Absa Bank Kenya has appointed Yusuf Omari as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
The bank announced the appointment on Thursday, September 10, 2026, after completing the required regulatory and internal approvals.
“The Board of Directors of Absa Bank Kenya PLC is pleased to announce the appointment of Yusuf Omari as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Absa Bank Kenya, with immediate effect, following receipt of all required regulatory and internal approvals,” read part of the statement.
Omari has served as the bank’s Interim Managing Director and CEO since July 1, 2026.
The bank said Yusuf Omari brings more than two decades of banking experience, having worked across finance, treasury, risk management, governance, sustainability, strategy and transformation, as well as executive management.
Omari officially takes over from Abdi Mohamed, who resigned after serving as the bank’s CEO for just over three years.
How Yusuf Omari Became a Long-Serving Employee At Absa
Yusuf Omari has spent more than two decades at Absa Bank Kenya, having joined the institution in 2004 when it was still operating as Barclays Bank of Kenya.
He began as Chief Finance Officer in February 2004 and held the role for nearly 19 years.
Yusuf later served as Interim Managing Director from November 2022 to August 2025 before returning to Chief Financial Officer in May 2023.
Omari served as Chief Financial Officer until June 2026, when he became Interim Managing Director and CEO in July 2026.
Also Read: I&M Bank Poaches Absa Kenya CEO Abdi Mohamed
As Chief Financial Officer, Omari was responsible for overseeing the bank’s financial management, including financial planning, capital and risk management.
His role also involved supporting the bank’s broader business and operational decisions.
Before joining Absa, Omari worked at KPMG as a Senior Auditor from September 1998 to February 2004, giving him more than five years of audit and financial services experience before moving into banking.
Also Read: Absa Bank Kenya Appoints Catherine Adeya as New Non-Executive Director
Educational Background
Omari is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor and is a member of both the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya and the Institute of Internal Auditors.
His academic background includes an MBA from Strathmore Business School and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi. He also completed an Advanced Management Programme jointly offered through Strathmore and IESE Business School.
Outside his roles at Absa, Omari has served on the boards of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya and the University of Nairobi Enterprise Services.
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