Yusuf Omari has been appointed as the interim chief executive officer of Absa Bank Kenya effective next month.
He takes over from Jeremy Awori who stepped down from the CEO post in September for a similar role at the Eco Bank. He leaves Absa end of this month.
Omari's appointment follows regulatory approval from the Capital Market Authority and the bank's board.
In a statement, Absa Bank chairman Charles Muchene termed the appointment as critical in ensuring a smooth leadership transition.
“I am confident that this appointment will help us continue executing our strategy whilst ensuring a smooth leadership transition,” said Charles Muchene, the bank's board chairman.
Omari is a long-serving member of the bank's executive committee and the board.
He held a variety of senior positions within the bank, including the Regional head of Internal Audit and the Regional Head of Compliance.
Their most current position prior to his appointment has been the position of Chief Finance Officer (CFO), a role he has held since 2009.
He holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Strathmore Business School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi.
He also holds an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) certification from the International Institute of Management Development (IMD, Switzerland) and from Strathmore Business School in association with IESE Business School, Spain.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FCPA) and a member of the Institute of Certified Internal Auditors.
