Barclays Tanzania picks new chief executive

Abdi Mohamed on 21st January 2013 at Karen Golf and Country Club. FILE PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By OTIATO GUGUYU

Barclays Bank has appointed the Kenya Chief Operating Officer Abdi Mohamed to replace Kihara Maina, the managing director for the Tanzania subsidiary.

Barclays Bank of Tanzania made the announcement Wednesday. “Mr Mohamed will be taking over from Kihara Maina, who after serving in the role since 2009 will now be pursuing other opportunities outside the Barclays Africa Group,” read a notice to newsrooms.

Barclays Bank Tanzania chairman Dr Ramadhani Dau thanked Mr Kihara stating that he had been integral to the growth of the business.

“We take this opportunity to thank Mr Kihara who has played a critical role in leading the business in Tanzania during the last six years which has seen us register a number of milestones in the market, including the roll-out of leading digital platforms such as Strategic Hello Money (SHM), BIR, BARX and pioneering loan products,” said Dr Ramadhani.

He said that the bank was confident that Mr Mohamed’s breadth of financial services expertise will help in executing the bank’s growth strategy.

The former COO had been with Barclays from 1994. He has held progressively senior roles in Kenya, Zambia, and the United Kingdom.

He holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) International from Edith Cowan University in Perth Australia. Barclays Bank of Kenya MD Jeremy Awori said Mr Mohamed’s career progression was a success story and testament to the bank’s belief in advancing the careers of talented colleagues