Ecobank Appoints Six Kenyans to Top Regional Positions

The elevation of Ecobank Kenya as the hub for Central, Eastern and Southern African (CESA) countries has started to pay off with the announcement by the pan African lender that five out of six Kenyan nationals have been appointed to top regional leadership positions.

Early this year, Ecobank Group announced major realignments in its business that saw it reduce the number of regional hubs across Africa from seven to four. CESA hub controls 18 out of the 35 countries that the Group operates in across the continent. In its “roadmap to leadership” strategy, Ecobank seeks to segment its business into three; Commercial banking, Consumer banking and Corporate and Investment banking.

The appointments include those of Alice Kilonzo Zulu as the Managing Director of Ecobank Rwanda and Raphael Onyango as the Head of Corporate Banking, Ecobank Tanzania. Both Alice and Raphael are career bankers with a combined experience of 38 years between them. Alice joined Ecobank in 2012 as a Senior Group Manager, Trade Finance based in Kenya. She has played a key role in driving the growth of trade portfolio business across the Group. Raphael on the other hand joined Ecobank in April this year from Standard Chartered Bank where he started his career as a Graduate Associate in 2001 before rising through the ranks to become the Executive Director & Head Local Corporates and Commodity Traders & Agri Business (CTA).

Others include Robert Kola who has been appointed the Regional Head, Transaction Services Group (TSG) for Central, Eastern and Southern Africa. He previously served as the Head of TSG Kenya. He has 15 years of banking experience and has also worked with Standard Chartered Bank in various senior positions.

Mr. Adjei also announced the elevation of Alex Kibaara to be the CESA Regional Head for Internal Control. Alex is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and has been tasked with enhancing operational excellence within the region by ensuring full adherence to Ecobank Group’s Rules, Policies and Procedures. He has been the Head of Internal Control at Ecobank Kenya since June 2011 a position he has held since he joined Ecobank from Citibank NA, Kenya.

Another regional appointee is David Chebii Kibet as CESA Regional Head for Early Warning Remedial & Recovery (EWRR). He has over nine years of experience in the banking industry, mostly working at Ecobank. Prior to this appointment, he was the Senior Group Officer – Ecobank Group EWRR (Anglophone) and Regional Manager, EWRR.

Robert, Alex and David will all be based in Nairobi, the headquarters for the CESA office. In a move aimed at promoting the Ecobank Young Professionals Programme also known as the Graduate Management Trainee Programme, Mr. Adjei announced that Peter Kirichu, who joined the programme two years ago, would relocate to Ecobank’s Paris representative office as a Foreign Exchange (FX) trader. He previously worked at the Ecobank Kenya treasury department.

“Peter is a superb example of the progression that characterizes our Ecobank Young Professionals Programme and will now have a golden chance to work in one of the world’s most developed economies as he jumpstarts his banking career. I have no doubt that his appointment will motivate our management trainees to demonstrate their best capabilities and aim for nothing but the top,” Adjei said.

He revealed that more than 20 graduate trainees are enrolled in the programe which was launched in 2013. Many of them have been absorbed into the Bank’s workforce on a permanent basis.He explained that as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility and talent grooming, the Bank will be embarking on the second phase of the Ecobank Young Professionals Programme next year where more graduate trainees will be brought on board.

He reiterated Ecobank Kenya’s significance in the Group’s overall strategy success noting that the six appointments were made based on the outstanding leadership qualities exhibited by the employees and their overall commitment to the Bank.

The appointments, he said, will help Ecobank improve its overall efficiency and operational excellence in line with its strategy. Ecobank recently announced a shift to digital banking as it pushes for further automation of its services for enhanced service delivery. “We are laying a lot of emphasis on our transaction banking business because electronic banking and the use of technology for the delivery of financial services will be critical going forward,” Mr. Adjei said.