Kariuki Ngari, an accomplished Kenyan career banker with over 30 years of experience has been promoted to the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Standard Chartered Bank Africa region.
The role is an additional responsibility, and a highlight in his career as he continues his role as Managing Director of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya.
The seasoned financial professional has held various senior leadership roles across the banking industry at both Country ( Kenya) Cluster ( East Africa) Regional ( Africa, Middle East, Jersey) and Global ( Singapore-based).
Kariuki’s professional career spans several positions in Retail, Corporate, Treasury and Risk management to highlight a few.
He’s passionate about impactful leadership with a firm belief that leaders must be courageous to drive change for future generations.
Kariuki took to his LinkedIn social account to spread the good news about the additional role. “Standard Chartered has been in the continent for over a hundred years and I am extremely privileged to work with talented colleagues across the continent to write the next chapter of the company at this time,” he wrote.
Kariuki says he’s ready to live by the brand’s promise. “During this period, there has been many changes and the Bank has never been left behind in adapting to these changes, hence the rich history and relevance to generations. This time will be no different.”
The career banker is also a farmer, philanthropist, hiker/mountain climber and runner, and it is now wonder that he was the brains behind the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon.
A Kenyan online publication- Knowledge Ware House which ranked Kariuki among the most influential 25 CEOs last year described him as, a man who likes to refer to himself as a farm/ village boy at heart, born and raised on the slopes of Mt. Kenya, and the only boy amongst seven sisters, he has risen to become a global citizen, leading Kenya’s largest international bank, Standard Chartered Bank.
He was instrumental in transforming the Consumer Banking divisions of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya and the Africa Region.
He has served in several executive roles including Global Head, Retail Distribution for Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore. He was influential in formulating global strategies for building the future of Retail Branch and Voice and Virtual landscapes through digitisation of the physical channels.
Kariuki was the Regional Head of Retail Clients, Africa between 2013 and 2015, and an Executive Director of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya from 2009 to 2013. He has also held senior positions at Absa Bank Kenya Plc.
He also serves as a non-executive director on the board of Standard Chartered Bank Uganda and as a director on the boards of Tawi Fresh Kenya Limited and Solvezy Technology Kenya Limited.
Kariuki has several honours to his name, including the most recent one, where he was honoured as the ‘Best CEO of the Year’ award, his fourth major recognition this year at a FINNOVEX East Africa event which took place in Nairobi last month.
The event brought together top professionals and C-level executives from the financial and financial services industry to examine the industry’s future.
“Industry recognition is always great, but it testifies to the impact he has for our internal teams as well, where he constantly reminds us that!” Kenya’s Standard Chartered Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing wrote in praise and appreciation of her boss.
Despite 2023 proving to be one of his most challenging years, Standard Chartered Kenya announced its top-line growth of 23 per cent to KES 41.7 billion USD 312 million) and profit before tax up 15 per cent to KES 19.7b (USD 150 million).
Academic profile.
Kariuki holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology from the University of Nairobi, and other leadership and executive management credentials from the INSEAD Business School, Singapore; Said Business School, University of Oxford and Gordon Institute of Business Science in South Africa.