The Board of Directors of Absa Bank has announced the retirement of Patricia Ithau as a Non-Executive Director.
In a notice dated Wednesday, April 2, Absa stated that her resignation took effect on March 31, 2025.
“The Board of Directors of Absa Bank Kenya PLC (“Absa Kenya”) announces the retirement of Ms. Patricia Ithau as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Absa Kenya, effective March 31, 2025.
Patricia’s retirement follows her completion of a full nine-year term with the company. Absa acknowledged Patricia’s contributions to the company, describing her as a dedicated leader whose efforts have strengthened its governance.
“Since joining the Board in 2016, Patricia has been a passionate and dedicated leader, offering valuable insights and expertise that have enhanced the Bank’s governance and strategic direction as it navigates a complex and dynamic operating environment,” Absa noted.
Absa Announces exit of Patricia Ithau
The Bank further wished Patricia all the best as she explores other career opportunities.
“We appreciate Patricia for her outstanding service and leadership and celebrate her journey as we wish her the very best in all her endeavors,” said the bank.
Ithau joined Absa in 2016. During her tenure at Absa, she chaired the Corporate Governance, Nominations, and Remuneration Committee and served as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
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Patricia is a certified Executive Coach and Emotional Intelligence Practitioner. She has a career spanning 25 years across three global companies: Unilever, Diageo/EABL, and L’Oréal.
In addition to her role at Absa Bank, Patricia serves on the board of Jambojet Ltd and Vivo Fashion Group Ltd.
Patricia’s Career
She also chairs the Kenya Millennium Development Fund, established to create governance and policy frameworks that enable Kenya to qualify for the Millennium Challenge Compact.
Ithau is also a Trustee on the Boards of the Vodafone Foundation, UK, and the M-Pesa Foundation Ltd.
In the last eight years of her career, her focus was on establishing new organizations and opening new frontiers in Africa, serving as Managing Director for Uganda Breweries Ltd, then Managing Director for EABL International, and ultimately setting up L’Oréal East Africa, a subsidiary of the global multinational, as its inaugural Managing Director.
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Currently, she is also the Group CEO of WPP-Scangroup PLC, the largest marketing and communication group operating in sub-Saharan Africa, utilizing a multi-agency and multi-discipline model across the region.
Ithau holds an MBA in Strategic Management from the United States International University (USIU – A) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of Nairobi.
Her executive education includes prestigious institutions, such as the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, INSEAD-CEDEP, and Strathmore Business School in collaboration with IESE Business School.
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