Kellen Eileen Kariuki
Chairperson
Appointment
Kellen was appointed to the Board in February 2020 and elected as the Chairperson of the Board in May 2021.
Experience
Kellen has strong and diverse skills in banking, strategy, corporate governance, finance, and leadership. She held several senior positions at Citibank N.A. before joining the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority as the first Chief Executive Officer and Managing Trustee. She previously held non-executive director appointments at Resolution Insurance Limited, Citibank Uganda, the Kenya Roads Board, was a nominee director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), non-executive director of AMREF Health Africa, AMREF Flying Doctors, and chair of Citibank Tanzania Limited. Kellen is a founding member of the Board of Advisors of the Strathmore Business School, the Associate Dean of Executive Education at Strathmore University, is a director at the Strathmore University Foundation and has served as an elected council member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya. She is currently a director of Feruzi Holdings Limited, Startel Limited and Chairperson of Standard Chartered Investment Services Limited.
Kellen holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management and a bachelor’s degree in accounting both from United States International University-Africa and a Master of Science (MSc.) in International Human Resource Management from Cranfield University in the UK. Kellen is a Fellow Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (FCPA) and is currently pursuing a PhD at Strathmore University Business School.
Kariuki Ngari
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Kenya & Africa
Appointment
Kariuki was appointed to the Board in March 2019.
Experience
Kariuki has 30 years of banking experience. He was instrumental in transforming the Consumer Banking divisions of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya and the Africa Region. Prior to his current role, he was the Global Head, Retail Distribution for Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore. He was influential in formulating global strategies in 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 Limited from 2009 to 2013. He has also held senior positions at Absa Bank Kenya PLC. Kariuki serves as a non-executive director on the board of Standard Chartered Bank Uganda and sits on the Board of the UN Global Compact. He is a director on various other Standard Chartered Bank Kenya subsidiary Boards.
Chemutai Murgor
Chief Financial Officer, Kenya & Africa
Appointment
Chemutai was appointed to the Board in March 2007.
Experience
Chemutai has been with the Bank for over 21 years and has wide experience in finance having worked previously as the Head of Finance as well as Head of Business Finance. Chemutai has also held various senior positions at Deloitte and Touché both in Kenya and the United Kingdom. Chemutai is a director on various other Standard Chartered Bank Kenya subsidiary Boards.
Birju Sanghrajka
Head, Banking & Coverage, Corporate and Investment Banking, Kenya
Appointment
Birju was appointed to the Board in July 2021.
Experience
Birju has 23 years of corporate banking experience, having started as a Graduate Trainee in Standard Chartered Bank, Kenya. His career has seen him work in corporate banking, corporate finance and transaction banking, across Kenya, the United Kingdom, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Birju currently leads the CIB Client Coverage business across Kenya and the wider East Africa region. The business supports the banking and investment requirements of multi-national corporates, public sector entities, development organisations and institutional clients by leveraging the bank’s innovative product offering, industry expertise and cross border network.
Edith Chumba
Head, Wealth & Retail Banking, Kenya & East Africa
Appointment
Edith was appointed to the Board in December 2024.
Experience
Edith has over 21 years of retail banking experience, having started her career at Absa Bank Kenya Plc before joining Standard Chartered Bank Kenya in 2015. Edith was appointed as Head, Wealth and Retail Banking from 2019. Prior to her current role, Edith was the Head of Distribution Channels. She has been instrumental in leading the transformation of the WRB business and in overseeing the delivery of turnaround strategies for the business in Kenya.
Judy Nyaga
Company Secretary
Appointment
Judy was appointed as Company Secretary in December 2020.
Experience
Judy has over 23 years legal and corporate governance experience in the banking industry having worked at both Standard Chartered Bank and other banks in Kenya. She has gained extensive knowledge and experience leading teams of company secretaries across various markets in Africa, Middle East, ASEAN and South Asia.
Richard Etemesi
Non-Executive Director
Appointment
Richard was appointed to the Board in June 2017.
Experience
Richard Etemesi is a seasoned banker with over 34 years of international banking experience across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He has held numerous senior positions at Standard Chartered Bank, including Vice Chairman Africa, CEO South & Southern Africa, and CEO Kenya & East Africa, among others. His roles have involved strategic planning, business development, risk management, and corporate governance. He has also served on boards in several countries in Africa, contributing to the strategic direction and governance of the bank's subsidiaries in those countries. Richard is currently actively involved in coaching and mentoring young fintech founders and high-potential executives. He is also passionate about agriculture and food security and supports initiatives in women’s health. His extensive experience and leadership skills have made him a highly respected figure in the banking industry.
David Ong'olo
Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment
David was appointed to the Board in January 2020.
Experience
David is an experienced private sector and development specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the economic development industry. He is skilled in Program Management, Policy Analysis, Sectoral Analysis, and Strategic Planning. He was until February 2019, the Chairman of Competition Authority of Kenya. His early career included working as Deputy Chief Economist in charge of the Trade and Industry Division of the then Ministry of Planning and National Development, and Credit Specialist with the SDSR regional program of the International Labour Organisation. He was previously the Senior Policy Adviser (Economics) at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Nairobi, Kenya and formerly the Managing Director of Matrix Development Consultants Limited. David is a Director on the Boards of Netherlands Business Hub Kenya Limited, CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics and Environment, Jitegemee Trust Limited and Jabali Microserve Limited. He is also the Chairperson of Standard Chartered Kenya Pension Fund and Standard Chartered Kenya Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme, 2006. David holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial Economics from Lancaster University, UK and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi.
Nivedita (“Nivi”) Sharma
Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment
Nivedita Sharma was appointed to the Board in July 2021.
Experience
Nivi is an expert in innovation, impact, and scale-up strategies in ascending markets. She is currently the CEO of Bridges to Prosperity, the global leader in rural infrastructure development, which uses technology for needs assessment, impact assessment, and engineering to aid rural infrastructure investments. Previously, she was the Chief Operating Officer of BRCK, a connectivity company that provided free public Wi-Fi. Nivi has dedicated her career to access for children, youth, and adults. She co-founded eLimu, the first company to digitize the Kenyan Primary School curriculum content for revision and literacy. Nivi is driven by learning, development, access, and impact. She serves on the boards of Software Technologies Ltd and The Open Institute Trust. Nivi holds a B.A. (Hons) degree in Economics from Ithaca College, New York, USA. She is a 2014 East Africa Acumen fellow and a member of the Fast Forward Leaders’ Circle.
Robert Mbugua
Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment
Robert was appointed to the Board in June 2024.
Experience
Robert has a wealth of leadership and banking experience with diverse skills in audit, finance, risk and corporate governance. He was previously a Partner in the Johannesburg office of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and subsequently held various senior executive roles within Standard Bank Group. He co-founded and is the immediate former Chief Executive Officer of Co-op Bank Fleet Africa Limited. Robert was until August 2024 the Chairman of BOC Kenya PLC. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Old Mutual Holdings PLC. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Master of Business Administration from Bond University in Australia.
Beverley Obatoyinbo
Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment
Beverley was appointed to the Board in January 2025.
Experience
Beverley is an expert business leader with over 30 years of extensive global leadership experience. She has diverse multi-sectoral experience spanning across pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods. She was previously the Managing Director of British American Tobacco (BAT) Kenya Plc, where she led the BAT business in East and Central Africa. Beverley currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the boards of WPP Scangroup Plc, the BAT Nigeria Foundation and previously served on the Board of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers. She holds a Diploma in Advanced Strategic Management from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Switzerland, and a Diploma in Customer-Focused Innovation from Stanford Executive Business School, USA. She attended Wolfson School of Nursing in Westminster, UK, and specialised in Oncology at The Royal Marsden Hospital, London.
