UBA appoints new CEOs for Kenya, Sierra Leone

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has announced the appointments of Mary Mulili and Mohamed Alhajie Samoura as the new chief executive officers of its subsidiaries in Kenya and Sierra Leone respectively.

Mulili’s appointment marks a significant milestone for UBA Kenya as it coincides with the subsidiary’s 15th anniversary and is the first female CEO of UBA Kenya.

Her selection exemplifies the bank’s commitment to gender diversity and inclusivity in leadership roles, a statement by the bank said.

Mulili, a Kenyan, has experience in corporate, commercial, public, institutional banking, SME, retail and digital banking with an extensive career spanning over two decades in the banking sector. She served as an executive director for UBA Kenya and pivotal executive as well as other senior roles in other commercial banks with her expertise and leadership, delivering comprehensive business advisory services and innovative solutions.

Speaking on her selection, the Board Chairman, UBA Kenya, Alphan Njeru, disclosed that Mulili’s appointment – which took effect last month subject to regulatory approval, came at a crucial juncture for the subsidiary as it is focused on accelerating growth through regional trade opportunities, digital innovation and SME financing, aligning with the broader vision of sustainable banking.

On his part, Samoura whose appointment as CEO took effect last month, has received relevant approval from the Central Bank of Sierra Leone.

He emerged as the first Sierra Leonean to hold the position since the bank’s inception in 2008, emphasising UBA’s commitment to empowering local talent and promoting human capital development.

Over the years, Samoura has garnered accolades, as he has been frequently named among the 100 Most Outstanding Executives in Sierra Leone. His wealth of experience and understanding of the country’s corporate and institutional banking landscape positions him well for his role.

His appointment aligns with UBA Group’s strategic focus on localising governance, products, and services to meet host economy requirements, the statement by the bank said.

UBA Sierra Leone, under his leadership, aims to be the leading financial institution in the country, with a current customer base exceeding 400,000.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, said the strategic appointments underscored the bank’s commitment to fostering diversity, empowering local talent and driving growth across its African operations.