurtër kohor upgrade të Sistemit Qendror, i cili u realizua pa asnjë impakt negativ në biznes.
Znj. Ennis është karakterizuar gjatë këtyre viteve për aftësitë e saj të larta në menaxhimin e projekteve dhe drejtimin e një skuadre të suksesshme gjithmonë në shërbim të biznesit, duke sjellë kontribut në analizën e kërkesave dhe realizimin e tyre për zgjidhje afatgjatë. Ajo zotëron një sërë kualifikimesh të çertifikuara në fushën e teknologjisë së informacionit dhe të manaxhimit.
Prej muajit Qershor 2017 është emëruar Drejtor i Departamentit të Sistemeve të Informacionit dhe Zhvillimit të Projekteve
The company's shareholders consist of a dynamic and skilled team that works closely and actively with local management to enable an efficient execution, corporate goals’ achievement and the support needed for a robust growth of the company.
The Board of Administration is the body that enables a strong and visionary governance of the institution. It is comprised of executive directors as well as external experts with international expertise in microfinance and investment, providing solid support for the sustainable development of the NOA financial institution.
.png)

