Shem Migot Adholla

Non-Executive Chairman

Shem holds a PhD in Sociology of Development and a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles. He was a Special Graduate Student in Agricultural Economics at Michigan State University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of East Africa. He is a private consultant on agriculture and rural development, land policy reform and environmental issues based in Nairobi. Previously he was the Lead Specialist on Land Policy and Administration in the Agriculture Research Unit, World Bank, Washington. He also served in the Government of Kenya (on secondment from the World Bank) as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. He served as Associate Research Professor at the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) University of Nairobi and has numerous publications to his name focusing on land issues, pastoralism, farmers’ institutions and rural development. He has working experience in many African countries as well as Haiti, Kyrgyz Republic and several Asian countries. He is currently the Chairman of Equity Bank South Sudan, Chairman of the Council of Kenyatta University and a member of the Universities Funding Board. He has also served as Chairman of the Council of Kibabii University, Chairman of the Board Centre for Corporate Governance, was a Director of Housing Finance Company of Kenya Ltd and Vice-Chairman Board of Directors, Kenya Wildlife Service.

Dr. Addis Ababa Othow

Managing Director

Addis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, a Master’s degree in Economic Development and a PhD degree in political economics from Al-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Accounting from Hanze University, Groningen, Netherlands, a PhD degree in Business Administration from Faculty of Business and Economics, Atlantic International University, USA and the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) from Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya. He has a wide range of experience in banking, accounting, finance, and information systems. Prior to joining Equity Bank, he initially worked as a teaching assistant at Al Neelain University, Khartoum and was later appointed as a banking inspector, Central Bank of Sudan in 1997. He also worked as an assistant accountant/ auditor at Dubois & Co Chartered Accountants Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and a consultant at South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission, a Part-time Lecturer at College of Social & Economics Studies, University of Juba and a Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of South Sudan Pensions Fund (SSPF). Dr. Othow has also worked as Head of Non-banking Division before he became the Head of Planning, Regulation and Licensing, Central Bank of South Sudan (BSS). He joined Equity Bank in February 2015.

Mary James Ajith

Non-Executive Director

Mary holds an LL.B. degree from EL-Neelian University, Khartoum, Sudan, Certificate in Law from LDC Uganda and a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights from the University of Juba. Mary has worked with various Gender and Child-Related Organizations and holds a Certificate in Skill for Communicating with Children, Certificate in Gender and Development and an Advanced Certificate in Women, Peace and Security Council Resolution 1325. She serves on the board of the Ethicapl University, Juba and is a member of South Sudan Revenue Authority Board of Directors. She is currently the Head of Directorate of Legislation, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs for the Republic of South Sudan and holds certificates of Legislative drafting and Bills Scrutiny training with over 16 years’ experience.

Kenyi Spencer

Non-executive Director

Kenyi holds a Professional Certificate in international trade from the International Trade Institute of Southern Africa (Affiliate of International Association of Trade Training Organization), a PhD in Environmental Economics from the University of Geneva in Switzerland, a Master's degree in Environmental Management from the University of the Free State (Bloemfontein) in South Africa, a Post-graduate certificate in Practical Ecology from Technische Universitat in Berlin, Germany and BSc. in Science and Applied Environmental Science from the National University of Lesotho. He previously worked as a Deputy Director in KB Environment & Trade Consultancy in South Africa and has executed many assignments for the World Bank and the Republic of South Sudan (RSS). Dr. Kenyi is currently Chairman of Central Equatoria Development Agency (CEDA), South Sudan Business Connect and a board member of African Organisations for Development (AFOD). He recently published a world acclaimed novel - "Twisted Gift" and a reference book, titled: English Language for Professionals.

Mary Wamae

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mary holds a Master’s degree in Leading Innovation and Change from York St. John University, UK, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi and a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law. She is a graduate of Advanced Management Programme (Strathmore - IESE Business School, Barcelona Spain) and Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School.

She is a Certified Public Secretary (Kenya) and member of The Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya (ICPSK), Law Society of Kenya, Women Corporate Directors and the Kenya Section of International Commission of Jurists. She is a graduate of Advanced Management Programme (Strathmore - IESE Business School, Barcelona Spain) and Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School. She is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Gender and Development and has over 15 years’ experience in private legal practice.

DR. JAMES MWANGI, CBS

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

James holds five honorary doctorate degrees in recognition of his positive impact to the Kenyan society. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is a Certified Public Accountant. He has been honoured thrice with National Presidential Awards: The First Class Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS), the Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS) and Head of State Commendation (HSC).

On the global front, he has won several awards including the G8 Global Vision Award, 2007. He was named among the Top 50 Emerging Market Business Leaders and the 20 most influential people in Africa in 2011; the World Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 2012; the Forbes Africa Person of the Year in 2012 and was recently named in the Bloomberg 50 list of people who defined 2019 globally. He is an honoree of the 2020 Oslo Business for Peace Award, also described as the ‘Nobel Prize for Business’.

On the regional front, James was also recognized as the Africa Investor Awards, CEO of the Year in 2009 and 2015; Innovation Leader of the Year in 2012; African Business Leader of the Year in 2013 and African Banker of the Year in 2010, 2011 and 2017 at the African Banker Awards. He was also named the Banker of the Year during the Banker Africa (East Africa) Awards in 2017 and 2018, and named African CEO of the year by the African Business Leadership 2020 Awards. Locally, he has received the Think Business CEO of the Year award for the last 4 years.

James has served on board and advisory roles at the Global Advisory Council for VISA Inc., the Clinton Global Initiative, The G8 New Alliance For Food Security And Nutrition, US President Barack Obama’s Initiative for Global Development, the G20 Advisory Board of Agriculture and Initiative for Global Development and The Global Agenda Council on New Economic Thinking of the World Economic Forum from 2003-2007. He also served as the Founding Chair of Kenya’s Vision 2030 from inception in 2007 to 2019.

He currently serves on several international bodies as an advisor and was appointed to the Nairobi Advisory Board of Columbia Global Centres. He is a member of the continent-wide PACT initiative, a Board member of the Economic Advisory Board of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), The Mastercard MEA Advisory Board, the Africa Leadership Academy in South Africa, the Global Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. He is also a guest lecturer at Stanford, Columbia, MIT, Harvard, IESE and Lagos Business School where Equity Bank Business Model is a case study. Locally, he is the Chancellor of Meru University College of Science and Technology and the Chairman of the Health Committee of Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board.

Allan Waititu

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Allan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Information Technology and is a graduate of Advanced Management Programme (Strathmore- IESE Business School, Barcelona Spain). He has a Master’s in Business Administration from Strathmore University Business School. He has over 33 years’ experience in Information Technology and banking having previously served as Equity Bank’s General Manager, Operations; and as Director - ICT and Innovations and, Director, Special Projects. He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Future Council on the Resilience and Fragility 2021/2022 and also served on the WEF Council for The Future Humanitarian System 2019/2020. He is currently serving as the Director, Operations & IT in Equity BCDC in Congo DRC

Dr. Addis Ababa Othow

Managing Director

Addis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, a Master’s degree in Economic Development and a PhD degree in political economics from Al-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Accounting from Hanze University, Groningen, Netherlands, a PhD degree in Business Administration from Faculty of Business and Economics, Atlantic International University, USA and the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) from Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya. He has a wide range of experience in banking, accounting, finance, and information systems. Prior to joining Equity Bank, he initially worked as a teaching assistant at Al Neelain University, Khartoum and was later appointed as a banking inspector, Central Bank of Sudan in 1997. He also worked as an assistant accountant/ auditor at Dubois & Co Chartered Accountants Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and a consultant at South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission, a Part-time Lecturer at College of Social & Economics Studies, University of Juba and a Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of South Sudan Pensions Fund (SSPF). Dr. Othow has also worked as Head of Non-banking Division before he became the Head of Planning, Regulation and Licensing, Central Bank of South Sudan (BSS). He joined Equity Bank in February 2015.

Victor Omondi

Head of Operations

Victor is a Certified Public Accountant CPA (K) and has vast experience in Operations, Payment Systems and Projects Management and has been part of the core team that championed the roll out of the Finacle 10 Core Banking system. Before joining the Sudan Subsidiary, he worked at the Group Head Office in the Operations Department. He is one of the pioneer staff of Equity Bank South Sudan. Victor joined the Bank in 2006

Cyrus Komu

Finance Manager, EBSSL

Cyrus Komu has over 9 years of banking experience, 7 of which were spent at Equity Bank both in Kenya and South Sudan. Cyrus has served the bank in several financial & accounting capacities. He is highly trained in financial analysis, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. He is also trained and experienced in budget development and management and Business Process Mapping. Other than Equity Bank, Cyrus has served in financial strategy as a Business Process Mapping and accounting Consultant for Grameen Foundation Kenya. He is currently pursuing his BA in Business Administration at Kenya Methodist University. Cyrus joined Equity Bank South Sudan in his capacity as a Finance Manager in June 2012.

Stanley K. Maina

Senior Business Relationship Manager

Stanley K. Maina has 15 years of banking experience in different capacities in Equity Bank in Credit, Bank Operations and Relationship Banking. He joined the Bank in April 2004. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Kenya Methodist University and he is a CPA(K) holder. Stanley joined Equity South Sudan in 2009 and is one of the pioneers of South Sudan in 2009 and is one of the pioneers of the South Sudan subsidiary. He has worked in different capacities as Credit Manager, Senior Growth and Development Manager and Senior Business Relationship Manager. Before joining Equity Bank he worked with Tower SACCO Limited as Internal Audit Manager.