Ms Mulili is the first female to become the UBA Kenya’s managing director and chief executive officer, an indication that the lender is home with gender diversity and inclusivity to elevate women into leadership roles.
UBA Kenya has appointed Ms. Mary Mulili as its new managing director and chief executive, effective January 19, 2024, subject to regulatory approval.
An old hand, having served as an executive director, she will steer the bank at a crucial time as she is intended to focus on sustainable banking practices while ensuring that every initiative contributes to positive and lasting impacts on the lives it touches.
She becomes the sixth chief executive in 11 years to head UBA Kenya, a subsidiary of UBA Group, which has been operating in Kenya since 2009 with branch offices in the Industrial area (Enterprise Road), Upperhill, Westlands, Mombasa, and Nakuru, with plans to expand to other counties.
UBA Kenya board chairman, Mr. Alphan Njeru, described the appointment as a “significant milestone” on its continuous commitment to promoting gender diversity and inclusivity.
Under her leadership, Njeru noted, the bank is set to embark on a journey focused on accelerating growth through regional trade opportunities, digital innovation, and SME financing, all aligned with the broader vision of sustainable banking.
Ms Mulili takes over from Chike Isiuwe who has been at the helm since August 2021 and is taking up another role within the bank.
The fact that she becomes the first female to hold such a position, largely means that the lender’s strategy to foster gender diversity and inclusivity to elevate women into leadership roles. Some of the previous chief executives for the Kenya unit including Kehinde Omirinde (interim), Emeke Iweriebor (interim), Isaac Mwige and Tunji Adeniyi, were men.
“We thank Chike Isiuwe, outgoing Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer for his contribution to the Bank and wish him success as he takes up a new role at UBA Group,” Njeru said.
With an MBA in Finance, a Bachelor’s degree in Education with a focus on Accounting and Economics, and a diploma in Business Management, Ms Mulili is a mong several professionals with not only impressive educational background, but also an extensive first hand experience.
She will build on her wealth of banking experience to steer the lender towards creating value, building on the strong foundation laid over the past 15 years.
Kenya’s economic growth as well as its strategic significance, nonetheless, seems to be contributing significantly in enticing players like UBA. The lender has been advancing entrepreneurial growth in the country through financing, while making a positive impact on communities.
In October 2023, for example, the lender incorporated Braille Account Opening Form in bid to ensure that individuals with visual impairments can confidently and independently access banking services, thus promoting confidentiality, financial independence, and empowerment.
“This initiative reflects our determination to provide banking services that cater to the diverse needs of our customers and society at large. This is why we have made our account opening process accessible to the visually impaired because we believe everyone deserves equal access to financial services,” it said.
The initiative was done jointly with organizations such as the Kenya Society for the Blind, Kenya Bankers Association, and the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), and underscores the lender’s commitment to KBA had in 2020 unveiled industrywide roadmap on Persons Living with Disability to champion for all member banks to leverage on innovation to enhance the level of financial inclusion.
The roadmap had directed banks to outline how they will improve their websites, mobile applications, and written electronic banking documents to be accessible in line with internationally recognised best practice accessibility standards.
The digital accessibility assessment also recommended that banks should immediately issue ATM cards to all customers with disabilities, and make ATMs accessible to all customers, including those with visual and mobility impairments.
“I look forward to carry on the growth trajectory of UBA Kenya. Building on UBA Group’s extensive network we are committed to leverage on our presence across 20 African countries and globally in Dubai, UK, US and France to providing bespoke financial solutions for our customers. This underscores our dedication to being a financial partner of growth for all our stakeholders,” Ms. Mulili while acknowledging her appointment, said.
