Banking finance solutions provider DTB has picked Linus Gitahi as its chairperson to spearhead growth plans leveraged on the firm’s digital transformation strategy. The value of this promotion is that it will provide further impetus to the realization of the bank’s Vision 2020 strategy and hence, seeks to position DTB Group banks as the leading players in the banking finance industry in sub-Saharan Africa.
It will also provide corporate governance leadership for DTB, which is banking on technological transformation programmes to transform its subsidiaries into premier digital banking and payments solution providers for an increasingly discerning and technology-driven customer base. Mr Gitahi, who has been serving as a director on the DTB Board, has taken over the mantle from outgoing chairperson Mr Abdul Samji who has served for the last nine years turning DTB into a profitable bank with a current asset base of Sh378 billion. Last year, DTB’s resilient trading performance was reflected in its 2018 results, with the full- year group pre-tax profit rising to a record level of Sh11 billion, an increase of 9% compared to the previous year. DTB’s investment portfolio in Government securities, expanded marginally during the year from Sh113 billion at the end of 2017 to Sh115 billion a year later.While accepting his appointment, Gitahi said the bank’s growth strategy will seek to embed DTB subsidiaries into the lifestyles of its customers by developing simple yet efficient digital financial solutions.
“To achieve this, we will build on and leverage digital solutions, as well as embrace data-driven analytics, to effectively respond to evolving customer needs and aspirations,” he said.
Mr Gitahi was first appointed to the DTB Board in April 2017 and also serves as the chairman of Tropikal Brands (Africa) Limited, chairman of Oxygène Marketing Communications Limited and is a trustee of the Management University of Africa. In addition, he is an independent board director of Simba Corp, Outspan Hospital and Medical College as well as Allianz Insurance (K) Limited.
Currently pursuing his Doctorate studies at the United States International University-Africa (USIU), he holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Nairobi, a Diploma in Management from the Kenya Institute of Management and an MBA from the USIU. He is also a Fellow of the Kenya Institute of Management. He previously served as the chief executive officer of the Nation Media Group
