Our Board of Directors
James P. M. Ndegwa
Group Chairman - Non ExecutiveMr. Ndegwa has extensive experience in governance and business management. He is the Chairman of First Chartered Securities Limited, a private investment holding company with interests in financial services, agriculture, property, and logistics among other sectors. He is also a Director of several other companies and serves as Chairman of the ICEA LION Group. He previously served as Chairman of the Capital Markets Authority from year 2015 to 2021. Mr. Ndegwa holds an MA (Hons) degree from the University of Oxford, UK, and is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute, UK and the Insurance Institute of Kenya.
Desterio A. Oyatsi
Deputy Chairman - Independent Non ExecutiveMr. Oyatsi is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and Managing Partner of Shapely, Barret & Company Advocates. He is currently the Chairman of Base Titanium, a Non-Executive Director of Metropolitan Life Insurance Kenya Limited and a former Non-Executive Director of Kenol Kobil. Mr. Oyatsi previously served as a non-Executive Director of the Capital Markets Authority between 1999 and 2002, and of Telkom Kenya Limited between 1999 and 2003.
John Gachora
Group Managing Director - ExecutiveMr. Gachora has several years of experience in executive management positions at various global companies in Corporate and Investment Banking, Structuring and Financial Engineering, Commercial Banking and Financial services. He is a Director of several other companies and previously served as a Managing Director at Bank of America Securities and as Managing Director, Corporate and Investment Banking at Barclays Africa prior to joining the NCBA Group. Mr. Gachora holds Bachelor of Science and Masters in Engineering degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA and an MBA degree from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
Hon. Abdirahin H. Abdi
Independent Non-ExecutiveHon. Abdi served as the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (2007 to 2012), having been a member of the Assembly from 2001. He was instrumental in significantly influencing legislative, oversight and representation activities of the assembly, charged with fostering regional integration. Hon. Abdi holds a BSc. Degree in Business Administration (Finance), has been accorded presidential awards and international appointments in legislative roles for his distinguished service to the nation and region. He is a seasoned businessman with multi-sectoral experience gained from the private and public sectors and holds directorships in various companies.
Kairo Thuo
Independent Non-ExecutiveMr. Thuo has vast experience in Law and Accounting and is a tax, legal and financial consultant. Through his many years of practice, he has developed extensive experience in all areas of taxation in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania and has also been involved in tax matters involving other countries in Africa. Mr. Thuo previously served as an Associate Director at Deloitte until 2009. He is currently the Managing Partner of Viva Africa Consulting LLP and a Non- Executive Director, Special Economic Zones Authority among other companies. Mr. Thuo holds an LLB degree from the University of Nairobi, is a Certified Public Accountant in Kenya and Tanzania, and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).
Mariam M. H. Abdullahi
Independent Non-ExecutiveMs. Abdullahi has over 20 years of experience in IT and Telecommunications, having held leadership roles in Sales, Operations, Customer Service, and Business Transformation in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa at multinational companies including Ford Motor Company Group, Microsoft, Oberthur Technologies, Brightpoint, Zain, Emirates Telecommunications (du), and SAP. She is currently the Director for Android Platform Partnerships at Google for Africa, Middle East, Turkey, Israel and CIS regions, responsible for developing and executing strategies to increase the adoption of the Android ecosystem and Google Services. Ms. Abdullahi presently serves on various boards, including ICEA LION Group, GSMA Africa Advisory Board, NGOs and several start-ups. She holds a Bachelor of Science with a special focus on Computer Science and Business Management from Brunel University, England.
Andrew S. M. Ndegwa
Non-ExecutiveMr. Ndegwa has extensive experience in business management and financial services. He is currently Executive Director of First Chartered Securities Limited, a private investment holding company with interests in financial services, agriculture, property, and logistics among other sectors. He is also a Non-Executive Director at Unga Group PLC and director of several other companies. He previously served with Citibank and thereafter AMBank until 1995. Mr. Ndegwa holds an MA (Hons) degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University, UK.
Esther N. Ngaine
Non-ExecutiveMrs. Ngaine is a senior banker with over 36 years of experience and over the years has played a role in the development of the Financial Services Sector in Kenya and the East Africa Region. She is currently the Managing Director of her consultancy company, Non-Executive Director of several other companies and previously served as Director and Head of Public Sector at Citibank NA, Nairobi until 2014. Mrs. Ngaine holds a BSc. In International Business Administration, Finance option from United States International University (USIU).
Philip R. Lopokoiyit
Independent Non-ExecutiveMr. Lopokoiyit has a wealth of experience in Finance, accounting, risk management, internal controls and corporate governance, having worked for over 20 years in various senior management capacities in multinational companies, his last assignment was Area Head of Finance BAT East and Central Africa until 2017. He is also a former Non-Executive Director at CIC Insurance Group Ltd. Mr. Lopokoiyit holds a B.Com Degree (Hons.), Accounting Option from the University of Nairobi and MBA degree from the Warwick Business School, UK. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a member of Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants (ACMA).
Isaac O. Awuondo
Non-ExecutiveMr. Awuondo has over 32 years’ experience in the finance and banking sectors spanning Europe and Eastern Africa and has previously worked with BDO Binder Hamlyn, Nation Media Group and Standard Chartered Bank in various senior executive roles. He is the Chairman of the Council of Riara University, a Member of the Advisory Board of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and a Director of Bata Shoes Company Kenya Ltd. He is also Chairman of the Kenya Conservatoire of Music, WWF Kenya, The Rhino Trust and a Trustee of Zawadi Africa Education Fund. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) degree from the University of Nairobi. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ACA) and member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).
David Abwoga
ExecutiveMr. Abwoga has over 25 years regional experience in Audit, Operations and Finance, having worked for several years in various executive management positions at Citibank N.A., Marshalls (E.A.) Ltd. and Deloitte and is currently the Group Director, Finance at NCBA Group PLC. Mr. Abwoga holds a BA degree in Economics from Moi University and an MBA, Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, CPA (K) and member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) as well as a Certified Secretary and member of the Institute of Certified Secretaries of Kenya (ICS-K)