Derick Briers, from actuarial science to innovative inTouch leader

Executive director spotlight
Under his leadership, inTouch has introduced cutting-edge tech solutions for businesses.
Chris Kaukemua
  • 23 Hours Ago
Executive director Derick Briers is steering inTouch Interactive Marketing to transform how businesses engage with customers across Namibia. Since taking the helm in 2017, he has overseen the rollout of more than 100 iQMS (queue management system) kiosks, which the company says have cut waiting times at major banks and insurance firms by up to 75%.

Briers did not begin his career in technology. He holds a degree in actuarial science and is a certified management accountant through the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), one of the world’s leading professional bodies for management accountants.

His career has spanned roles as general manager in plastics manufacturing, finance manager and chief information officer. This combination of analytical skills and operational expertise, he says, has enabled him to ensure inTouch develops top-of-the-line, customer-focused digital solutions.



The way of the future

Under his leadership, inTouch has introduced innovative business process automation systems through WhatsApp, eTicket systems, RSVP platforms and AfriWallet. These innovations cater to a growing African market where 88% of consumers prefer to interact with businesses digitally.

Namibia’s digital transformation and Africa’s booming mobile money sector – now with one billion wallets processing US$1 trillion in transactions – have opened doors for regional expansion, he explains.

Briers plans to extend inTouch’s services to Botswana and Zambia, citing Botswana’s 2.7 million consumers and Zambia’s 19.6 million young, tech-savvy population. Research indicates that similar systems in African banks reduce waiting times by 50–75% and boost customer satisfaction by 25–60%.

He stresses the importance of continuous learning and embracing artificial intelligence to enhance customer experience. For students and young innovators, his story shows that success in technology does not depend on starting out in the field, but on understanding problems, learning consistently and creating solutions that deliver measurable value.